Surge In Physical Security Threats Linked To Hybrid Working

Surge in physical security threats linked to hybrid working

By Ben Kunde, CFE

A post-pandemic shift to hybrid workforces is increasing physical threat levels and creating more complex security risks.

These are the key findings of the 2022 State of Protective Intelligence Report which surveyed security, legal and compliance managers on the post-pandemic challenges faced by their organizations.

The study found that 88% of companies are experiencing an increase in physical threat levels to managers and employees as workforces adapt to new remote and hybrid working models.

The increased threats are linked to conflicts over changing work arrangements, disagreements over pandemic related health & safety policies and a general rise in social and political extremism.

The report finds that many companies are struggling to adapt to the evolving nature of the security risks posed as traditional business structures are replaced by a hybrid mix of workplace and remote-based employees.

“ The study found that 88% of companies are experiencing an increase in physical threat levels to managers and employees as workforces adapt to new remote and hybrid working models. ”

Some of the key survey findings include:

• 88% of companies reporting an increase in physical threat activity

• 88% linking increase to conflicts over health and safety protocols

• 85% say the physical threat landscape is expanding and diversifying

• 41% say there’s an increased risk of threats being missed

The report, commissioned by the Ontic Center for Protective Intelligence, surveyed more than 350 security, legal and compliance decision-makers at U.S. companies, responsible for over 5,000 employees.

When asked to name their main security challenges, the top three responses were:

• Data management risks (41%)

• Physical threats to remote workers (33%)

• Physical threats to management/executives (32%)

Nearly three-quarters (74%) of US companies are now operating some form of hybrid model with security managers having to review and adapt their pre-pandemic risk management strategies to cope with the changes.

Security systems and protocols designed for controlled and static workplace environments are now having to manage this changing threat landscape with risk management strategies that work across a distributed workforce.

The report also highlighted a link between cyber and physical threats with conflicts that start during online communications often escalating and leading to physical threats and risks.

To tackle these challenges, there’s a growing use of digital tools that use real-time tracking and AI alerts to provide continuous security coverage across a hybrid workforce.

Fred Burton, Executive Director of the Ontic Center for Protective Intelligence, stated:

"Threats or harmful incidents are occurring so often, a majority agree, that employees are used to erratic and violent behavior and don't report these as warning signs until it's too late.

“This is why technology-based tools and consistent training are more critical than ever – thankfully we are seeing greater and greater adoption of digital intelligence."

The full report can be found here: [2022 State of Protective Intelligence Report]

Ben Kunde has been advising executives, celebrities, HNWIs, and Chief Security Officers on emerging threats. As a Certified Fraud Examiner, he oversees complex and cross-border investigations, asset identification and due diligence matters.

Ben earned his M.B.A. from the Leonard N. Stern School of Business at New York University. Following his military service in Berlin at the elite German honor guard battalion, he received a B.A. in Political Science and an M.A. in Sociology from the University of Rostock, Germany.

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