What is Tactical Operations?
The term “tactical operations” is a misnomer, since tactical and operations are two levels of planning and action within an organization, especially relevant in cybersecurity and business management contexts. Understanding the distinction helps align activities effectively toward organizational goals:
- Tactical refers to specific, short-term actions or initiatives designed to execute aspects of the operational plan:
- Tactical efforts are more focused and detailed, often involving concrete steps or campaigns aimed at achieving specific objectives within a defined timeframe.
- Tactics translate operational goals into actionable tasks. For instance, a tactical activity could be running a phishing awareness campaign, conducting vulnerability scans, or deploying a new firewall rule.
- Operations refers to the broader, ongoing processes and activities that support the daily functioning and overall mission of an organization (e.g., mid-level management):
- Operational planning focuses on managing and coordinating resources, systems and workflows to deliver consistent and reliable outcomes.
- It is typically mid-level and involves managing teams, ensuring policies and procedures are followed and maintaining systems’ performance. For example, an operational plan in cybersecurity might involve running continuous monitoring systems, managing incident response teams, or maintaining access controls.
Key distinctions between tactics and operations include:
- Scope: Operational is broader and ongoing, while tactical is more focused and short-term.
- Purpose: Operational ensures stable functioning and supports strategy, while tactical executes operational goals through targeted actions.
- Timeframe: Operational planning covers weeks to months, while tactical actions may be days to weeks.
- Examples: Operational includes system maintenance, while tactical includes procedures to patch a specific server.
Operational activities set the stage for tactical actions, while tactical efforts help achieve operational effectiveness. Both must align with strategic objectives for the organization to succeed.