Securitas analysts were preparing a risk intelligence report when a specific threat caught their attention. This discovery set off a chain of events that showed one of our clients the power of a proactive, intelligence-based security program.
Risk intelligence reveals an imminent threat
Let's go back to 2022, when our Risk Intelligence Center (RIC) was preparing a routine report to provide increased situational awareness of global events.
The report – available to organizations that subscribe to RIC's risk awareness services – documented an impending threat to one of our protection customers, a multinational manufacturing company with a global supply chain. The customer was to become the target of protests aimed at disrupting processing and distribution processes and stopping the supply of perishable goods. This threat had potential international operational, compliance, and brand implications.
It is important to note that protests are a fundamental legal and legal right in most countries, and protests themselves are not necessarily a cause for concern. The threat stems from the actions of the protesters, such as damage crime, harassment, etc. These disruptive activities pose a threat to companies, from threats to employee well-being to property damage to operational disruption – and these are the risks identified in the RIC intelligence report.
Although the client had not yet used our risk intelligence services, we saw the potential impact and immediately took action to support them. Our RIC analysts contacted the account team, encouraging them to take proactive action to protect the client's operations. The client invited RIC analysts to participate in the conversation to explain the findings contained in the risk intelligence report – where the threat comes from, what its nature and what the potential consequences are.
Loss prevention: Quick response to asset protection
The company's security manager revealed that they had been the victim of a similar incident two months earlier, suffering losses of up to £1.2 million as a result of supply chain disruptions. Realizing the seriousness of the situation, the client referred the matter to the company's operational, legal, brand and communications departments.
Equipped with RIC intelligence, they began a comprehensive response, including informing customers and suppliers of the situation, increasing security and resilience measures based on threat details, and hiring a specialist external legal representative to present their findings to the High Court in London.
The court requested specific evidence of the anticipated disruptive activities. In response, the client submitted an RIC intelligence report that included a comprehensive assessment of the impending threat. After analyzing the report, the Supreme Court issued a court order prohibiting members of the protest group from entering the client's premises.
While risk intelligence won't prevent such incidents, it can help businesses mitigate threats and their potential risks. In this case, the customer increased the level of security for key dates identified by RIC, further enhanced by dynamic mobile patrols. With increased preparedness, increased protections, and a court order, our client was confident that they had the right safeguards.
This not only helped the client minimize the financial impact and compliance, but also secured their brand and reputation.
The power of a proactive approach to safety
This incident has reaffirmed the importance of using intelligence to conduct basic threat assessments and ongoing risk monitoring. In fact, the customer purchased RIC's services to continuously monitor threats, which also helped them identify other incidents, including potential insider threats and brand and reputational risks.
With growing protests around the world, companies need to keep a close eye on their threat profile. Continuous monitoring, reporting, and real-time analytics help increase peace of mind, better preparing individuals and organizations to face any challenges that lie ahead.
Regardless of size, industry or sector, every organization can benefit from risk analysis. A proactive, risk-based approach is key to staying ahead of emerging threats and protecting against potential disruptions. By investing in risk intelligence, companies can equip themselves with the knowledge they need to anticipate, mitigate and respond effectively to security risks.