In tactical communication, which of the following is essential for maintaining operational security?

In tactical communication, encryption is essential for maintaining operational security because it protects sensitive information from being intercepted and accessed by unauthorized parties. By converting information into a coded format, encryption ensures that even if data is transmitted over potentially vulnerable communication channels, it remains intelligible only to those who possess the decryption key. This not only safeguards critical operational details but also helps prevent adversaries from gaining insights into strategies and intentions, thereby preserving the integrity and confidentiality of military operations.

While the other options contribute to the overall effectiveness of communication systems, they do not directly provide the same level of security for protecting sensitive information against eavesdropping and unauthorized access as encryption does. Redundancy focuses on ensuring communication systems remain operational despite failures, standardization enables interoperability among different systems, and decentralization promotes flexibility and responsiveness. However, without strong encryption methods, these elements alone cannot prevent breaches of operational security.