Operations Security (OPSEC) Guide

Security programs and procedures already exist to protect classified matters however, information generally available to the public as well as certain detectable indicators reveal the existence of, and sometimes details about, classified or sensitive information or undertakings. Such indicators may assist those seeking to neutralize or exploit U.S. Government actions in the area of national security. Application of the OPSEC process promotes operational effectiveness by helping prevent the inadvertent compromise of sensitive or classified U.S. Government activities, capabilities, or intentions. The OPSEC process is a systematic and proven process that the U.S. Government and its supporting contractors can use to deny potential adversaries access to information about capabilities and intentions of the U.S. Government. The program is implemented by identifying, controlling, and protecting generally unclassified evidence of the planning and execution of sensitive Government activities.