OPSEC and Law Enforcement

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and OPSEC Protocols

The Federal Bureau of Investigation is an example of a US law enforcement organization that has adopted excellent operational security (OPSEC) protocols following 9/11. (FBI). The FBI has been working on adopting OPSEC since the September 11 attacks, and its efforts have been recognized as a significant contribution to greater security in the United States, particularly following the September 11 attacks (Bennett, 2015).

Implementation of OPSEC Procedures by the FBI

Since 9/11, the FBI has worked closely with the OPSEC Program Manager (OPM) to implement OPSEC procedures by addressing numerous security issues presented by various concerned parties relating to vulnerabilities involved in the disclosure of secret information that may jeopardize security in the entire country (Bennett, 2015). One of the steps the FBI has taken in implementing the OPSEC procedures is identifying various risks that might lead to the disclosure of confidential intelligence information to unauthorized parties (Bennett, 2015). Additionally, the FBI has been training its personnel and all its affiliate security agents with the aim of ensuring successful accomplishment of its mission without compromising intelligence information (Bennett, 2015). The collaborative work between the FBI and the operational security agents has made it easy for the FBI to implement the OPSEC procedures and to improve their work towards a shared goal of minimizing intelligence information to the country’s adversities (Ravenel, 2006).

FBI's Approach to Combat Security Threats

The FBI has also implemented the OPSEC procedures by destabilizing the forces of the enemy through the identification of friendly forces and advising them to collect valued and high order information that might be helpful in combating various security threats (Bennett, 2015; Chenoweth, 2005). It is vital to note that before the establishment of the OPSEC, the FBI faced a significant challenge of concealing unclassified information that had great relevance to the country’s security and safety. The FBI unit, in conformity with the OPSEC procedures, has made significant steps towards understanding various languages and avenues used by the country's adversities in accessing security intelligence information (Bennet, 2015; Ravenel, 2006). For instance, the FBI has made significant changes aimed at sealing all the avenues of information leakage to the country’s enemies, including human intelligence (HUMINT). Besides, in situations where the adversities have capable signal intelligence (SIGNIT), the FBI has been responding, in compliance with the OPSEC procedures, by ensuring that there is no avenue for the discussing unclassified information (Bennett, 2015).

The Importance of an Effective OPSEC Program

One of the problems that I feel the lack of an effective OPSEC program could hold for the state, county, local, federal, and tribal law enforcement agencies is that it might result in over-militarization of the United States’ law enforcement agencies. That is because there would be insufficient investment in information intelligence and the country might resort to over-militarization of security agencies in ensuring the safety of its citizens. Additionally, the state, county, local, federal, and tribal law enforcement agencies might face the problem of being unable to prevent various security threats such as that of 9/11.

The Significance of OPSEC Implementation

The lack of an effective OPSEC program would, therefore, pose one of the greatest security risks for the country by significantly destabilizing its efforts to ensuring adequate security for its citizens. Thus, OPSEC remains one of the best programs that all the United States law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, have to fully implement as a means of preventing various issues that might compromise the country’s security, as well as that of the world by extension. However, the OPSEC procedures already implemented by the FBI is a clear indication that the country’s law enforcement agencies are committed to ensuring the safety and security of the United States citizens.

References

Bennett, L. (2015). Improve threat assessment procedures with Secret Service, FBI strategies. Campus Security Report, 12(2), 1-7. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/casr.30055

Chenoweth, J. (2005). Information Security Policies, Procedures, and Standards: Guidelines for Effective Information Security Management. Journal of Information Privacy and Security, 1(1), 43-44. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15536548.2005.10855762

Ravenel, J. (2006). Effective Operational Security Metrics. Information Systems Security, 15(3), 10-17. http://dx.doi.org/10.1201/1086.1065898x/46183.15.3.20060701/94183.3