RC Miles, Global Director of Safety and Security at AIDS Healthcare Foundation discusses two challenges that the security industry must tackle in 2025.

Entering a new era

In 2025, we are poised to encounter two substantial security challenges that will require us to reevaluate our strategies for safeguarding our organizations, personnel and brand integrity.

The first challenge stems from a significant transformation in the geopolitical landscape, which is increasingly influencing global business operations.

We are witnessing a marked trend whereby multiple countries are beginning to retreat from the previously dominant international business and supply chain models.

Instead, there is a growing focus on prioritizing national interests and local production capabilities.

This shift towards protectionism and economic nationalism is set to have profound implications for our security operations.

The modern corporate security paradigm has largely been constructed around principles of global engagement and cross-border collaboration.

As this framework is disrupted, our ability to function effectively on an international scale will be challenged in ways we cannot now see.

Companies and organizations will need to adapt by developing robust security protocols that prioritize local compliance and risk management while still striving to maintain their global business objectives, as the former may have a larger impact on our operations.

The second issue is the fallout of the targeted killing of the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, an event that represents a major shift for corporate security professionals.

We have not seen this type of targeted attack on a business leader since the assassination of the President of Deutsche Bank in November 1989.

Although targeted violence – a challenge that security professionals have grappled with throughout their careers, often focusing on averting workplace violence – has been a persistent issue, the unique aspect of this situation lies in the societal reaction that has accompanied it.

There appears to be a troubling trend in certain sectors of society where acts of targeted violence aimed at advancing business or political agendas are becoming increasingly normalized and even accepted, as evident in the viral response supporting the idea this killing was in some way justified.

This shift in societal values is particularly concerning and poses a significant challenge for security operations in the future.

We may be entering a new era in which the line between acceptable protest and violence is blurred, thereby complicating our efforts to maintain safety within the workplace and the wider community.

Both of these developments – geopolitical transformations and the evolving acceptance of targeted violence – will require us to rethink our security frameworks thoroughly, ensuring that we are not only reactive but also proactive in addressing these evolving threats.

RC Miles

RC is an experienced security executive with over 25 years of private sector experience in designing, developing and implementing comprehensive security, investigations and intelligence strategies across different business environments and organizational cultures.

He holds a Certified Protection Professional (CPP) designation from ASIS International and has held leadership roles in organizations like Cisco Systems, Hewlett-Packard, Life Technologies, Callaway Golf, Samsung, Broadcom and most recently at the AIDS Healthcare Foundation as the Global Director of Safety & Security, where he is responsible for the security of over 8,000 employees providing medical care to 2.2 million patients in 47 countries.

This article was originally published in the special February Influencers Edition of Security Journal Americas. To read your FREE digital edition, click here.