A method and device for selectively protecting a control signal. The method includes: configuring, at a transmission end, a header comprising indication information representing whether the control signal is encrypted; performing, at the transmitting end, protection of the control signal by selecting one of schemes for protecting the control signal; and transmitting, by the transmission end to the reception end, the control signal comprising the header. The schemes for protecting the control signal include: a first scheme that protects confidentiality and integrity of the control signal, a second scheme that protects only the integrity of the control signal, and a third scheme providing no protection of the control signal.