When War Breaks Out: What Businesses Should Be Doing to Prepare and Protect Their Operations 

War is often perceived as a geopolitical issue affecting governments, militaries, and national security agencies. But in today’s interconnected global economy, armed conflict rarely remains confined to the battlefield.

Even when the conflict occurs overseas, the ripple effects can reach businesses thousands of miles away through disrupted supply chains, cyber activity, regulatory changes, economic volatility, and workforce safety concerns. 

Over the past several years, conflicts such as the Russia-Ukraine war and instability in the Middle East have demonstrated just how quickly geopolitical events can disrupt global commerce. Supply chains, energy markets, logistics routes, and financial systems can all be affected within days of a major escalation. Conflicts have been shown to significantly weaken global maritime supply chain resilience and alter global logistics routes.  

For businesses, the lesson is clear: war is a business risk. 

Organizations that operate internationally, or rely on international supply chains, must be prepared to respond to geopolitical disruption just as they would any other major crisis. A critical figure in this preparedness is the Crisis Management Coordinator, whose role is to ensure the organization’s leadership team understands potential impacts and is ready to respond. 

Why War Matters to Businesses: Even When It’s Far Away 

A company does not need to operate in a war zone to be affected by conflict. In many cases, the impacts are indirect but still severe. 

Global supply chains are particularly vulnerable. According to industry research, nearly 80% of organizations experienced supply chain disruptions within a single year, highlighting how fragile interconnected supply networks can be. (The Business Continuity Institute) 

War can affect businesses through multiple pathways, including: 

Supply Chain Disruptions 

Conflict can interrupt production, transportation, or trade routes. Raw materials, manufacturing components, and finished goods may suddenly become unavailable or delayed. 

Energy and Commodity Volatility 

Military conflicts often disrupt energy markets and commodity flows, which can drive up manufacturing and transportation costs worldwide. (S&P Global) 

Cyber Operations and Hybrid Warfare 

Nation-state cyber actors frequently target companies in allied countries or critical sectors as part of broader geopolitical campaigns. 

Sanctions and Regulatory Changes 

Governments may impose sanctions, export controls, or trade restrictions that directly affect suppliers, partners, or customers. 

Workforce Safety 

Employees traveling internationally or working in foreign offices may face safety risks or evacuation scenarios. Several of our friends and colleagues are evacuating as we speak.  

Reputational Pressure 

Organizations may face public scrutiny for continuing business relationships in conflict-affected regions. 

The complexity of these risks means that geopolitical conflict must be addressed through structured crisis management processes, not ad hoc responses. 

The Crisis Management Coordinator: The Organization’s Early Warning System 

While executive leaders ultimately make strategic decisions during a crisis, the Crisis Management Coordinator plays a vital operational role in preparing the organization and supporting leadership. 

In many organizations, the coordinator is responsible for ensuring the crisis management framework functions effectively during high-risk events such as geopolitical conflict. 

Their role typically focuses on four core functions: 

1. Situational awareness
2. Exposure analysis
3. Leadership preparedness
4. Crisis Coordination 

Together, these functions ensure the organization is prepared before a crisis occurs, not just after the disruption begins. 

Monitoring the Risk Environment 

One of the most important responsibilities of the Crisis Management Coordinator is to ensure that the organization maintains situational awareness of geopolitical developments. 

This includes monitoring intelligence sources such as: 

• Government advisories 
• Security intelligence providers 
• Trade and sanctions announcements 
• Supply chain intelligence platforms 
• Industry alerts and geopolitical risk reports 

The coordinator’s role is not simply to collect information but to translate geopolitical developments into business risk insights. 

For example, if conflict escalates in a region where key suppliers operate, the coordinator should help answer questions such as: 

• Are any Tier-1 or Tier-2 suppliers located in the affected area? 
• Could sanctions disrupt payment channels or logistics? 
• Are shipping routes likely to be affected? 
• Are cyber risks increasing for companies in our sector? 

By synthesizing these insights, the coordinator ensures leadership teams have the information needed to anticipate potential disruptions. 

