Recently, the secretariat of the National Information Security Standardization Technical Committee ("NISSTC") issued the Information Security Technology - Guideline for Identification of Critical Data (Draft for Comment) (the "Draft for Comment") for public comments by March 13, 2022.

The Draft for Comment sets out the basic principles of and considerations for identification of critical data as well as the format for describing critical data. This standard, which applies to data processors' identification of critical data in their possession, not only provides support for the security protection of critical data, but also serves as a reference document for various regions and authorities to formulate specific catalogues of critical data for their own regions and authorities, related sectors and fields. The Draft for Comment defines critical data as any data that exists in electronic form and that may endanger national security and public interest once it is tampered with, destroyed, leaked, or illegally accessed or used. In identifying critical data, several factors such as "reflecting national strategic reserves and emergency mobilization capabilities, e.g., strategic material production capacity and reserves are critical data" can be considered. Data that meets one of the factors is critical data.

(Source: National Information Security Standardization Technical Committee)