In COMSEC terminology, what does 'compromised' mean?

In COMSEC terminology, what does 'compromised' mean?

• A. Information encrypted
• B. Data archived securely
• C. Information remains secure
• D. Confidential information exposed

Answer: (D)

In COMSEC, compromised means that the secrecy of information has been breached—someone not authorized has gained access or could potentially gain access to sensitive material. It’s about exposure to unauthorized parties, not merely the current state of encryption or storage. Therefore, the statement that best fits is that confidential information has been exposed. The other options describe situations where information remains secure or is properly protected by encryption or secure archiving, which do not reflect a compromise. When a compromise is detected, it triggers incident response actions like notifying the appropriate authority and initiating rekeying or other security measures to restore confidentiality.

In COMSEC, compromised means that the secrecy of information has been breached—someone not authorized has gained access or could potentially gain access to sensitive material. It’s about exposure to unauthorized parties, not merely the current state of encryption or storage. Therefore, the statement that best fits is that confidential information has been exposed. The other options describe situations where information remains secure or is properly protected by encryption or secure archiving, which do not reflect a compromise. When a compromise is detected, it triggers incident response actions like notifying the appropriate authority and initiating rekeying or other security measures to restore confidentiality.