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.