Which security task involves protecting specific installations or routes?

The task of protecting specific installations or routes is correctly associated with area security. This form of security focuses on protecting defined geographical areas, which can include various installations such as military bases, critical infrastructure, or transport routes. The objective of area security is to eliminate or reduce threats specifically within that designated area, making it essential for ensuring the safety and operational integrity of installations and transit pathways.

Area security measures may involve regular patrols, surveillance, and checkpoints to monitor and manage access to the area, ensuring that resources are secured against unauthorized entry or potential sabotage. This contrasts with other forms of security such as local security, which typically encompasses more generalized protective measures within a community or locality, or guard operations, which are more focused on individual entities or persons. Screen security often refers to filtering out specific threats before they enter an area or facility, rather than the broader safeguarding of defined regions or routes. Thus, area security is the most accurate choice for this question, given its focus on protecting distinct installations and transit routes.