iJET Outlines 2012 Threat Landscape

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The new year will pose unprecedented challenges and risks for organizations worldwide

ANNAPOLIS, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- iJET International Inc., a leading provider of global intelligence and business resiliency services, today issued its forecast for the threat landscape in 2012, highlighting macro-issues that will likely impact global business operations, staff and facilities worldwide. According to iJET, the new year will pose unprecedented challenges and risks for organizations and those tasked with ensuring employee safety.

“Needless to say, 2011 was a difficult year for many companies operating at home and abroad,” said Bruce McIndoe, President of iJET. “The Arab Spring, the continuing global economic crisis, terrorist attacks on multiple continents, and an array of natural disasters are examples of events that have deeply impacted many organizations’ global operations. In 2012, these threats will continue and over time, increase in frequency and severity.”

Among the 2011 threats that iJET and its regional analysts correctly predicted a year ago: increased violence in Guatemala due to a surge in drug trafficking; more violence in Yemen because of President Saleh’s refusal to resign; ongoing tensions in Lebanon; post-election violence in the Ivory Coast; and conflict between the U.S. and Pakistan in light of Pakistan’s apparent collusion with Afghan terrorists. These threats had a direct impact on thousands of business’s operations, assets and bottom lines.

Looking ahead to 2012, iJET urges businesses, organizations and travelers to pay special attention to the following issues:

• Global economic instability will continue to be the primary engine for public uprisings, as seen by recent events like the Arab Spring, the “Occupy Wall Street” movement, and civil unrest in countries like Chile and Greece.
• Arab Spring activities will not subside in 2012. In addition, Syrian protests, the bid for Palestinian statehood, and the U.S.’s decision to remove its troops from Iraq by year-end 2011 are among the events expected to drive ongoing instability across the region.
• Ethnic and racial disputes will elevate globally. Anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant fervor, for example, are likely to intensify in many parts of Europe.
• Elections and new political leadership in Iran, Egypt, China and Mexico, among others, will result in increased tensions and social discontent in those countries.
• Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam will witness increasing political discontent and business disruptions as a result of the 2011 floods.
• High-level kidnappings and terrorist activity will likely escalate in the Sahel region (i.e., Nigeria and the Sudan) and the Islamic Maghreb (i.e., Tunisia and Libya).
• Global health issues will continue to impact businesses and organizations. Avian flu, the possible resurgence of endemic diseases like polio, and ongoing food shortages in developing nations may lead to humanitarian and disease crises.

“As seen in the disastrous aftermath of the Japanese earthquake and tsunami, there is no substitute for contingency planning,” said Steve Hoffman, CEO of iJET. “A natural disaster or political uprising can change a country and its business landscape instantaneously. For this reason, organizations must continually monitor the environment for indicators and signals of change in order to better manage that change.”

To ensure employee safety, protection of critical assets and business continuity for 2012 and beyond, iJET recommends that organizations take the following actions:

• Institute proactive measures. Conduct security and threat assessments for areas identified for travel, operations, or expansion.
• Monitor ongoing trends. In the locations where you operate, ensure your organization is equipped with the intelligence and technology required to track changing conditions.
• Track threats to key assets. Identify key operational sites, suppliers, and areas of business engagements—current or planned—and continually monitor threats in those regions.
• Establish or update Operational Risk Management (ORM) and Travel Risk Management (TRM) plans.
• Centralize access to data, emergency communications, emergency plans and key documents so you have what you need when you need it.
• Build a resilient approach to evacuation and other types of response.

About iJET

iJET is an intelligence-driven provider of business resiliency and risk management solutions to over 500 multinational corporations and governments, helping them survive and thrive amidst global threats to their people, facilities and supply chain assets.

iJET’s services, team of world-class intelligence analysts and patented Worldcue® Global Control Center technology solutions equip decision-makers and organizations with real-time information to anticipate, respond to and emerge from business disruptions with a competitive edge. iJET’s Worldcue® solutions provide decision-makers with timely, actionable intelligence on potential disruptions and emerging threats to employees, operating assets and suppliers.

iJET is a 3i-MIND company. For more information, please visit: www.ijet.com.

About 3i-MIND

3i-MIND, a leader in predictive, integrated intelligence, combines the power of technology with human insight and analysis to offer a comprehensive approach to threat assessment and intelligence. Our solutions help clients proactively identify and manage risk, make critical decisions and protect their people and assets around the world. Our experts, analysts and proprietary technology transform vast amounts of information into relevant intelligence for both public and private sector organizations.

For more information, visit http://www.3i-mind.com and follow us on Twitter at @3iMIND.

APCO WorldwideChristina Kaiser, 212-300-1816[email protected]

Source: iJET International Inc.

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