To achieve secure optical communications, a messaging encoding scheme is utilized in which optical communication signals are encoded based upon a known unique code. This encoding methodology allows for the broad transmission across an optical network which will include intended destination. Only the intended destination or destinations will include the necessary unique codes to allow recognition and decoding of the optically encoded message. By providing security in this optical encoding manner, the need for additional message overhead and/or additional systems is thus avoided, thereby providing efficient communication in a secure manner.