The recent mass shooting in a Midtown Manhattan office tower has once again brought corporate security into sharp focus. Across the U.S. and Europe, corporations are responding by hardening security measures and investing heavily in prevention. It’s part of a clear international trend.
Here in New Zealand, we cannot afford to wait until tragedy forces our hand. The lessons from abroad are clear: waiting to act until after a fatal incident is too late. By then, the cost is already measured in lives lost, in the erosion of trust, and in the fracturing of the foundations that uphold our way of life.
Time and again, we’ve seen overseas trends—both positive and grim—make their way to our shores. The Christchurch mosque attacks, inspired by global extremist rhetoric. The rise of radicalised individuals influenced by online war propaganda. Even the spread of politically motivated lone‑actor violence. What happens in the U.S. or Europe does not stay there; it eventually arrives here.
Internationally, we are seeing a decisive shift: corporations are no longer viewing security as a secondary consideration but as a fundamental part of protecting their people and their communities. From key cards and turnstiles to the adoption of protocols once reserved for schools, houses of worship, and government buildings, businesses are investing heavily in the safety of their leaders and employees.
The trend is unmistakable—and it is only a matter of time before it arrives here.
Requests for corporate risk assessments are soaring overseas, with firms recognising that the cost of prevention is far less than the cost of inaction. The drivers are clear: rising political tensions, the increase of lone‑actor violence, and the uncomfortable truth that high‑profile individuals or controversial industries are more likely to be targeted. Corporations are responding with significant investments in residential, workplace, and personal security, treating the safety of their people as an operational priority, not an afterthought.
For New Zealand organisations, the challenge is not if these threats will reach us, but when. The choice we face is whether to prepare now or to wait until tragedy compels us to. Taking preemptive action—through independent risk assessments, scenario training, and the adoption of proven security protocols—ensures we can protect our people before danger strikes.
Practical steps businesses can take now include:
- Conducting regular independent risk assessments to identify vulnerabilities in physical and digital spaces.
- Establishing clear escalation protocols for threats, ensuring staff know how and when to act.
- Running scenario‑based security training so employees and leaders are prepared for a range of situations, from suspicious behaviour to active‑shooter events.
- Reviewing building access and visitor management systems to ensure they align with modern threats, not just traditional risks.
The safety messages from overseas are not distant echoes; they are clear signals. If we act with foresight, we can preserve not only lives but also the trust and sense of security that underpin our way of life.