What is COMSEC (communications security)?

<p>Communications security (COMSEC) is the prevention of unauthorized access to <a href=”https://www.techtarget.com/searchnetworking/definition/telecommunications-telecom”>telecommunications</a> traffic or to any written information that is transmitted or transferred. There are several COMSEC disciplines, including the following:</p>
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<li><b>Cryptographic security. </b><a href=”https://www.techtarget.com/searchsecurity/opinion/Understanding-the-importance-of-data-encryption”>Encrypts data and renders it unreadable</a> until the data is decrypted.</li>
<li><b>Emission security. </b>Prevents the release or capture of electrical or electromagnetic emanations from hardware to defend against unauthorized interception of information or data.</li>
<li><b>Physical security.</b> Protects equipment, facilities and other infrastructure from unauthorized access, theft and damage.</li>
<li><b>Transmission security. </b>Prevents the interception or disruption of any transmissions occurring over a communications network.</li>
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<p>Information technology organizations across all verticals worldwide use these practices to secure their communications. However, the term <i>COMSEC</i> is largely used by the U.S. military and U.S. government.</p>
<p>The U.S. Department of Defense depends extensively on COMSEC practices to safeguard wired, wireless and space communications systems to maintain the nation’s defensive posture. Similarly, the U.S. <a href=”https://www.techtarget.com/searchsecurity/definition/National-Security-Agency”>National Security Agency</a> is also a major user of COMSEC cryptographic equipment and technologies as well as a developer of <a href=”https://www.techtarget.com/searchsecurity/feature/Cryptography-basics-Symmetric-key-encryption-algorithms”>cryptographic algorithms</a>.</p>
<section class=”section main-article-chapter” data-menu-title=”Why is COMSEC important?”>
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