Like many strategic planning processes; risk management often gets shuffled to the side. The daily urgent matters take precedent over preparing for the low probability, high-risk icebergs or “Black Swan”[1] events. Economic impact on organizations that are not prepared for crisis situations can be dire. Leaders, who perhaps did not receive proactive support from…
In this 6th installment of the Whiteboard Wednesday video series, Rob asks the question “Are You Ready?” in regards to organizational preparedness.
A critical component to a holistic approach to cybersecurity is conducting a penetration test, or pen test, to evaluate computer system, network, or web application vulnerabilities that could be exploited by a hacker. The first question to consider when you conduct a pen test – what is the goal? Is it to satisfy compliance…
When a Special Operations (Spec Ops) Team deploys, they are usually well prepared and have analyzed as many contingencies (the what if’s) as they possibly can. The success of these operations is down to many factors such as accurate and timely intelligence as well as a strong support system. Not all spec ops teams…
Mental Health Support and Crisis Intervention for victims, survivors and families after an active assailant or hostile event looks different than a natural disaster response, because it is different. Your company, agency, community or region is the victim of a horrific incident. Emotional trauma is high with strong and broad impact. Vicarious trauma follows…
Recently I was running a hurricane drill for a client in the Caribbean and they were inspecting their campus to see what debris needed to be removed. Each year, as part of the drill, we look for things that could ‘float or fly’ during a hurricane and make plans for proper storage or disposal. This…
Is this type of cyber attack inevitable? Are we prepared? Veteran newsman, Ted Koppel, is gaining a lot of attention for his new book, “Lights Out: A Cyberattack, a Nation Unprepared, Surviving the Aftermath.” In it, Koppel convincingly argues that a cyber attack against our nation’s computer- and Internet-dependent power grid by declared enemies…
“My company has a business continuity plan. Why do I need a crisis communication plan, too?” Business continuity and crisis management are increasingly on the minds of organizational leaders worldwide. As well they should be. Many senior leaders with a business continuity plan in place believe they are well prepared for a crisis. And…
I managed to leave the British Army without too many scars. Throughout my 13 years in the military, I was able to craft many skills that made me a better soldier as well as a leader. In this article, I discuss five leadership lessons that the military taught me. 1. Lead From The Front…
When an incident happens it is essential that the top management of an organization establish, define and document their policy for crisis management, which includes clear directions and expectations. Related: How to Build a Strong Crisis Management Foundation It includes a statement of intent that clearly and concisely outlines their objectives, describes in broad terms how…