Read This Now, Thank Me Later

The security of your home is always of paramount importance if you plan on bugging in during a major disaster scenario. This holds true regardless of whether you live on a rural homestead, a suburban home, or an urban apartment or condo.

Beyond the physical protection having a secured home provides, the peace of mind derived from knowing your home is secure also contributes significantly to your overall sense of well-being in your daily life.

Visible security measures, such as alarms and surveillance cameras, are more powerful deterrents to potential intruders than you may think due to the psychological impact alone.

But there are also many potential intruders and burglars who won’t be intimidated by cameras and alarm systems and will know how to circumnavigate them.

That’s why I believe true home security goes beyond simply setting up alarms and surveillance cameras. I would approach your home using the OPSEC method, where you have a complete operational plan for defending your home rather than just a few standard security measures here and here.

Trust me, you’ll thank me later.

What Is an OPSEC Plan?

OPSEC, which stands for Operational Security, is a process that identifies critical information to determine if friendly actions can be observed by adversaries.

An OPSEC plan, or Operational Security plan, is a set of measures designed to protect sensitive information and activities from potential threats or adversaries. It involves identifying and safeguarding critical details that, if exploited, could compromise the success and security of a mission, operation, or any sensitive endeavor.

OPSEC plans are commonly used in military, government, and business contexts to ensure the confidentiality and integrity of information. They can likewise be used on a more personal level to help secure your home as well.

Related: 5 Home Defense Tips for Seniors

The goal of any OPSEC plan is to prevent the disclosure of sensitive details or valuables that could be exploited by individuals and to ensure that any structures housing those details and valuables are secured. These plans typically include a combination of physical, procedural, and informational security measures to mitigate risks and protect operational activities.

A traditional OPSEC plan would be broken down as follows:

Identification of Critical Information

Identify the specific information that, if compromised, could pose a risk to your objectives. This includes sensitive data, plans, activities, or any details that adversaries might exploit.

Analysis of Threats

Assess potential threats to your security, considering who might be interested in the identified critical information. Understand the capabilities and intentions of potential adversaries, whether individuals, groups, or entities.

Analysis of Vulnerabilities

Evaluate the vulnerabilities or weaknesses in your current operations or practices that could be exploited by adversaries. This involves examining procedures, communication channels, and any other aspects where information might be at risk.

Assessment of Risks

Combine the information from the threat and vulnerability analyses to assess the overall risks. Prioritize these risks based on their potential impact and the likelihood of exploitation.

Application of Countermeasures

Develop and implement countermeasures to mitigate the identified risks and protect critical information. Countermeasures may include changes in communication practices, enhanced security protocols, or other measures to reduce vulnerabilities.

The above is how a typical military, government, or business would apply OPSEC. But now let’s take things down to a smaller scale.

OPSEC for You

Now let’s apply OPSEC to home defense and how you can secure your home:

1. Identify critical information related to the security of your home, including details about the layout, routines, and any valuable possessions you have inside. Is there any information that, if exploited, could pose a risk to the safety of the home and its occupants

2. Assess potential threats to the security of your home, considering factors like local crime rates, neighborhood dynamics, and any specific risks relevant to the area.

You should also try to understand the intentions and capabilities of potential threats, such as burglars or intruders.

Learn here the unmistakable signs that your neighbor will become a looter as soon as a crisis hits. The people you suspect the least might actually pose the biggest threat 

3. Now evaluate vulnerabilities in your home’s infrastructure, like weak entry points, inadequate lighting, or insufficient surveillance. Beyond your house itself, consider potential weaknesses in communication, such as sharing too much information about travel plans on social media.

4. Now combine the threat and vulnerability analyses to assess the overall security risks your home has. Prioritize these risks based on their potential impact, focusing on those that could result in unauthorized access or compromise the safety of residents.

5. Now it’s time for the real fun to start: to develop and implement countermeasures to mitigate identified risks, such as:

• Installing robust locks, security systems, and surveillance cameras
• Replacing your doors leading outside with metal doors installed with heavy duty locks and hinges that can’t be easily broken down
• Replacing your windows with acrylic glass that can’t be easily broken down either
• Improving lighting around the property to deter intruders
• Taking action to hide or secure any valuables in your home

⇒ How to Make Automatic Backyard Traps and Alarms Against Looters and Intruders

In short, OPSEC is all about understanding the motivations for why someone may want to break into your home, identifying your home’s vulnerabilities and any valuables that are kept inside, and then taking action to defend against those vulnerabilities.

If you’re like most people, you’ll probably realize that your doors and windows are the easiest entry points into your home, and you’ll want to fortify those first.

By recognizing the potential risks, understanding vulnerabilities, and implementing effective countermeasures, you can significantly enhance the security of their residences.

I would take a proactive approach, grounded in the principles of OPSEC, that your household is well-prepared to mitigate threats and adaptable to evolving security challenges.

Now the only thing left for you to do is to get to work.

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