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| The Foothills, Alberta (photo by V.A. McMillan) |
OPSEC
– How’s Your Operational Security?
Well Summer has finally
arrived, and it is time for a new Blog post. This is a topic that is always in
the back of my mind and frequently it becomes the squeaky wheel that needs
attention…it does not matter what kind of operation you are part of – family,
employment, volunteer, or just kicking back with friends. Everything has
an operational security component and those who deny that or ignore that are
setting themselves up for failure at some level or other. So, how is your
operational security?
Operational Security
(OPSEC) is closely related to situational awareness (safe-level-one-lesson-plan-part-1-of-5) as both
share a need to be cognisant of what is going on around you, at all times. What
are the threats? What are the opportunities? What resources are available? What
are your deficiencies? The answers to these questions will help establish what
level of alertness you should be maintaining. As mentioned in previous posts (emergency-readiness-readiness-endurance), you cannot maintain the highest levels of alertness indefinitely.
Everyone has a limit on how long they can be fully alert. To aid in managing
your resources and maintain a response capability, is where OPSEC comes in. OPSEC
is a method to manage vulnerability and reduce the number of directions that
energy must be focused to achieve an acceptable level of security and
readiness.
You might be asking, so,
Mountainman how do we apply this theory to a real-world situation? Glad you
asked…let’s use a crime model. Insert either the Italian or Sicilian Mafia or
any of the drug cartels around the planet. When these operations were small,
family run businesses and the Boss knew everyone in their operation, it was
almost impossible for law enforcement or intelligence agents to infiltrate the
operation. First, these small operations required a blood oath and a sponsor
who would vouch to the integrity of the new member. As the operations became
more successful and required expansion, and at times rapid expansion, then
things started to develop gaps and holes in operational security. The Boss,
captains, lieutenants, and enforcers no longer knew every member of their crew.
At this point, not only was infiltration possible it was happening as quickly
as agents could be inserted. Once one got in, they would vouch for others and
then the operation was compromised. Intel would be leaked, and jobs would begin
to be botched or intercepted by law enforcement, intelligence agencies, or the competition.
Of course, when rats were caught, they would take a dirt nap and the OPSEC hole
would be plugged, at least for a while.
The moral of the story
being that small organizations where everyone is well known to each other are
less ideal for infiltration by outside agents. That is one solution to protect
operations from infiltration. But there are other vulnerabilities…During the
Great War and World War Two, posters plastered the walls of train stations, bus
stops, and office walls; with messages like “loose lips sink ships” or “the
walls have ears”. There are still samples of these poster all over the internet.
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| Loose Lips Sink Ships - War Poster |
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| The Walls Have Ears - War Poster |
This vulnerability of
having members of an organization flapping their gums with no regard for the
audience – intended or not, shows a distinct lack of organizational discipline
and personal discipline. If you want to achieve and maintain OPSEC in your
operation, folks in your group need to understand how much damage they can
create when the wrong person overhears someone bragging and then rats them outs
to an agency or the competition. In a business environment this type of breach
could cost you millions when your competition scoops your deal with a supplier.
In a more security related operation this type of breach could cost you your
freedom or your life. Those who lived through World War Two seemed to
understand and comprehend the seriousness of OPSEC even when they were
thousands of miles away from any front. Today matters are further complicated
by the ease with which information can be shared on social media. There seems
to be a psychological compulsion for folks to spill the beans…with friends and
enemies, just for likes!!! Whiskey tango foxtrot, over!!! Where has personal
responsibility, self-discipline, and self-control evaporated to??
If you are the captain,
keep your ship and crew in snug control. Baggy sails and flapping lips could be
the end of your voyage – individually and collectively!
Until next time…run a
tight ship!
Mountainman.
