Write-up by Dr Mark Yates
Managing terrorism threats can be quite daunting challenge for most enterprise directors. Specifically as most organization owners and directors have little if any formal security training to fall back on. Herein lies the issue.
As a business director you have a legal responsibility under the corporate manslaughter laws to ensure the safety of your paid workers.
Terrorism professionals advise all company directors to take a proactive response to implementing security awareness and staff training to counter terrorism threats to your company. Imagine for one moment you are one of numerous organization directors running a company and you send one of your sales representatives overseas to win a enterprise order.
Your company becomes a terrorism targets and your representative is kidnapped and held for ransom. You have different options such as paying the ransom, which is usually price prohibited unless you have kidnap for ransom insurance.
Let’s just envision for one moment you do not have the cash to pay the ransom and the jihad terrorism kidnappers execute your sales representative as a warning to other businesses.
If you cannot prove you prepared your sales representative for his or her overseas business trip by ensuring they attended certified security awareness and/or a counter kidnapping training programme. Then you and your fellow directors will be sued under corporate manslaughter laws.
1 of the main problems facing enterprise directors is that they have no concept where to start when it comes to terrorism threats, terrorism targets, terrorism incidents, terrorism acts, security and implementing a strategy for countering terrorism.
Every single terrorism expert I know recognises that businesses, particularly little to medium size businesses present as soft terrorism targets. It is also deemed very good practice by any terrorism professional skilled in countering company related terrorism to advise enterprise directors to create their own internal threat management unit or TMU as it is identified in the terrorism expert business.
#1 Organise A Threat Management Unit (TMU)
Organising a TMU want not be a time consuming or expensive endeavour. In its basic format a little business TMU consists of the company owner and a security expert or a terrorism expert.
The terrorism professional conducts security research relevant to your certain organization and then collates all the available organization intelligence relating to terrorism threats, terrorism acts, jihad terrorism or any other terror incidents.
The terrorism expert then designs a distinct security program for countering terrorism which your company implements and updates as and when the terrorism professional recommends. Most terrorism professionals also suggest the TMU organises a series of certified security awareness and kidnap awareness training programmes.
#2 Style A Organization Continuity Plan
Designing a enterprise continuity program is usually one of the 1st actions suggested by the terrorism professional tasked with producing a TMU for your enterprise.
I’ve included a hypothetical example, i.e. Management Training Company Business Continuity Following A Critical Incident
The Issue
The tragic events of Post Sept’ 11th, in specific July 7th 2005 in London, need to make all HR managers feel cautiously about how ready their business is for any kind of crucial incident.
We are all conducting enterprise in uncertain times. Protecting the future of the firm has to be the number one priority for each business manager.
The Problem
Statistics suggest that virtually half (46%) of London businesses do not have a enterprise continuity strategy in place.
This means that those directly impacted, suffering a main or even a minor loss may possibly locate it impossible to continue to trade, particularly if they do not have terrorism insurance cover.
Source: Vanson Bourne study, October 2004
Critical Incident Downside
80% of all companies affected by severe incidents in no way re-open, or close inside 18 months. Enterprise interruption hits firms in Consumer Relationships. Cash Flow. Reputation. Staff Moral. Understanding incidents like fire, flood or pc failure, highlight where long term damage is done.
Firm – Too Small For A Organization Continuity Plan?
The smaller your company, the much more crucial it is to have a contingency strategy in location. Any incident, no matter how tiny, is capable of impacting your business & profitability.
The size of any continuity plan will depend on the risks facing each organization – it will be as significant or as small as needed.
Tiny Organizations Hit Harder
The impact of any essential incident is most likely to be far more pronounced for SME’s. The majority of SME’s operate in specialised markets with limited item ranges & comparatively little customer bases.
Any short interruption to business can have a disproportionate impact, totally halting output & leaving consumers high & dry. Source: AXA Insurance.
What Is Continuity Preparing
It’s about anticipating crises that could befall a organization & preparing for them. It sets out clear roles & responsibilities. It states who takes charge of particular roles. It lists a series of contingencies. Details clear emergency procedures to make sure risks to staff are minimised.
Enterprise Continuity Plan
A organization continuity plan sets out clear roles and responsibilities, for example those assigned to manage all liaison with Clients. Workers. Emergency services. It lists a series of contingencies that enable key enterprise activities to continue in the most challenging circumstances.
Threats To A Enterprise
Examples of threats to a enterprise are…
A crucial laptop or computer method is unavailable. Critical method machinery is damaged. Loss of key workers. The developing, or portion of the creating, can not be accessed, and… Suppliers are unable to deliver.
Common Tiny Organization Disasters
Fire/Flood Computer telecoms failure Key equipment failure Individuals problems – illness, resignation, maternity leave Denial of access to premises Product defects Bomb – terrorism threats Legal regulatory action Utilities failure Negative press or media coverage
Commercial Benefit Of A Continuity Program
There is also the commercial benefit to take into account. Firms with organization continuity plans are much more attractive to do organization with.
For example
Big businesses that rely on the outsourced services of third parties will prefer to function with suppliers who have a Organization Continuity Strategy in location.
Organization Continuity Summary
80% of all companies affected by serious incidents never re-open, or close within 18 months. 46% of London organizations do not have a organization continuity strategy in place.
Less than 20% of London Businesses have a dedicated team to manage a main incident.
Barely a quarter (13%) of SMEs stated they had managed to test their enterprise continuity plans.
Insurers are now seriously looking at how a enterprise, plans for a key incident just before insuring them.
About the Author
Dr. Mark D. Yates The British American Security Professional has conducted high risk security operations in 42 countries for government, military special forces, & security agencies. He is a published author & 5 key Television documentaries have been broadcast about him. Want to claim his Totally free 52 security guidelines then pay a visit to him at =>http://www.asecurityonestopshop.co.uk or e-mail him at drmarkdyates@aol.com
