The prerequisite for access to, knowledge of, or possession of explicit information that is necessary in order to do official duties, as in "need to know basis".
In addition to a security clearance, a person must have a need to have access to the particular classified information or material sought in connection with the performance of his/her official duties or by contractual obligations. The determination of that need will be made by the official(s) having responsibility for the classified information or material.
University databases my be accessed only by university employees who have a clear need to know the data and who have been cleared for access by appropriate authorities.
a "need to know" justification applies to the sharing of information necessary to provide care or treatment for an individual patient.
A way for the US Government to limit the exposure of classified information when more than one person has the same level of clearance.
"Need to Know" is an episode of The New Twilight Zone based on a short story by Sidney Sheldon.
Government organizations, especially those related to defence and intelligence, often deal with information which is considered very sensitive. Need to know is one principle which can be used to attempt to secure such information.
Need to Know is the eleventh episode of the second season of House and the thirty-third episode overall.