operational security
Guarding sensitive details
Operational security, often shortened to OPSEC, is the practice of protecting sensitive information by identifying what could be observed or pieced together by adversaries.
Originally military terminology, it now applies broadly to any effort to control what others can learn about your activities: Her operational security was terrible—she posted her location on social media.
The concept extends from classified operations to personal privacy, emphasizing that seemingly harmless details can reveal patterns when combined.
- need-to-knowAccess limited by necessity
- eyes onlyRestricted to intended recipient
- counterintelligenceDefense against enemy espionage
- access controlRestricting resource availability selectively
- air gapEmpty interval between objects
clean room · firewalls · data encryption · forensic analysis · burner · burn bag · awareness campaigns · tradecraft · classified information · communication protocols · masking techniques · reconnaissance · compartmentalization · covert operations · loose lips sink ships · surveillance · contingency planning · classified
- securityalarm system, lock, safe, alarm, camera
- Military Securitymilitary police, MPs, classified, top secret, restricted area
- deceptionlie, lies, lying, fake, fraud
- espionagespy, spies, double agent, double agents, spying
- secretssecrecy, secret, trade secret, secrets, confidential
- military trainingfield manual, drill instructor, training manual, combat drills, drilling
operational securitysecurity breach
Unauthorized penetration of protected systems
compromise · vulnerability · exposure · data breach · insecurity
operational securityloose lips
Habit of revealing secrets
oversharing · careless talk · indiscretion · leaking · carelessness