For a global aerospace and defense leader, the warning signs were impossible to ignore: protests growing in size and intensity, activists targeting their facilities, and calls to action circulating online calling for direct action against their industry. Beyond this, concerns were increasing over sabotage, including violence and destruction of property.
Operations were vulnerable. Employee safety was in question. Decades of carefully built reputation was at stake. Their existing intelligence systems flagged general risks but fell short of providing the actionable insights they needed to stay ahead of these escalating threats. They had no way of knowing when or where the next disruption might strike.
This is a reality many organizations face today, and for this company, the turning point came when a protest threatened to escalate into a full-scale crisis.
When generic intelligence isn’t enough
Despite substantial investments in intelligence platforms, the company found themselves exposed to fast-changing and highly specific threats. Their tools provided fragmented, generalized data - leaving dangerous gaps in their security posture.
The stakes couldn’t have been higher:
- Operational disruptions: Protests had the potential to halt production, risking millions in delays.
- Employee safety: Activists targeting facilities created serious risks for their workforce.
- Reputational damage: Viral footage of disruption could erode stakeholder trust and investor confidence, with long-term consequences for the brand and key business relationships
The tipping point came when authorities warned the company of an imminent protest near a key industrial site. The details were vague - no clear timeline, no understanding of motives, and no guidance on how to respond. The company urgently needed a partner who could deliver clarity amidst chaos.
Turning the tide with tailored intelligence
That’s where Securitas stepped in, combining on-the-ground human intelligence (HUMINT) and advanced open-source intelligence (OSINT) to integrate protective and threat intelligence, delivering a complete, real-time, and holistic view of the threats and risks facing the organization, giving the company a proactive edge.
Our team provided a detailed intelligence report that filled in the blanks, offering clear answers and actionable intelligence to help the client prepare and respond with confidence.
As the planned protest drew closer, we provided the insights they were missing: who was involved, their objectives, and how events might escalate. When protestors arrived earlier than expected for a preparatory meeting before their demonstration, our real-time alerts enabled the company to close their industrial gates (which required 20-30 minutes to close) - a critical move that prevented a serious breach.
But the situation continued to evolve. During the protest, we intercepted plans among activists to split into smaller groups and target an alternative site entrance. Armed with this intelligence, the company’s security team acted quickly to secure the area, neutralizing the threat before it caused disruption - demonstrating the precision and adaptability made possible through intelligence-driven incident management.
Building resilience in real time
Throughout the event, our team provided continuous updates, analyzed the protestors’ tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) as well as monitored media channels to know how the protest was influencing public perception. This enabled the company to manage the immediate crisis while gathering insights to strengthen their long-term security strategy.
By staying ahead of the protestors, the company avoided operational disruptions and potential property damage that could have cost an estimated 330 MSEK. Most importantly, they demonstrated to all stakeholders - from employees to investors - that they could navigate complex threats with precision and confidence.
From vulnerability to resilience
For this aerospace and defense leader, partnering with us was a transformative step toward navigating an unpredictable world. Today, they are better equipped to anticipate and respond to the complex risks facing their industry, gaining the peace of mind to focus on what they do best while we handle their security.
Disruptions, protests, and sabotage are no longer “what ifs” in today’s business environment - they’re inevitabilities. Without tailored intelligence, any organization could find itself as vulnerable as this company once was.
There is profound value in intelligence-led security when it comes to protecting operations and building long-term resilience. By leveraging tailored intelligence, organizations can turn uncertainty into clarity, strengthening their ability to safeguard operations and prepare for the challenges ahead.
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