What type of communication security does COMSEC refer to?

COMSEC, or Communications Security, encompasses a broad array of measures designed to protect classified and sensitive information and ensure the confidentiality and integrity of communications. The focus of COMSEC is on preventing unauthorized access to communication data and ensuring that only authorized personnel can access or decipher information.

The core concept behind COMSEC involves safeguarding not just through encryption but through various strategies that may include physical protection of devices, personnel training, and operational security practices that collectively work to deny unauthorized access to information. These measures might include using cryptographic techniques for encoding messages, but they also encompass a wider range of strategies aimed at securing physical communication platforms and managing access effectively.

While digital encryption and algorithms are indeed parts of this field, they do not represent the entire scope of COMSEC. Likewise, physical security measures are a contributing component but are not the sole focus. Therefore, the emphasis on the denial of unauthorized access and protecting information accurately summarizes the overarching aim of COMSEC.