Interview With Chris Cox of OPSA
Aug 5, 2008 Technology & Productivity
Recently I was contacted my Chris Cox, the president of The Operations Security Professional’s Association, known as OPSA for short in regards to his website OpsecProfessionals.org. I asked him if he would be interested in an interview explaining a little more about his organization, and he fortunately agreed.
1.First, tell us a little bit about yourself and OPSEC, since I’m sure many people do not fully understand it or are even aware it exists.
My name is Chris Cox, and I’m the president of The Operations Security Professional’s Association (OSPA). I’m a fairly recent veteran and currently work in the Information Security Field.
Operations Security, or OPSEC, was originally a Military concept developed during the Vietnam War in response to the awareness that enemy forces were continually acting on advance knowledge of Military operations because they were collecting unclassified “puzzle pieces”
and compiling the bigger picture of a classified operation. OPSEC is the procedure (formally, five steps) used to protect that information.
Today, the same principles are used, but not only in the Military, but in Governments, Schools, Corporations and even in our daily life. For example, when you go on vacation, you might have a neighbor pick up your mail and newspapers, put a timer on your lights, leave a car in the driveway, etc. When you do that, you’re practicing OPSEC.
Simply put, OPSEC is denying an adversary the information that they would want in order to collect critical information about your or your organization. OPSEC doesn’t try to replace other forms of security, but it strengthens them. The biggest way that this is done is by what’s called “thinking like the wolf”. By looking at your organization from your adversaries perspective, you can begin to see where your greatest vulnerabilities lie.
2. How does OPSEC relate to the real estate industry?
Real Estate Professionals that understand OPSEC have an advantage over their competitors for many reasons. For one, people are understandably concerned about their family’s safety and security. When a Real Estate Professional can apply they OPSEC process to their homes, they’re able to identify certain vulnerabilities that may be missed using other security methods. Knowing this, they’re able to anticipate (and potentially avoid, by explanation or repair) clients’ concerns. This skill has a potentially marketable value.
Competitive Intelligence is a close relative of OPSEC, and involves looking at the competitive climate and finding ways to excel by finding and targeting under-utilized markets.
3. What benefits would a real estate professional experience by becoming a member of OPSEC?
The biggest benefit to OSPA members is the collaborative nature of the organization. If you need security advice, guidance or hands on help, one of the members or Subject Matter Experts (SME’s) on hand will help you. For example, there are members in the physical security field, information technology/security, Law Enforcement, Military, Government, etc. It also shows clients that the Real Estate Professional has an interest and training in security.
4. What in your opinion would be some of the most prominent threats that may affect real estate professionals?
I don’t know the “climate” between Realtors, but many industries would consider competitive intelligence to be a threat (such as “stealing” customers or lucrative properties). I would also consider threats to a client (in terms of their new/potential home) to be a significant concern. OPSEC, however, also applies to marketing strategies, corporate conditions, and more.
5. Is there anything else you’d like to share with us about OPSEC?
It’s true that there is a five step process that forms the “core” of OPSEC. However, one finds that when they understand the OPSEC process, it begins be be more of a mindset than a process. That’s not to say that OPSEC Practitioners are “paranoid”, but are left with a greater awareness of security.
OSPA has made great strides in bringing OPSEC to the non-government world and the international scene. Currently, we’re working with Domestic Violence Outreach Centers to provide security training for residents and staff, and also to the Schools with Children effected by Military deployment. Currently, OSPA has members in seven Countries and has fostered the first true international OPSEC cooperative programs.
Thank you so much for the interview Chris - I really appreciate you taking the time to explain OPSEC to us and share how it can relate to real estate! To learn more about OPSA, visit OpsecProfessionals.org.
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