You probably didn’t think a balloon would be something that an organization should have on its list of emerging threats. Well, Seerist’s Eddie Everett wants security leaders to remember that balloons, along with other unidentified objects are real concerns for security leaders. It’s not just about what’s above us, but what’s underground as well. In Peru, an unstable political and economic situation spurred protests that caused a shut down of copper mines, affecting up to 30% of Peru’s copper output.
Protests over wages, political legislations, and elections are increasing worldwide. Events in one location can have a wide-ranging impact. The shut down of one location might impact the global supply chain, as well as changing the economic stability of workers at the location and beyond.
What can companies do to help prepare for unexpected events and disruptions? Here are two key tips that security leaders should keep in mind in order to stay ahead of emerging threats:
- Invest in Humans. While staying on top of global data and intelligence requires the right technology, humans must always remain part of the picture. A healthy ecosystem – composed of people + machines – can respond to risks before they become major threats.
- Constantly Wargame. For every potential threat, there should be a model for the worst-case outcome which should be constantly revisited as data updates. While many of those scenarios may never happen, the value of this approach will be proven when just one of them comes to fruition.
Not every balloon that floats by will warrant attention. And not every disruption will be disastrous. However, today’s global economy is one in which the frequency of risks and threats is higher than ever. Security leaders must take new initiative to be prepared. Having the right team members and the right plans in place that address a variety of emerging threats is the best way to stay ahead of the game.
