A Special Access Program is a program established for a specific class of classified information that imposes safeguarding and access requirements exceeding those normally required for information at the same classification level.   SAPs are established only when the program is required by statute, or upon the finding of exceptional vulnerability of, or threat to, specific information, and if the normal criteria for determining access to information classified at the same level are insufficient.  SAPs use the standard levels of classified information: Confidential, Secret and Top Secret. SAPs also require an assigned nickname and/or codeword and identification of any special handling procedures. In simplest terms, a SAP is a classified program with enhanced safeguarding and access requirements.