9/11. Bali. London. Madrid. Paris. Terror attacks are unfortunately all too frequent. And we now hear almost daily reports of young Australians being stopped at the border as they attempt to travel to the Middle East to join the fight with Islamic State jihadists.
Terrorism is no longer a distant threat.
The changing political landscape dictates that businesses not only need to understand terrorism risk, but also develop a proactive plan to assess and manage that risk.
Managing risk associated with the threat of terrorism can be a daunting task. Some of the common questions include how to begin a terrorism risk management program, what assets should be protected and what are the most effective mitigation solutions.
Risk management
While terrorism is sometimes treated as an isolated threat, it is usually better handled as part of your overall risk management plan. It’s a common misconception that only large businesses need to have a risk management plan in place, but this couldn’t be further from the truth.
Here are some things you should consider in relation to the risk of terrorism:
- Implementation of security measures to reduce the risk of exposure to attack.
- Identification of potential indirect impacts such as disruption to transport systems, supply chains and utilities supply.
- Development of a business continuity plan to manage the impact of an attack.
- Assessment of insurance policies to ensure terrorism risks are covered.
- Monitor possible threats and assess potential vulnerabilities.
Attacks around the globe demonstrate that terrorism will remain part of the risk landscape for the foreseeable future. However this risk can be managed in order to mitigate the potential impact.
Remember, a business doesn’t need to experience a direct physical attack to suffer loss. When terror stikes, it’s essential to have safeguards in place to ensure your business can deal with the impact. So in addition to a risk management plan, make sure you have have a disaster recovery strategy in place, as well as business continuity insurance.
Developing an effective risk management plan can be a complicated task, so you should always seek advice from an expert. They’ll be able to guide you throught he process.
Emjay Insurance Brokers provides risk management advice and solutions to businesses of all sizes. They make it easy for you to access the advice and services you need to ensure your business is protected. Contact us today to discuss your needs on (02) 9796 0400.