Internal Threats and Countermeasures

Abstract

The spectrum of internal threats is broad. Internal threats include violence in the workplace, theft of proprietary information, sabotage, infiltration by gangs or organized crime, and terrorism. This chapter focuses on internal theft and associated countermeasures, the strategies covered also apply to many internal and external threats. Without management support, efforts to reduce losses are doomed. A good management team sets both a foundation for strategies and an atmosphere in which theft is not tolerated. Support for budget requests and appropriate policies and procedures are vital. It is found that good internal and external relations can play a role in preventing employee theft. Loss prevention practitioners who show appropriate courtesy, demeanor, and appearance are respected by employees. Prompt investigations of incidents indicate that losses are a major concern. Care must be exercised when confronting an employee suspect. The recommendations should be in conjunction with good legal assistance. The physical security strategies covered in this chapter are being increasingly combined into what is called integrated systems. An integrated system is the control and operation by a single operator of multiple systems whose perception is that only a single system is performing all functions.