IMG GlobalSecur, a leading corporate international security consulting firm, releases a statement on the new or widening risks to the business environment. Many organizations will need to revisit their duty of care obligations in the workplace. As such, organizations must have up-to-date and comprehensive information about all aspects of threats in the workplace. Our workplace violence consulting experts can help business teams foresee potential vulnerabilities and walk clients through ways to improve their weak areas.
Do potential threats exist in the virtual workplace? Yes.
A strong focus on the future of remote work and the rise of the virtual workplace is hardly surprising when placed in the context of a global pandemic. As with any changes to a workplace, new or widening security-related risks to the business may evolve. A recent edition of Security Informed offers a relevant perspective on the rise of insider threats as the virtual workplace has grown.
The content offers valuable insight on what may be behind this increase in insider threat, including a sense of disconnection from the physical workplace and a lack of direct, day-to-day supervision. This is in addition to other known red flags for insider threats. The author also makes a valid point about how it could be easier for disenfranchised and distant employees to disregard company policies.
According to Christopher Hagon, Managing Partner of IMG GlobalSecur, one takeaway from the Security Informed article is that, as before, companies need a robust, multi-step strategy that ensures a violence-free workplace and negates possible “knew or should have known” claims. These steps include reinforcing workplace violence prevention training that emphasizes what is acceptable and not acceptable in the workplace. In all cases, a follow-up to investigate all emerging threats is essential. Finally, of critical importance is the need for a pre-defined channel to report unusual, intimidating, or potentially dangerous workplace issues or actions should they occur.
Businesses should therefore be prepared to measure what’s changed and what hasn’t, adds Hagon. For example, as more companies move to a hybrid workforce schedule, are corporate physical security policies and practices evolving to meet identified emerging risks? And, are organizational changes needed to stay consistent with duty of care best practices for protecting people, intellectual property, and other sensitive data? Also, are protections in place for long-term use of devices by employees who will continue to work remotely? For those that don’t, are access controls adequate to protect physical workspaces in the changing environment?
Insider threats to companies may vary, but they exist in any industry. To adequately keep up with the changing threat environment, companies should focus on prevention as much as on response. Regular training can deter insider threat if it is part of an ongoing risk mitigation strategy. The training should include:
- Regular risk assessment.
- Ongoing global threat monitoring.
- Firm, unambiguous policy relevant to the virtual and or hybrid workplace.
Further, there should be a defined, multi-disciplinary process to investigate and address any identified risks.
Hagon says that as we look towards a future where more employees may become remote to the physical workplace, companies must flex accordingly to identify insider threats before they become actual incidents.
Learn More About IMG’s Experience in Workplace Violence Consulting as Well as Employee Safety and Security Management
IMG has extensive experience in helping organizations with protective services, employee safety and security challenges and security management. To learn more about the solutions offered by IMG, please visit our informative page on workplace violence consulting.
About IMG GlobalSecur
IMG GlobalSecur is a leading international employee security consulting company with considerable experience in corporate security consulting and employee safety. Corporate or business organizations concerned about their need for effective employee safety and security measures can reach IMG for assistance. The company’s expert corporate security consultants provide a wide range of services including threat and risk assessments, employee security, VIP and executive protection, workplace violence prevention and response, protective services, crisis management planning, and more.
Web. https://www.theimg.com
Tel. (352) 409-7073