Systems and methods for selecting a puncturing pattern for a low density parity check (LDPC) code are disclosed. One such method comprises: selecting a puncture pattern distribution for the LDPC code; calculating a security threshold and a reliability threshold for the LDPC, the LDPC having the selected puncture pattern distribution and also described by a degree distribution; storing the selected puncture pattern distribution responsive to a security gap for the LDPC being a lowest value encountered in any prior iterations; selecting another puncture pattern distribution for the LDPC code; and repeating the calculating, the storing, and the selecting another puncture pattern distribution steps.