Government Building Security Course 2026

1. Question 1 of 25

   Information marked Protected B could cause what harm if it got out?

   • AInjury only to the employee who lost the file
   • BSerious injury to a person, group or government
   • CExceptionally grave injury to the national interest
   • DNo harm, because Protected B is public information
   Show answer

   Answer: B. Serious injury to a person, group or government

   The Government of Canada defines Protected B as information whose compromise could cause serious injury to an individual, organization or government.

2. Question 2 of 25

   What makes information classified rather than protected?

   • AIt is stored on paper instead of on a computer
   • BIt is more than 10 years old
   • CIt contains a person's home address
   • DA leak could harm the national interest
   Show answer

   Answer: D. A leak could harm the national interest

   Classified levels (Confidential, Secret, Top Secret) apply when compromise could injure the national interest. Protected levels apply to harm to people, organizations or the government.

3. Question 3 of 25

   Which level is used for information whose compromise could cause exceptionally grave injury to the national interest?

   • AProtected A
   • BTop Secret
   • CConfidential
   • DProtected C
   Show answer

   Answer: B. Top Secret

   Top Secret is the classified level for information whose compromise could cause exceptionally grave injury to the national interest.

4. Question 4 of 25

   Which type of screening is needed for access to protected information, assets or work sites?

   • AA Top Secret clearance in every case
   • BA provincial driver's licence check
   • CReliability status
   • DA criminal record check by the guard
   Show answer

   Answer: C. Reliability status

   Public Services and Procurement Canada says reliability status is required to access protected information, assets or work sites.

5. Question 5 of 25

   What is needed for access to classified information, assets or work sites?

   • AA security clearance
   • BReliability status only
   • CA provincial licence
   • DA visitor badge
   Show answer

   Answer: A. A security clearance

   A security clearance is required to access classified information, assets or work sites.

6. Question 6 of 25

   Which federal department runs the Contract Security Program that screens contractors' employees?

   • APublic Services and Procurement Canada
   • BElections Canada, through its regional offices
   • CCanada Revenue Agency
   • DTreasury Board of Canada Secretariat
   Show answer

   Answer: A. Public Services and Procurement Canada

   Public Services and Procurement Canada runs the Contract Security Program, which screens personnel of organizations working on contracts with security requirements.

7. Question 7 of 25

   A new guard wants to apply for their own reliability status through the Contract Security Program. Who must start the request?

   • ATheir company security officer
   • BThe building's cleaning contractor
   • CThe guard, online, on their own
   • DAny police officer
   Show answer

   Answer: A. Their company security officer

   Individuals cannot start their own screening. The company security officer or alternate must start it, and the screening belongs to the organization.

8. Question 8 of 25

   A guard with reliability status sees a Protected file on a desk. Can they read it?

   • ANo, access must be justified on a need-to-know basis
   • BYes, their screening allows them to read any Protected file
   • CYes, if nobody else is in the room
   • DNo, guards may never touch any government paper
   Show answer

   Answer: A. No, access must be justified on a need-to-know basis

   Screening alone does not give access. Access to sensitive information must be justified on a need-to-know basis.

9. Question 9 of 25

   In RCMP guidance, what is the Public Zone?

   • AWhere the public has free, unimpeded access
   • BAn area open only to visitors with an escort
   • CThe guard's office behind the front desk
   • DThe secure room where Secret files are kept
   Show answer

   Answer: A. Where the public has free, unimpeded access

   The RCMP zones guide defines the Public Zone as an area where the public has unimpeded access, such as grounds and sidewalks around a facility.

10. Question 10 of 25

    In RCMP guidance, which zone can include the areas where visitors interact with security guards?

    • AIn the Reception Zone
    • BIn the High Security Zone
    • CIn the Security Zone
    • DIn the Operations Zone
    Show answer

    Answer: A. In the Reception Zone

    RCMP guidance says the Reception Zone is usually at the entry, where visitors first deal with the department, and can include areas where interaction with security guards occurs.

11. Question 11 of 25

    Who may enter an Operations Zone?

    • AAnyone who has signed the visitor register
    • BOnly people with a Top Secret clearance
    • CScreened staff who work there, and escorted visitors
    • DAny member of the public during regular business hours
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Screened staff who work there, and escorted visitors

    The RCMP guide says access to an Operations Zone is limited to appropriately screened personnel who work there and to escorted visitors.

12. Question 12 of 25

    A contract guard with reliability status but no Secret clearance is asked to escort a visitor. Where may the guard escort them?

    • AOnly in the High Security Zone
    • BOnly public and reception zones
    • COnly in the Security Zone
    • DAnywhere at all inside the building
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Only public and reception zones

    The RCMP access guide says contracted staff and guards may escort only within the public and reception zones unless they hold a valid Secret or Top Secret clearance.

13. Question 13 of 25

    Why might a reception zone be treated as an operations zone after hours?

    • AIt may still need protection when locked
    • BBecause the public may then enter freely
    • CBecause visitors are received there at night
    • DBecause guards are not allowed in it at night
    Show answer

    Answer: A. It may still need protection when locked

    The RCMP zones guide says that after closing or at lock-up, a reception zone could become an operations zone, because it may be part of the facility that needs protection.

