Threats in Context: Identify, Analyze, Anticipate

Threats in Context: Identify, Analyze, Anticipate emphasizes the importance of correctly evaluating threats in risk assessments. The book provides a retrospective on historical threats and presents a five-step process to develop an appropriate methodology for defining current and emerging threats. It covers topics such as terrorism, workplace violence, and active shooter scenarios and emphasizes the relationship between threat, vulnerability, and risk.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 248 pages
Publication date: 21 December 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Threats in Context: Identify, Analyze, Anticipate is a comprehensive guide that emphasizes the pivotal role of conducting a thorough threat assessment. According to the author, the success of all subsequent stages of risk evaluation hinges on accurately understanding and measuring the threat. However, despite this fundamental principle, many risk assessment methodologies often overlook the importance of a detailed and nuanced analysis of the threat. They tend to rely on vague typologies, offer limited classifications, and utilize an outdated list of potential malevolent actions, all of which are based on past occurrences.

To address this gap, the book proposes a way to enhance the tools available to security practitioners and analysts. It aims to provide them with better means to analyze threats and risk and to prepare for potential contingencies effectively.

The book begins by taking a retrospective look at the threats faced by society from the 1960s to the present. The list is extensive and encompasses a wide range of incidents, including hijackings, airport attacks, piracy, drug smuggling, attacks on trains, pipelines, city-wide multi-site attacks, road attacks, workplace shootings, lone wolf attacks, drone attacks, bombings, IEDs, sniper attacks, random stabbings, and many more.

Terrorism, workplace violence, and active shooter scenarios present unique challenges that require innovative approaches to risk management. The author demonstrates how to develop an appropriate methodology to define both current and emerging threats, providing a five-step process to self-evaluate an organization, a location, or a facility's threats and to plan risk mitigation strategies to accurately identify, minimize, and neutralize such threats.

The coverage in the book progressively builds from correctly identifying the threat to developing effective mitigation strategies. It covers topics such as threat modeling, risk assessment frameworks, vulnerability analysis, and response planning. The author emphasizes the importance of collaboration and information sharing among various stakeholders, including law enforcement, intelligence agencies, and private sector organizations, in effectively addressing threats.

In conclusion, Threats in Context: Identify, Analyze, Anticipate is a valuable resource for security practitioners, analysts, and decision-makers seeking to enhance their understanding of threats and risk. By emphasizing the importance of a thorough threat assessment and providing practical guidance on developing effective mitigation strategies, the book contributes to the overall goal of protecting society from a wide range of security challenges.

Weight: 460g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032420271