With the recent concerns of the Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) spreading across the globe, security becomes a major concern for companies, governments and individuals. The American Society for Industrial Security (ASIS) published a great article outlining security preparations and possible consequences if we are not prepared (https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/articles/2020/03/in-a-pandemic-preparation-hinges-on-prevention/ ).

Some of the highlights focus on the following:

• Security checkpoints
• Digital thermometers or thermal radar to detect increased body temperature for fevers
• Security travel management (risk advisory’s for employee travel)
• Security monitoring of hand-washing
• Consideration on protecting security workers from potential contamination of virus

While we never want to panic or overreact, I believe history can teach us just how quickly potential virus epidemics can get out of control (the Spanish flu of 1918 infected over 500 million and killed at least 20 million). In summary, being prepared is your best defense for the security professional in managing a pandemic crisis.