OPSEC Definition
OPSEC, more commonly known as operational security, is a framework intended to safeguard critical data from falling into the wrong hands. Opsec is applied throughout various industries, which include business, government, and military, to name a few. By implementing an OPSEC framework, businesses and entities can significantly reduce the likelihood of security breaches and unauthorized access to data.
How OPSEC Works
The operational security principles are the following:
- Foes are seeking information to exploit.
- Data can be compromised in many ways, intentionally and unintentionally.
- Mitigating all potential risks is the best way to protect information.
With these principles in mind, this is how OPSEC works:
- Identify critical information about operations, plans, personnel, technology, or capabilities.
- Analyze threats of potential adversaries to understand their capabilities and intentions.
- Analyze vulnerabilities to understand how critical information can be compromised via physical and cyberattacks.
- Assess risks to understand the likelihood of each vulnerability and what the impact is if critical information is compromised.
- Apply appropriate countermeasures to mitigate risks.
Advantages of OPSEC
OPSEC is a vital part of an integral security plan, and here are some advantages:
- OPSEC can help save money by preventing damage to critical information assets.
- OPSEC can help protect the reputation and credibility of companies and individuals.
- OPSEC can help reduce the risks of successful cyberattacks against systems and networks.
- OPSEC can help safeguard sensitive information.