Civilian targets are becoming the focus of terrorist attacks 
(28/11/2007)
Public and private sector businesses should urgently review mail security measures in light of a new terrorism threat report released by the FBI. The report called "Terrorism 2002-2005" argues that terrorists are increasingly eyeing so-called 'softer targets' as security around traditional diplomatic and military targets improves. The report suggests that it is chemical and biological WMD's that represent the gravest threat - and that 'civilian targets' have become the focus.
A recent report by Pitney Bowes Management Services (PBMS) highlighted those industry sectors that receive a higher proportion of mail-based security attacks. PBMS analysed a representative sample of the secure mail facilities of organisations across the US and the UK to establish the sectors that receive most suspicious packages. Using a year's worth of data on mail throughput and suspicious parcel investigation, an index of vulnerability was constructed amongst key sectors, revealing relative levels of suspicious letter or package receipt.
The resulting index figures showed that Government, Finance and Hi-tech companies stand out as those mainly at risk from attack through the mail - a scale leap ahead of any other sector studied. Evidently, organisations within these sectors that do not yet have secure facilities screening their mail need to act fast if they are not to face insupportable levels of risk.
Richard Thompson, Managing Director, Pitney Bowes Management Services, states: "This latest FBI report should make UK public and private sector businesses sit up and take notice. One need only think back to the letter-bomb incidents earlier this year to recognise how ill-prepared organisations are to mail-based threats of this type."
"For many, the mail remains a critical area of vulnerability. Aside from the risk to life, site contamination can cost businesses millions in downtime and business critical documents may be quarantined or even destroyed. Even hoax attacks can disable buildings and lose companies millions."
"The post-room can be made into a highly controlled environment where mail is screened, threats identified and danger isolated and averted. Organisations must concentrate on addressing the points of potential attack that can be monitored and controlled in practicality."
Related topics: Detection systems Safety and protection systems
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