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Homeland Security, Homeland Defense,
Corporate Security, Corporate Defense

Homeland Security might be said to be a re-channeling of operations at the U.S. federal level, with a merging of certain investigation, intelligence, security, and military functions aimed at minimizing and averting threats and risks predominantly associated with actions of international terrorism.  

In the wake of events of 9/11, the U.S. experienced its first biological terrorist threat via the anthrax scare.  By the end of 2001, government officials have become increasingly concerned with prospects of nuclear devices being used as weapons of mass destruction, either as full-scale nuclear bombs or so-called “dirty” bombs that scatter radioactive material.  Threats of such proportion are overseen at the Federal level, yet events emanating from such risks affect the corporate and individual level as well.  

In tandem with Homeland Security, the concept of Homeland Defense has taken on new meaning under the aegis if the Department of Defense.  While Homeland Security deals with investigations and intelligence, it would be the Department of Defense that would deploy the higher level defensive military actions accordingly.

Corporate Security has had different meanings.  Yet in part spawned by the new Age of Risk, corporate security is also taking on connotations of Corporate Defense.  While corporate security in 2001 and before might be said to have been focused upon a “basic” array and level of problems inside the corporation, now Corporate Defense has broadened the concept to include the response to Homeland Security issues down to the corporate level. 

An increasing level of threats is challenging corporations, some for the first time, including cyber crimes.  More so than ever, corporations need to be alert to “inbound” threats, including network attacks, interruption of service, corporate espionage, and biological threats.