Introduction

The ATLAS Collaboration presently operates in a very open information environment; only a very few web pages are protected with passwords, for instance. This openness promotes efficient communication where information is openly shared and work is seldom duplicated. However, essentially all ATLAS information, including confidential issues, is presently accessible to the outside world.

When the data taking era begins, we will need to carefully apply information protection measures that maintain internal openness, while protecting sensitive information from those not in the Collaboration. The implementation of this policy will need to be adapted as technology changes. This implementation should be no broader in scope than necessary, and should not interfere with the smooth flow of information.

The information protection policy of ATLAS is:

• Information protection is the responsibility of every member of ATLAS. He or she is responsible for complying with the rules of the experiment, which are that physics results not yet approved must not be propagated outside the Collaboration.
• To provide tools to enable ATLAS members to easily uphold their responsibilities, and to promote an awareness of possible protection issues the position of an Information Protection Officer is created.

This person will:

• Provide an ATLAS web page explaining information protection issues and the standard recommended ATLAS procedures;
• Establish and update recommended procedures;
• Put in place a system to protect Collaboration web pages, agenda pages, file

-- GilbertPoulard - 23 Apr 2007