Possible Responses (Case Study - Northgate Information Solutions)

This case is a prime example of the importance of business continuity and site security.

Almost certainly, there were not sufficient personnel to secure the scene, meaning temporary staff were quickly engaged. Papers and confidential information were physically blown out of the facility, which may have made business continuity more difficult. Therefore, it was important for staff to be nimble and responsive to continue operations. So, personnel were needed, but how were new staff members vetted?

Given the nature of the event and the raging fire, emergency services would likely not have allowed site access to civilians. It is also unlikely emergency services would have cared about the sensitive nature of the material that was blown away.

In this situation, it would have helped to have enough staff pre-vetted for an extreme event and ensure coordination with local emergency response authorities, as well as other local organizations, so security professionals could easily gain access to the property to help secure NIS data.

There is a lot to consider with site and facility controls, so preparation is essential