Interestingly, the percentage of Dutch CSOs who have seen an increase in threats of violence against top executives in the past two years is significantly higher than the global average. Nearly half (48 percent, ed.) of them see a clear increase – one of the highest percentages in Europe. 'We also see this reflected in practice,' says Guido Zennemers, CEO of G4S Netherlands. 'The concerning picture mainly concerns physical security risks that companies are facing. It is therefore important that physical safety in the workplace and access management are in order.'
Security Measures
Many companies have already taken additional measures in recent years. For example, half of the surveyed organizations have tightened their security procedures in recent years, while 45 percent have introduced risk assessments for executives. 44 percent of companies monitor online threats and 40 percent provide security training for executives. Zennemers: "These are good and important developments. At the same time, we see that many companies have still not taken sufficient measures, so there is still work to be done. This also includes sufficient security personnel, access control for certain locations, the alarm procedure, or agreements regarding a threat or intimidation in the workplace."
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Threats
In addition to physical threats, misinformation and disinformation campaigns, as many as 38 percent of all Dutch CSOs cite identity fraud as the most significant external threat in the coming twelve months. Last year, this was only 22 percent of them. 'Here you see a significant shift, where businesses are still vulnerable,' says René Hiemstra, Director Government, Risk and Business Development. 'Important trends are the increase in targeted ransomware attacks, the misuse of AI for cyberattacks, and the vulnerability of cloud services and mobile devices.'
When it comes to internal threats, no less than 33 percent say that the leaking of confidential information is the main challenge. A year ago, this applied to 29 percent of all Dutch CSOs. 'This is also something not to take lightly. The leaking of confidential information leads to significant financial and reputational damage and can jeopardize the safety and privacy of employees.'
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About G4S
G4S is one of the largest employers in the world with over 533,000 employees worldwide. G4S is a security company that focuses on providing security and safety solutions, such as personal and object security, airport security, monitoring of transport systems (such as trains and buses), and control center services. The company is a global market leader in the security sector and is part of Allied Universal.
