What Is a Risk Assessment?

People often equate security with what they see with their bare eyes. This means guards standing and watching, CCTV cameras, fences, patrols, etc. However, that's not what security is all about. In fact, it envelops several other segments, such as a risk assessment. As a result, this article explores what is a risk assessment and where to get one. 

In a nutshell, it should include the following elements: 

• Identification of the hazards and threats, i.e., what could harm the company or its employees, leaders, and assets. 
• Deciding on the likelihood of the threats transpiring. 
• Taking action to eliminate the hazard or control the risk.

Sometimes, security professionals refer to it as a threat, risk, and vulnerability assessment or TVRA. At any rate, the said tool encompasses virtually the same aspects and serves the same purpose. But what is that purpose? 

For one, high-profile individuals and families are exposed to all kinds of threats in their environment. Whether they are disgruntled employees, fixated individuals, or environmentalist groups, UHNW persons need to be ready for any eventuality. In addition, it is not only they that can benefit from protection by requesting a risk assessment. It is also their  

• family,  
• workforce, and 
• company premises.

Similarly, a risk assessment also reduces liabilities for the employer, i.e., the corporate leader or the board of directors. Along similar lines, executives are decreasingly worried about somebody humiliating or embarrassing them in public, as it has become a rarity. In fact, they concern themselves more with data breaches, loss of information, and similar issues. 

In the same vein, living in an increasingly interconnected world warrants an in-depth discussion of what is a risk assessment in terms of technology and the accompanying technical aspects. 

Technical Threats and Comfort

Apps, systems, and tech continue to evolve and take up most of the time of high-profile individuals. Thus, it's critically important for their security team to know how to evaluate the tools that surround their principal. In fact, we even go so far as to say that protectees should ask their select EP team to suggest secure messaging apps for everyday use. 

When the principal leads a company with an IT department, the risk of them falling prey to technical threats is minimal. However, when this is not the case, the protectee must get help from the protective agents.  

Additionally, it is worth mentioning that the principal always wants to have their privacy wherever they are, including: 

• Office, 
• Home, 
• In transit. 

As a result, their executive protection team needs to take into account this aspect as well. For instance, too many CCTV cameras in their home or office could make them uncomfortable. To counter this, we suggest conducting a thorough risk assessment and looking into what can be done about it.  

For example, their perimeter may be just fine, and their security needs to be elevated differently, like putting up fences or doing a background check on household staff. 

For the most part, security professionals must ensure that everything works properly, including: 

• Communication and phone systems, 
• Power backups, 
• Vehicles, and
• Any other critical component.

Similarly, who comes near the principal and their property must also be a matter of scrutinization by the security team. For instance, delivery persons and other visitors must be thoroughly checked before contacting the principal. 

What Is a Risk Assessment in a Corporate Environment

Companies are increasingly worried about data breaches, both physical and virtual. In this sense, it is wise to impose access control measures to restrict the level of permission of every employee or contractor to a company's critical infrastructure and sensitive information. 

To that effect, we advise engaging an EP team with various skills and professional backgrounds in order to provide the highest level of safety for the workforce, company assets, and the overall environment. 

Security expert Dale June brings home the point in his book on executive protection:  

It is beneficial if team members have different experience, expertise, and skills, and come from diverse backgrounds.

One team member might have a background in psychology and experience in dealing with hostile subjects. Another might have experience in surveillance, wiretapping, or photographic specialties. There may be someone who has connections in law enforcement and is able to arrange police support. Another person could be an expert in threat assessment.

Success is virtually guaranteed with such diverse backgrounds and everyone working together as a team. 

We cannot stress enough the importance of a versatile team that works in sync to protect the protectee and their immediate environment. This is especially critical for a corporate setting, where environmental and political activists could threaten their lives and business continuance. 

When asking the question of what is a risk assessment in a corporate environment, there are a few things to keep in mind. Firstly, a risk assessment helps establish how to: 

• Restrict access to unauthorized personnel, 
• Impose visual deterrents, like security guards, 
• Practice situational awareness, and 
• Create a safe and secure environment, even in the parking lot. 

In other words, a risk assessment assuages security concerns in advance while looking for solutions. 

In Conclusion

This article investigated what is a risk assessment and the main elements that go into it. The good news? It is implementable in any setting, including: 

• Corporate, 
• Home, 
• Office,  
• Estate, etc.

With so many business concerns in their everyday lives, executives need to rest assured that they can do their best work without worrying about their or the safety of their loved ones. This is where executive protection comes to the fore. 

An EP team can conduct a thorough risk assessment that predicts possible eventualities and takes action to vastly reduce the likelihood of them transpiring.  

In fact, waiting for attacks or intrusions to happen and then reacting to them belongs to the old era — when security professionals had to guess when the next fixated individual or group with malicious intent would strike. 

Luckily, we now have risk assessments that tell us that and much more! 

Bedrock Special Projects provides peace of mind by implementing risk assessments to benefit prominent individuals, their families, and corporations. The Art of Executive Protection – Delivered with Elegance by Design.  

Drop us a line to learn more!