A method for transmitting data involves receiving the data, identifying, by a sender system, a first data element in the data to protect, encrypting, by the sender system, the first data element with a sender session key, generating, by the sender system, a combined key using a receiver key value and a sender compartmentalization key (SK). The method also involves encrypting, by the sender system, the sender session key using the combined key to obtain an encrypted session key, generating, by the sender system, a data passport comprising the encrypted session key, a dictionary classification key (DK) index, a SK index, and a receiver compartmentalization key (RK) index, generating, by the sender system, protected data comprising the data passport and the encrypted first data element, and transmitting, by the sender system and across a network, the protected data to a receiver system.