Crisis Management Insights
Read up on our emergency preparedness advice for business owners and employees alike.
What Every Leader Should Know About Cyber Resilience
A Five-Pronged Strategy for Resilience
To meet this challenge, we need to lead with intention and act collectively. Whether you run a small business, a school district, a hospital, or a municipality, there are steps you can take now.
1. Develop Public-Private Partnerships
Resilience is a team effort. Engage with your local emergency management agency or fusion center to establish coordination before a crisis hits. FEMA’s Public-Private Partnership Guide offers a strong foundation to build from.
Action Step: Reach out to your local emergency manager to explore collaborative preparedness planning.
2. Update and Test Emergency Plans
Every organization should have a plan that addresses cyber disruptions. Do your staff know what to do during a ransomware attack? Are you backing up your critical data? Do you have a continuity plan if your systems go offline?
Action Step: Run a cyber scenario tabletop exercise with your leadership team.
3. Support Unified Cyber Standards
Cyberattacks are global. The more fragmented our regulations, the more room we give threat actors to operate. Support efforts that encourage international cooperation and industry alignment.
Action Step: Advocate through your local chamber or industry associations for stronger cybersecurity policies.
4. Commit to Information Sharing
Speed matters in a crisis. Businesses and agencies that communicate openly about threats and responses can prevent larger-scale impacts.
Action Step: Join your sector’s Information Sharing and Analysis Center (ISAC) or regional cyber task force.
5. Invest in Innovation and Training
Leverage newer technologies like AI, blockchain, and advanced detection systems—but also ensure your people are trained and confident in using them.
Action Step: Budget for both tech upgrades and staff training in your next fiscal year.
Keeping Summer Fun (and Safe): A Note on Getting Prepared
Summer should be fun—BBQs, road trips, time off with family. But for many of us, it also marks the start of high-risk seasons: hurricanes in the South and East, wildfires in the West, and extreme heat just about everywhere.
As someone who has spent more than two decades in emergency management, I’ve learned that preparation doesn’t have to be complicated, and it shouldn’t get in the way of enjoying summer. In fact, being prepared helps protect the fun. When you have a plan in place, you can breathe a little easier knowing you’ve done what you can.
Whether you're leading a business, managing a team, or just looking out for your family, here are a few things to keep in mind as the season kicks off.
Quarterly Resiliency Forecast-Winter 2024
"Resilience isn’t just about weathering the storm—it’s about anticipating it, adapting to it, and emerging stronger. In today’s complex landscape, organizations that prioritize preparation and collaboration will lead the way through uncertainty." – Andrea Davis, President & CEO, The Resiliency Initiative.
TRI launches Resiliency Academy Higher Education Program
TRI launches Resiliency Academy Higher Education Program
Your Holiday Safety Briefing
1. Know Your Risks and Create Simple Action Steps
Prepare for the basics:
Fire: Do you know your evacuation route? When was the last time you checked your smoke alarm batteries?
Power Outages: What’s your backup plan if the power goes out halfway through cooking the turkey? (OR do you have a backup pre-cooked turkey somewhere? I can neither confirm nor deny doing this…)
Natural Hazards: My hometown occasionally experiences earthquakes. They’re rare, but when they happen, my family tends to panic like headless turkeys. To prepare, I always review “Drop, Cover, and Hold On.”
Pro Tip: When my nieces and nephews were younger, they loved running through the house to find the best “safe spots” during our earthquake drills. It’s a surprisingly fun pre-dinner activity!
Internet Meltdowns: Slow internet can lead to big meltdowns. Break out the old board games early — it’s a lifesaver.