Operations security
Operations security(OPSEC) is a process that identifies critical information to determine whether friendly actions can be observed by enemy intelligence, determines if information obtained by adversaries could be interpreted to be useful to them, and then executes selected measures that eliminate or reduce adversary exploitation of friendly critical information.
The term "operations security" was coined by theUnited States militaryduring theVietnam War.
History
[edit]Vietnam
[edit]In 1966, United StatesAdmiral Ulysses Sharpestablished a multidisciplinary security team to investigate the failure of certain combat operations during theVietnam War.This operation was dubbed Operation Purple Dragon, and included personnel from theNational Security Agencyand theDepartment of Defense.[1]
When the operation concluded, the Purple Dragon team codified their recommendations. They called the process "Operations Security" in order to distinguish the process from existing processes and ensure continued inter-agency support.[2]
NSDD 298
[edit]In 1988, PresidentRonald Reagansigned National Security Decision Directive (NSDD) 298. This document established the National Operations Security Program and named the Director of the National Security Agency as the executive agent for inter-agency OPSEC support. This document also established the Interagency OPSEC Support Staff (IOSS).[3]
Private-sector application
[edit]The private sector has also adopted OPSEC as a defensive measure againstcompetitive intelligencecollection efforts.[4]
IT security
[edit]NIST SP 800-53defines OPSEC as the "process by which potential adversaries can be denied information about capabilities and intentions by identifying, controlling, and protecting generally unclassified evidence of the planning and execution of sensitive activities."[5]
See also
[edit]- For Official Use Only– FOUO
- Information security
- Intelligence cycle security
- Security
- Security culture
- Sensitive but unclassified– SBU
- Controlled Unclassified Information- CUI
- Social engineering
References
[edit]- ^"PURPLE DRAGON: The Formations of OPSEC".Information Assurance Directorate.National Security Agency.RetrievedJune 15,2016.
- ^"The Origin of OPSEC- from the dragon's mouth".www.opsecprofessionals.org.Archived fromthe originalon 3 July 2016.Retrieved2016-06-16.
- ^"About the IOSS".National OPSEC Program.Interagency OPSEC Support Staff.RetrievedJune 15,2016.
- ^Kahaner, Larry (1997).Competitive Intelligence.Simon & Schuster.pp. 252–255.
- ^"SC-38. OPERATIONS SECURITY".Security and Privacy Controls for Information Systems and Organizations(Information security standard). Joint Task Force. p. 323.doi:10.6028/NIST.SP.800-53r5.
Further reading
[edit]- National Security Decision Directive 298
- Purple Dragon: The Origin & Development of the United States OPSEC Program,NSA, 1993.
- Operations Security (JP 3-13.3)PDF U.S. DoD Operations Security Doctrine.
- "Bin Laden Trail 'Stone Cold'".Washington Post.September 10, 2006.
- "After a Decade at War With West, Al-Qaeda Still Impervious to Spies".Washington Post.March 20, 2008.