Traffic Light Protocol

What it means

The Traffic Light Protocol uses standardized labels to communicate how far potentially sensitive information may be shared by recipients.

Why it matters

TLP supports collaboration only when senders and recipients understand the label, audience, and any additional restrictions.

Practical focus

• Use only the current standardized labels
• Place the label clearly with the information
• Confirm recipients understand the sharing boundary
• Seek sender permission before broader redistribution

Common mistakes

• Using retired or invented colors
• Treating TLP as a legal classification system
• Assuming a label controls data technically
• Removing the label when forwarding information

Certification relevance

This subject appears in or supports the following certification bodies of knowledge:

Authoritative sources

• FIRST Traffic Light Protocol Version 2.0
• NIST SP 800-150 — Guide to Cyber Threat Information Sharing