Every company that conducts any of its business outside the US is at risk from problems that occur in the countries where it operates.
These international security risks can vary enormously, depending on the countries involved and the activities concerned.
For instance, you might be a manufacturer importing parts for one of your products that are made in another country, or you could sell and deliver products to that country. You might be a government department that needs to hold face to face meetings with ministers of another country, or you could be sending employees to meet customers abroad. That is just a minute sample of the way companies and other organizations operate abroad, and almost every one of them is different.
It could be something fairly simple such as an employee overseas needing medical attention for toothache or a broken arm, or it could be something far more sinister such as the possibility of an employee kidnapping. This is why you need the services of an international corporate security expert who knows all of the problems that might arise, and how to deal with them if, or when, they do.
There is only one way to deal with this satisfactorily and that is to have the aforementioned international corporate security expert undertake a complete audit of your company’s or department’s overseas activities and assess the possible risks and the likely outcomes if you are not prepared for them.
Risks Could Be Minor Or Could Be Very Serious in International Security
Risks in some areas of overseas security might be very minor, or they could involve serious risk of injury or even death in certain countries. You need to be able to plan for unexpected events such as natural disasters, chemical or biological threats, incidents involving hazardous materials, and the ever-present possibility of terrorist threats even in countries deemed to be friendly. If you are a business are sending corporate executives, VIPS, and even just regular employees overseas, you need to conduct an international security risk threat assessment audit immediately. Or, better yet, hire an outside international security expert to conduct one for you. Our expert eyes will see things you may not even yet imagine.
For instance, just at the beginning of May, Kilauea on Hawaii’s Big Island erupted and the situation has got steadily worse. At the time of writing, two lava flows have reached the Pacific causing thick hazardous clouds containing hydrochloric acid and glass particles which cause irritation and breathing difficulties. If you have an employee, or employees, stationed here you will want to know the quickest way to get them back to safety, and this sort of information would have been included in a security audit undertaken by our international corporate security expert if part of your operations are in Hawaii.
This is one of the reasons why an international security audit is not just a “good idea” but it is something that is critical if you operate in other countries. Our experts will look at every possibility and arm you with the right tools to manage any kind of emergency situation.
Photo credit: University of Salford via Foter.com / CC BY
