opsec

Operational security, commonly abbreviated OpSec, is a systematic discipline used to identify information that, if exposed, could compromise an operation. It requires assessing the threats and vulnerabilities surrounding that information and applying countermeasures to reduce the risk of disclosure or misuse. The aim is to protect mission effectiveness, safety, and competitive position by limiting what is revealed and to whom.

OpSec originated in military intelligence practices and was formalized by modern security doctrine in the late 20th century. It has since been adopted across government, business, and private life as a framework for protecting sensitive data, critical assets, and privacy.

Core concepts include identifying critical information, understanding potential threats, assessing vulnerabilities, and evaluating risk. Countermeasures are then designed to mitigate risk and reduce residual risk, with continuous monitoring to adapt to changing circumstances.

The typical OpSec process is iterative and commonly described as six steps: identify critical information; analyze threats; analyze vulnerabilities; assess risk; implement countermeasures; monitor and reassess. The goal is to make it harder for an adversary to obtain actionable information while maintaining legitimate operations.

Practices span both physical and digital domains. They commonly involve data minimization, need-to-know access, secure communications where appropriate, device and network hygiene, metadata awareness, and clear security policies and training to foster an organizational security culture. OpSec also emphasizes privacy and ethical considerations.

Limitations: OpSec cannot guarantee absolute security and depends on people, processes, and technology. It requires ongoing investment and may involve trade-offs with efficiency and usability.