UNDERSTANDING TYPES OF THREATS
Complex Coordinated Attack
types of threats
At Alos Defense Solutions, we address specific types of threats – as well as threat actors. Threat actors are individuals or groups that intentionally cause harm to digital devices or systems and may include International Terrorism, Domestic Terrorism, racially- motivated aggressors, violent extremists, lone-wolves, insider threats, gang activity, transient activity, child predators, estranged family members (regarding custody related kidnapping incidents), protestors, and juvenile criminal activity.
Types of threats may include:
Religious institutions should be safe havens where congregants can worship in pace, but they unfortunately face a range of threats, from coordinated assaults to singular acts of violence. These include meticulously planned attacks targeting security vulnerabilities, active shooter incidents, improvised explosive devices, and arson. Additionally, property crimes such as transient activity, discarded drug paraphernalia, trespassing, burglary, and vandalism threaten the physical sanctity and security of religious spaces.
Church-specific threats
Our nation’s schools face threats that affect the safety and well-being of students, faculty and staff. Among the most concerning are the rising occurrences of complex coordinated attacks, active shooter incidents, and vehicular ramming. There are also threats from improvised explosive devices, suspicious packages, parental custody disputes, sex offenders, drug use, property crimes and more. Schools now need assistance navigating a complex web of security issues, which demand heightened vigilance and comprehensive preventive measures.
School-specific threats
Complex coordinated attacks are meticulously planned and synchronized, involving multiple components, such as multiple attackers or groups, diverse methodologies or weapons, and a sophisticated strategy. Often well-organized and orchestrated to strike multiple targets simultaneously or in quick succession, they aim to maximize damage, cause widespread disruption and generate fear and chaos within a community or region. These threats may involve a combination of tactics, such as armed assaults, bombings, hostage-taking or other methods that overwhelm security measures and shorten response times.
Complex Coordinated attack
An active shooter is an individual or individuals engaged in a shooting spree, typically in a confined or populated area, with the intent to cause harm, inflict casualties and elicit fear. This term specifically refers to the use of firearms to commit deadly violence, targeting people in public spaces, workplaces, schools or other populated areas. The hallmark of an active shooter situation is the ongoing threat, with the shooter continuously engaging targets and potentially moving throughout the area, making it highly dangerous and rapidly evolving. Rapid response, including pre-planned emergency procedures such as evacuation or lockdown/shelter in place, and immediate law enforcement intervention are critical to mitigating casualties and neutralizing the threat.
Active Shooter
An improvised explosive device (IED) attack involves the use of a homemade device to cause harm, destruction, and chaos. These devices are typically crafted from readily available materials and can vary in sophistication, ranging from simple to more complex designs. The purpose of an IED attack is to detonate the explosive device in a targeted area, such as a public space, transportation hub or specific location, with the intent to cause casualties, damage property, and instill fear or chaos. Such attacks can be employed by various individuals or groups for terrorist purposes, insurgency activities or criminal intent. IED’s are commonly placed in mass gathering areas, high traffic areas, and choke points and can be concealed in a bag or backpack, or within a receptacle such as a trash can or mailbox.
Improvised Explosive Device
An inside threat is carried out by individuals within an organization who exploit their access, privileges or knowledge to cause harm, steal sensitive information, sabotage systems, or commit other malicious activities. These individuals may be employees, contractors, or anyone with authorized access to the organization's premises, systems, or data. Such attacks are particularly challenging to detect and prevent because insiders often possess legitimate access to sensitive areas or information, making it harder to distinguish between normal and malicious activities. Mitigating insider threats requires a combination of robust security measures, continuous monitoring, employee training, and a strong culture of security awareness within an organization.
Insider Threat
Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), commonly known as drones, have unfortunately been exploited for criminal activities and terrorist attacks due to their accessibility, versatility and ability to carry out various tasks remotely. They may be used for reconnaissance missions, scouting out targets, security measures, and potential vulnerabilities without directly exposing themselves, or to transport illegal goods and contraband. In extreme cases, drones have been weaponized by attaching explosives, chemical agents or other harmful payloads to carry out attacks on targets, including individuals, infrastructure, or public gatherings. There are even drones equipped with technology that can breach networks, intercept data, or launch cyberattacks.
Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS)
Vehicle ramming attacks involve the intentional use of a vehicle as a weapon to target individuals, groups, buildings, or infrastructure with the goal of causing harm, casualties, or destruction. The attack occurs when a vehicle, such as a car, truck, van, or similar, is driven at high speed toward a crowded area, pedestrians, or a specific target location. Preventing vehicle ramming attacks involves a combination of security measures such as barriers, bollards, vehicle checkpoints, surveillance systems, and public awareness campaigns to encourage vigilance and reporting of suspicious activities or behaviors.
Vehicle Ramming
Arson is the criminal act of intentionally setting fire to property, buildings, structures, land, or other types of real or personal property. The act of arson involves willfully and maliciously igniting or causing a fire, often with the intent to cause damage, harm, or destruction to the property or endanger lives. Arson can take various forms, from setting fire to a building or vehicle for financial gain or revenge to causing destruction as a means of protest or as part of criminal activity.
Arson
Transient activity has recently becoming one of the most common threats to facilities and residences and has increasingly seen more acts of violence, often caused by a combination of mental illness and illicit drug and alcohol abuse. There have been rising numbers of assaults on unsuspecting individuals by transients. Transients also commonly trespass and encamp in areas which leads to a public health hazard as a result of discarded drug paraphernalia and hypodermic needles, feces and urine, rat infestations, diseases resulting from drug use and unsanitary living conditions.
Transient Activity
