Risk assessment
Your company may have excellent physical security and access control systems. However professional criminals and extremists wishing to infiltrate and harm your business (known as 'Insider Threats') are utilising methods to circumvent your existing security, including: -
- Recruiting and implanting a 'sleeper' into your organisation, to activate as and when required.
- Targeting an existing member of staff- particularly if they spot any vulnerability or weakness. This can take the form of:
- Offers of cash for sensitive information
- Threats of physical violence
- Intimidation either direct or through others
- Compromise, by targeting employee with offers of drugs, sexual favours or other inducements.
To mitigate the risk from the 'Insider Threat' you will need to ensure that each post holder undergoes pre-employment screening to a level appropriate to the post. This should be commensurate with the responsibilities, access to company information & systems and authority levels.
Ask these questions of yourself
- What could cause your business the most harm?
- Which members of staff are in positions to do the most damage?
- What is their opportunity to cause loss, gain for themselves or disrupt your business operation?
Your organisation could suffer irreparable reputational harm due to the actions or behaviour of an employee. Someone, whose unchecked background is subsequently publicly exposed, can likewise reflect on your business and credibility.
You also risk heavy penalties if you employ someone who is illegally in the UK or has no right to paid employment. You may also be civilly liable if you did not undertake due diligence into an employees background and their actions cause harm to others.
Start now and use out Threat Analyser to find your screening requirements and industry threats.