Related: Crisis Pros Get Ready: Politically And Culturally Driven Crises Are Here To Stay

Mapping Organizational Exposure 

Understanding geopolitical risk requires more than monitoring global news. Organizations must understand how those risks intersect with their own operations. 

The Crisis Management Coordinator often leads internal efforts to identify exposure points across the organization. 

These may include: 

Supply Chain Dependencies 

Companies often have limited visibility beyond their first-tier suppliers. However, disruptions frequently occur deeper in the supply network, where organizations may have little awareness of exposure. 

Manufacturing and Logistics Dependencies 

Manufacturing operations may rely on raw materials or components sourced from regions affected by conflict. 

Technology and Infrastructure 

Cloud infrastructure, data centers, or technology vendors may be located in regions experiencing instability. 

Business Partnerships 

Joint ventures, distributors, or strategic partners may be directly impacted by geopolitical developments. 

Employee Locations 

Companies with international operations must assess risks to employees located in affected regions. 

Mapping these dependencies allows leadership teams to identify where disruption could occur and determine whether contingency plans exist. 

Preparing Leadership Teams Through Crisis Exercises 

One of the most effective ways to prepare organizations for geopolitical disruptions is through crisis simulation exercises. 

Geopolitical crises often evolve rapidly and involve complex decision-making under uncertainty. Leadership teams must be prepared to address operational, legal, reputational, and financial implications simultaneously. 

The Crisis Management Coordinator often works with senior leadership to organize exercises that simulate scenarios such as: 

• A sudden government sanctions announcement affecting a key supplier 
• A cyber attack linked to a nation-state actor 
• Closure of major shipping routes or ports 
• Escalating military conflict affecting regional logistics 
• Public pressure to suspend operations in a conflict-affected country 

These exercises allow leaders to test decision-making processes, clarify roles and responsibilities, and identify gaps in planning. 

More importantly, they help transform geopolitical risks from abstract threats into practical leadership challenges. 

Coordinating the Organizational Response 

If conflict begins to affect operations directly, the Crisis Management Coordinator helps ensure the organization’s response is structured and disciplined. 

Their responsibilities may include: 

• Activating the crisis management team 
• Coordinating cross-functional communication 
• Maintaining situational awareness updates for leadership 
• Tracking decisions and action items 
• Aligning crisis management, business continuity, and communications teams 

During complex events, multiple departments – including legal, procurement, IT security, communications, and operations – may need to coordinate simultaneously. 

Without a central coordination function, organizations risk fragmented decision-making and delayed responses. 

The Crisis Management Coordinator helps ensure the organization maintains clarity, structure, and momentum during the crisis response. 

Preparing Before the Crisis Occurs 

The most effective crisis management programs focus on preparation rather than reaction. 

Before conflict disrupts operations, organizations should consider taking proactive steps such as: 

Strengthening Supply Chain Visibility 

Mapping critical suppliers and identifying alternate sources can reduce vulnerability to geopolitical disruptions. 

Developing Geopolitical Scenarios 

Incorporating geopolitical risks into crisis simulation exercises helps leadership teams prepare for potential disruptions. 

Establishing Sanctions Compliance Processes 

Organizations should ensure they have mechanisms in place to monitor and comply with evolving regulatory requirements. 

Integrating Security and Crisis Management 

Cybersecurity, supply chain risk, and crisis management teams should coordinate their preparedness strategies. 

Enhancing Leadership Readiness 

Crisis leadership training helps executives understand their roles during complex geopolitical events. 

Organizations that take these steps are far better positioned to navigate geopolitical shocks when they occur. 

War as a Business Continuity Challenge 

Geopolitical instability is becoming one of the defining risks of the modern business environment. Surveys show that geopolitical risk is now among the top concerns for business leaders due to its potential to disrupt supply chains, increase costs, and create regulatory uncertainty. (WTW) 

For many companies, the question is no longer whether geopolitical events will affect them, but when and how. 

By investing in structured crisis preparedness and strengthening the role of the Crisis Management Coordinator, organizations can significantly improve their ability to anticipate and respond to these disruptions. 

In a world where conflict can reshape global markets overnight, preparedness is not simply a resilience strategy – it is a business necessity.