Certified Governance Risk and Compliance (CGRC) Practice Exam 2025 - Free CGRC Practice Questions and Study Guide

The classification level that defines information which, if disclosed, could cause exceptionally grave damage to national security is Top Secret information. This classification is the highest of the three levels (Top Secret, Secret, and Confidential) in the U.S. classification system. Top Secret is reserved for information that requires the most stringent protections and handling due to the severe consequences its unauthorized disclosure could have on national security.

In contrast, Secret information entails a lower level of risk, where unauthorized disclosure might cause serious damage, while Confidential information is subject to even less strict controls and is associated with information that could cause damage if revealed. Unclassified information does not fall under any protection and is available to the public. Thus, Top Secret is uniquely positioned to indicate the highest level of potential harm that may arise from unauthorized disclosure, making it the correct answer.