16 Trending Physical Security Threats Every Corporate Organization should Prepare to Deal with

Physical security is responsible for overall protection of assets, people and information in the business place. Threat is any person, group, and/or activity that have potential to cause breach of security within a defined space. While the underlie principle of physical security has universal application; what may be defined or accepted as threat is relative to time and space.

Threat is synonymous with loss as such, whatever is seen as security threat must elicit thoughtful concern from organization who might suffer its impacts. For instance, pilfering may seem inconsequential in most business setting however, if was not confronted and addressed it can run down a business. The starting point for any corporate organization is to put in place a functional security team who have capability to harness available resources to prevent or frustrate potential threats.

Physical security threats are constantly evolving alongside modern society. This is largely influenced by workplace culture, technology, knowledge, socioeconomic factors, globalization, and available market. To stay abreast or ahead of this trend, an organization must build agility, resilience and dominance. What can shape the kind of physical security threats a business may face include type and size of such business, industry, location, leadership and regulation, policing and criminal justice system.

Here is highlight of all-time physical security threats every corporate organization should prepare to deal with.

1. Access breach – happens when people and/or materials enter or leave business premises without authorized approval. An organization with porous access management will struggle to exist. Any state or country characterize by border (land, water, and air) porosity will be overrun by criminality.
2. General theft – this old stealth craft may occur in form of stealing, dupe/swindle, pilfering, shoplifting, diversion, shrinkage, padding, undersupply, cargo theft, siphon, fraud, etc. regardless of its form, it is a business killer.
3. Vandalism – this threat is a property crime. It involves willful destruction of a company property
4. Stowaway – this sort of security threat is applicable to aviation and maritime transport sector. It occurs when people illegally board an airplane or ship with intent to enter another country without following official protocol.
5. Burglary – this refers to act of gaining illegal access into a locked building, room or office with intent to commit crime. Oftentimes it involves forceful breaking and entry; sometimes, it may happen with ease of access.
6. Arson – this is act of intentionally setting fire on a property to cause loss to the owner or users. It may be influenced by a disease called pyromania or by vengeance or by criminal intent.
7. Robbery – this old coercive craft involves act of violence through the aid of a weapon to take what belongs to others.
8. Civil unrest – this may occur in form of riot, protest, demonstration, strike, picketing, lockout or lockdown. Regardless of how it happens, it can cause business disruption.
9. Kidnapping – involves abduction or hostage taking of people with aim for a gain.
10. Identity theft – this crime involves intentionally taking on identity of another person and conducting relationship in the name and profile of the person. It is very common on cyber space; however, it also exists in physical world. For instance, a non-staff thief can use identity credentials of a staff to prowl, and to access or exit company premises.
11. Natural disaster – this is an act of nature (force majeure) which may include flood, drought, storm, hurricane, tornado, and earthquake.
12. Convergence of threat – also known as cyber-physical threat is a peculiar kind of threat that is increasingly bridging the gap between physical and cyber security worlds. When a cyber-attack impacts physical services of an organization, a convergence of threat is playing out. For instance, a ransomware or distributed denial of service can cause panic and frustration for customers of an organization thereby creating mutual insecurity.
13. Product adulteration – this sort of security threat is applicable to manufacturing industry. It is a practice of faking a branded product that enjoy widespread industry acceptance and sometimes dominance.
14. Workplace violence – this applies whenever any act of violence against someone happens in a business premises. It may include robbery, assault, harassment, fight, and other types of uncontrolled aggression.
15. Fraud/embezzlement – fraud is a dishonest act of stealing money or property by deception or trick, while embezzlement involves stealing company’s money by a person of trust and authority.
16. Sexual harassment and/or rape – this refers to intimidating act against someone for sexual pleasure; or forcefully having sexual intercourse with a person. This threat is most common with female gender; however, a male can also become victim of it.

Physical security threats are realities of modern world business. The security threats exposed above are not new, however, criminals have continued to innovate new ways of committing them such that solutions which worked a decade ago may not be effective today. Proper prior planning will prevent poor performance in responding to these threats.

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About Author

Azubuike Nwenewo

is a seasoned Security Practitioner; Police Officer, Security Coach, Blogger and Author. He is passionate about peacebuilding and value protection. He is an advocate for positive peace and demilitarization. He likes reading and writing.

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