Impending Homeland Threat? How Businesses Can Prepare and Strengthen Security Resilience.
Intelligence agencies have warned in recent months of a possible threat to the United States from al-Qaida and its affiliates–a warning business leaders and corporate entities can not ignore. In an age of complex threats, terrorism remains a persistent concern for businesses operating in the United States. While law enforcement and intelligence agencies have prevented numerous attacks, the reality is that no organization is entirely insulated from the ripple effects of terrorism—whether through direct impact, collateral disruption, or psychological and economic shock. For business leaders, the question is no longer if such an event could affect them, but how prepared they are to withstand and recover from it.
The National Counterterrorism Center in July issued a warning regarding al-Qaida’s recent calls for attacks against the U.S. In mid-July, al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) released its 10th edition of the English-language Inspire Guide, calling on its supporters to conduct attacks in the U.S. using lone actor style attacks, as well as simple attack methods such as firearms, explosives, knives and vehicle-rammings.
The publication stated targets included individuals or organizations that supported Israel, as well as law enforcement and the government. In June, AQAP also issued threats against U.S. government officials, and called for attacks in Washington, D.C. Other targets likely include malls, churches, hospitals, mass transit, as well as aviation.
The timing of any potential attack is unclear, with some analysts warning of attacks occurring anytime between the end of October to late December 2025.
Far-Reaching Impacts
A terrorist attack–no matter the size or scope–can have immediate and cascading consequences across industries. Beyond the human tragedy, such incidents often disrupt critical infrastructure—transportation, energy, communications, and financial systems—creating secondary crises for organizations that rely on them. Companies near an incident zone may face physical damage, employee casualties, and long-term access restrictions. Those far removed can also experience production delays, supply-chain interruptions, or data loss due to cyber or infrastructure fallout.
Reputational and psychological effects can be just as damaging. In the aftermath of an attack, consumers and investors scrutinize how companies respond—whether they communicate transparently, support affected employees, and demonstrate resilience. Poor crisis management can amplify reputational harm, while strong, compassionate leadership often enhances trust and credibility.
The assassination of Charlie Kirk on September 10 and the shooting of the UnitedHealthcare Chief Executive Officer in December 2024 highlight concerns over political violence and threats to public settings in the United States, particularly targeting public figures. The killing of prominent figures in open environments also continues to raise questions and concerns about security protocols at public events and the potential for similar, or even large-scale, attacks in the future.
Building a Culture of Preparedness
Executives must foster a security-conscious culture—one in which awareness, preparedness, and vigilance are shared responsibilities, not afterthoughts. Companies that invest in preparedness, foster security-minded cultures, and maintain trusted partnerships are not only better positioned to withstand attacks but also to recover quickly and emerge stronger. Concentric’s corporate intelligence team offers the following recommendations to keep you, your family, and business activities safe in this time of heightened security, particularly for Executive Protection (EP) and security teams:
Review Plans: Update all physical security and protective plans to match the risk scenarios involved with a potential terrorist event.
Inventory Supplies: Ensure operational emergency supplies and appropriate backlog of critical items, such as medical supplies, non-perishable food, and the necessary emergency supplies are available in case of an emergency or for sheltering in place.
Enhance Protocols: Based on the evaluated potential impact to your organization or principal is there a justification for enhanced security measures to better mitigate the potential risks especially during the period of a potential attack.
Practice Contingencies: Identify likely safe havens or refuges that can be used in the event of an incident that causes widespread disruption. If your team already has safe haven protocols, this is a good time to confirm all arrangements, check pre-stocked emergency supplies, and reach out to local support personnel to ensure availability to support urgent or short notice deployments.
Provide Employee Training: Teach staff how to identify suspicious behavior, phishing, and misinformation. Conducting scenario-based exercises—ranging from active-shooter simulations to cyber incident rehearsals—also ensures teams remain composed and coordinated under stress.
Coordinate with Law Enforcement and Private Security Networks: Build relationships with law enforcement and intelligence partners to receive timely threat updates and collaborate on mitigation efforts.
Monitor Open-source Intelligence and Evaluate Supply-Chain Dependencies: Early awareness by tracking open source trends regarding your brand and business can help to shorten response times during a crisis. Ensure vendors have parallel security and continuity capabilities.
How Concentric Can Help
Concentric is here to help protect you, your family and your staff. Consider reaching out to a Concentric representative for any of the following services:
Armed and unarmed Executive Protection agents and secure drivers that accompany you during high-risk events and travel, or protect your home or offices while abroad;
Active monitoring services to highlight threats, potential fixated individuals, and to protect you during upcoming travel and high-profile events;
Security risk assessments that highlight physical vulnerabilities around your residence and during key events, and to identify possible insider threats;
Cyber vulnerability assessments which identify weaknesses in your cyber practices to help mitigate hacking and doxxing attempts;
Eclipse by Concentric scrubs personal identifiable information from the internet and provides solutions for ransomware.