Bin Laden's Death and the Impact on Corporate Security

May 10, 2011 - PRLog -- Most security officials do not foresee the demise of the al Qaeda leader sparking an immediate flurry of terror strikes by his followers.  Regardless, few doubt that radicals are eager and anxious to avenge the loss of bin Laden.  Authorities believe extremists will carefully plot retaliatory action in due time to ensure attacks succeed and avoid the humiliation and fury of failure produced by rushing plans to execution.  As law enforcement and intelligence agencies collect, monitor and analyze information in their efforts to detect al Qaeda’s next attack, companies need to realize the impact on their own operations.  With the increase in security by governments throughout the world, al Qaeda will explore all means to strike back at the U.S.  So what does this mean for the executives of companies and those individuals tasked with the safety and security of their employees?  Security needs to be made a priority before weaknesses are identified and exploited.

International Travel
Thousands of U.S. companies conduct business operations and activities throughout all regions of the world on a daily basis.  These companies need to realize that the government’s role in security outside U.S. borders is primarily limited to intelligence gathering and military operations.  Although always a concern, the safety and security of U.S. citizens working and traveling outside our borders is not a function of the federal government.  The responsibility for protection lies on the shoulders of the companies that employ these individuals who travel the world.  Companies must conduct due diligence to fully understand the risks and potential threats associated with the regions to which their employees travel and implement comprehensive policies and procedures to ensure the safety and security of their employees.

Domestic Operations
As we watch government and law enforcement agencies increase security at airports and other critical components of our national infrastructure, we must realize that our enemies are watching too.  Although many sources downplay the capabilities of terrorist organizations such as al Qaeda, we cannot underestimate the resilience and ability of individuals and organizations determined to harm the U.S.  As we secure our own infrastructure, they refine their strategy of how, when and where they will strike.  The concern that our enemies will adapt their efforts to carry out attacks on targets different from previous efforts is always present. The attacks of 9/11 demonstrated a focus on targets that were both symbolic and immutable to the American people.  Although the destruction of iconic hallmarks are powerful, the primary value to our enemies remains the loss of life; therefore, any large gathering represents a potential target.  Whether these threats are corporate buildings, commuting centers or large social and cultural events, it is incumbent that we identify and fortify these areas against possible threats.

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