14. Question 14 of 25

    The threat level is raised to medium. What step does the RCMP access guide list for access cards?

    • ACards are worn inside jackets for safety
    • BVisitors no longer need any card
    • CAll access cards are collected and locked away
    • DAll access cards are shown in full view
    Show answer

    Answer: D. All access cards are shown in full view

    At a medium threat level, the access guide says to ensure that everyone's access card is displayed in full view.

15. Question 15 of 25

    Under a high threat level, which step does the RCMP access guide list?

    • AHand out spare keys to all staff
    • BStop using the visitor register
    • CLeave doors open so people can escape
    • DChange PINs and combinations
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Change PINs and combinations

    Under high and critical threat levels, the guide lists changing PIN codes and combinations on locks that control access, along with more guards and checks of all access cards.

16. Question 16 of 25

    How can a visitor register help during a fire evacuation?

    • AIt tells each visitor which exit to use
    • BIt lists who must stay behind to fight the fire
    • CIt helps account for everyone in the building
    • DIt shows which doors were left unlocked
    Show answer

    Answer: C. It helps account for everyone in the building

    The RCMP access guide says a visitor register can act as a quick reference to account for people in an emergency such as a fire evacuation.

17. Question 17 of 25

    Why should one official not both approve and issue access cards?

    • ASo one person cannot give out access alone
    • BSo cards never need an expiry date
    • CSo visitors can print and make their own cards
    • DSo cards can be printed faster
    Show answer

    Answer: A. So one person cannot give out access alone

    The access guide says no single official may both authorize and issue a card, so one person cannot give access on their own.

18. Question 18 of 25

    A manager wants to take the building's master key home over the weekend. What does RCMP guidance say?

    • AMaster keys should not leave the building
    • BMaster keys may be lent to contractors
    • CMaster keys may go home with managers
    • DMaster keys should be labelled with the address
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Master keys should not leave the building

    RCMP guidance says master keys should not leave the building and should not be marked to identify the building they open.

19. Question 19 of 25

    An employee's contract ended today. What should happen to their access card?

    • AIt stays active for one more month
    • BIt is collected from them
    • CThey keep it as a souvenir
    • DThey give it to their replacement
    Show answer

    Answer: B. It is collected from them

    The access guide says cards should be retrieved when employment or a contract ends, or when they are no longer required.

20. Question 20 of 25

    A security company runs the front desk on behalf of a federal office that must serve the public in both official languages. What does section 25 of the Official Languages Act mean for the desk?

    • AOnly federal employees at the desk must speak French
    • BThe company may pick one language for every visitor
    • CThe rule covers only the printed signs, not spoken service
    • DPeople must be able to get service in English or French
    Show answer

    Answer: D. People must be able to get service in English or French

    Section 25 says that when another organization provides services on a federal institution's behalf, the public must be able to get them in either official language wherever the institution would have to.

21. Question 21 of 25

    What does the 'active offer' in section 28 of the Official Languages Act require?

    • AOffering free language classes to every single visitor
    • BUsing signs and greetings to show both are available
    • CAsking each visitor to prove which language they speak
    • DWaiting for a visitor to complain before using French
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Using signs and greetings to show both are available

    Section 28 requires measures such as signs, notices and the way communication with the public is started, so people know service is available in either official language.

22. Question 22 of 25

    A small group holds a peaceful protest on the public sidewalk outside a government building. Which Charter freedom protects them?

    • AFreedom of association only inside the building
    • BThe right to enter any restricted area
    • CFreedom of peaceful assembly
    • DThe right to block the main entrance
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Freedom of peaceful assembly

    Section 2 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms protects freedom of expression and freedom of peaceful assembly.

23. Question 23 of 25

    What must departments have for incoming mail and deliveries, according to RCMP guidance?

    • AProcedures to screen for suspect packages
    • BA policy of refusing all deliveries
    • CA rule that guards must open every parcel
    • DA plan to send all mail to the RCMP
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Procedures to screen for suspect packages

    The RCMP operational guide says agencies must have procedures for screening incoming mail and deliveries for suspicious packages.

24. Question 24 of 25

    Protected and classified papers are being shredded. Who may perform or witness the shredding?

    • AAny visitor with a temporary badge
    • BOnly the newest employee working on that shift
    • CAnyone who happens to be working nearby
    • DPeople screened to the level being shredded
    Show answer

    Answer: D. People screened to the level being shredded

    RCMP guidance says authorized personnel must monitor destruction, and anyone who performs or witnesses it must be screened to the highest level of the information destroyed.

25. Question 25 of 25

    On patrol, you find a document marked Secret left in a hallway. What is the right approach?

    • ARead it to decide how serious the problem is
    • BThrow it in the nearest recycling bin
    • CLeave it where it is so the owner finds it
    • DSecure it unread and report it at once
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Secure it unread and report it at once

    RCMP guidance says security incidents must be handled immediately and then reported to the appropriate security officials. Do not read a document you have no need to know.

Keyboard: 1–4 to answer, Enter for the next question.