• Avoid hairstyles like ponytails or braids that can be easily grabbed or pulled from behind.
• Avoid large or flashy jewelry. You are obviously more likely to be a target and you could be injured if a thief yanks a bracelet from your wrist or a necklace from your throat.
• Dress conservatively when traveling abroad, especially in economically depressed non-Western countries.
• Consider wearing a cheap wedding ring, even if you are married. Especially in developing countries, a married woman is viewed as the property of another man and therefore off limits. This can help you avoid unwanted male attention.
• Consult maps before you walk or take public transportation and walk briskly and confidently, as if you know where you're going. Women looking lost or reading maps or searching distractedly through their purses are more likely to become victims.
• The most likely places for women to be attacked are parking lots, garages and public restrooms. Use valet parking if it is available, and street parking if it is not. Use public restrooms only in busy restaurants or hotels.
• Most rapists or kidnappers are looking for someone who will not put up a fight. Scream, fight and try to run away and your attacker will most likely move on to an easier target.
• If someone is trying to snatch your purse, do not resist. Let your bag go and then shout for help rather than risk assault.

• Take particular care when choosing your hotel. Aim for a hotel on a well-trafficked street with neighborhood restaurants and late-night stores. Business districts can often be deserted at night.
• Also choose a hotel with a reception or concierge desk with a clear view of both the entrance and the elevators. This is more likely to deter those who wish to rob or do harm as it will be difficult to enter unnoticed.
• Always ask that someone from the hotel escort you to your room and wait while you open the door and check to see that the room is empty.
• Do not choose street level rooms or rooms with balconies and French or sliding doors.
• Particularly if you are traveling in a foreign country, it is a good idea to conceal some money somewhere in your clothing, i.e., a hidden pocket or money belt. That way, if you do get mugged, you're not left helpless.
• The most likely places for women to be attacked are parking lots, garages and public restrooms. Use valet parking if it is available, and street parking if it is not. Use public restrooms only in busy restaurants or hotels.
• Always carry a cell phone that works internationally. Program the numbers for your hotel, local hospitals, local police and the American embassy into your phone. Make sure that someone back home has these numbers as well.

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Travel also exposes companies and their employees to increased risk, particularly in terms of securing proprietary information. Any time documents or information are taken away from a company's secured facilities, there will be increased risk, both to the safety of their employees and the information that they are taking with them. Often this is overlooked and travel coordination is left completely up to the individual employee.

Overall, I consider the greatest vulnerabilities facing industries today to stem from what we call "human risk variables." Specifically, I am referring to all the risks posed to a corporation by current or former employees, whether malicious or not. It is difficult to find a balance between providing adequate security for your company and clamping down so hard that your security measures hamper productivity or make your employees feel like they work in a prison. By giving employees the freedom that they need to feel comfortable and do their jobs efficiently, companies are unfortunately putting themselves in a position where a vital part of their security plan is in the hands of potentially thousands of employees.

In your experience, which of these risks is the most misunderstood or overlooked?

Again the human factor comes into play. People tend to forget that there may be fraudsters, identity thieves or maybe even terrorists who are actively trying to penetrate the security of their company. They become complacent and casual and the idea of personal risk seems remote. That is when mistakes are made. The most costly and complex security measures in the world can be foiled by a lax employee.

Are some industries more vulnerable to these risks than others?

While no industry is invulnerable, some clearly face greater risks than others. For example, industries that have attracted the attention of activists, like high profile companies that have a reputation for polluting the environment or biotech companies, would be more vulnerable to risk. The pharmaceutical industry, obviously, would be at a very high risk from both counterfeiters and terrorists. Defense contractors, financial companies, food suppliers, all are at a greater risk. Any industry that makes a product for mass consumption, or which if disrupted would have a great economic impact on the country or the world, is more vulnerable.

Vulnerability, though, really depends on the effectiveness of the individual company's security measures and the control they have over proprietary information and ingress to their facilities.

What steps can corporations take to effectively address these potential threats?

Addressing the problem of human risk variables is really just a matter of consistent and frequent training and testing. Employees need to be reminded to dispose of their trash properly, shut off power to their computers at night, lock up sensitive documents, and report lost I.D. and entry cards immediately. Employees too, out of an ingrained habit of being polite, will often open doors to strangers who don't have entry cards or fail to question unauthorized people in sensitive areas. They need to know that simple things like this can expose their company and their fellow employees to great risk. They need to be reminded of security practices and measures on a regular basis to keep them top of mind.

In terms of threats coming from outside the company, obviously IT security is paramount. However, without a well-trained staff and good physical security measures, IT security is worthless.

For smaller companies, that may not have a top notch security director on staff, it might be a good idea to hire a consultant who can help assess and coordinate their security plans. If you have a security staff on site, it is vital that all aspects of security, including IT and physical security, be coordinated among the various departments.

They should dress appropriately for the region that they are visiting. For example, business attire may not be the best idea when traveling in an impoverished area as it conveys the idea that they have money. This is a particularly sensitive issue with Western women traveling in third world countries where social and religious mores, especially in relation to women, are very different. Clothing that would seem conservative in the United States may be scandalous or offensive in another country and could attract negative attention.

It is also a good idea to keep a certain amount of cash concealed somewhere on their person in case they are pick pocketed or mugged.

Travelers should be inconspicuous with laptops, expensive cell phones and PDAs. Not only do these items attract petty thieves, but they contain valuable information that could cost their company large sums of money or expose them to risk.

The most important thing for anyone to remember when traveling in an unfamiliar place is to keep your eyes open and obey your instincts. If a hotel does not feel safe, then move. If a driver makes you uncomfortable, take another car, etc. It may feel silly in the moment, but often our instincts are a real signal that we are in danger and it is best to just go with it.

What risks do you see on the horizon that will affect corporations in the next few years? How can corporations best prepare today for future threats?

As companies continue to move away from the traditional 9 to 5 scenario where their employees work in a central location and leave that work behind when they go home, we will continue to see more opportunities for corporate fraudsters and thieves to attack. It is becoming more and more difficult to keep a lid on proprietary information as the workplace is decentralized and increasingly varied tasks are subcontracted out to foreign companies. The best thing any company can do to protect themselves against future threats is to go on the offense and plan, prepare, drill and plan some more.

For more information on Juval Aviv's recommendations on corporate security and travel safety, his book, "Staying Safe", is available on Amazon.com. For physical security consultations or executive travel coordination please contact Don Aviv at Interfor, Inc. (212-605-0375 or don.aviv@interforinc.com).

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