Balancing Social Media with Operations Security (OPSEC) in the 21st Century

Abstract

The use of social media and networking sites like Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter have revolutionized the way the world is communicating. The ability to share information at a moment's notice has truly impacted American lives forcing a dependence on sharing personal information. The Department of Defense (DOD) has embraced these new communication tools and set policy on allowing internet-based capabilities on all government networks. The new policy permits Web 2.0 social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter to be used. The Department of the Navy (DON) has quickly adopted the policy and is utilizing social networks as methods to provide the public with a transparent view of the Navy's mission and daily operations. This new method of information sharing may seem harmless but there is an increased risk to Operations Security (OPSEC). The Operational Commander must safeguard his critical information and prevent any comprise of vital information. The lack of measures in place to support the use of social media and the ability for the user to quickly share information causes the Commander to contend with issues of control, security, and standardization making his ability to conduct OPSEC much more challenging.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 03, 2010
Accession Number
ADA525257

Entities

People

  • Adrian Bejar

Organizations

  • Naval War College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Cyber
  • Human Systems

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Computer Network Security
  • Computer Networks
  • Department Of Defense
  • Department Of Homeland Security
  • Digital Media
  • Governments
  • Information Operations
  • Information Systems
  • Internet
  • National Security
  • Naval Operations
  • Operations Security
  • Security
  • Social Media
  • Social Networking Services
  • Websites

Readers

  • Agent-Based Social Robotics and Mobile-Assisted Learning in Virtual Environments.
  • Defense Technology Research and Development.
  • Joint Military Operations and Doctrine.