Homeland Security: 3 New Approaches to Counterterrorism that Your Security Business Should Adopt

Highlights:

• Introduction
• New approaches to fighting terrorism and crime
• Innovative product launches in the industry

Since the late 1980s, terrorism has grown exponentially and has become a major threat to global peace. The past few decades saw major terrorist attacks around the world that shook the very foundation of global security. In such a scenario, the need to have a separate governmental department to supervise counterterrorism activities and coordinate internal security was felt. As a result, many countries across the world passed laws and enacted policies to establish a homeland security department in the government for this purpose. While the nomenclature of such a department might vary from country to country, the Department of Homeland Security is generally tasked with protecting the public and the country’s infrastructure from various internal security threats such as terrorist attacks, militant insurgency, extremism, cyberattacks, organized crime, etc.

How are homeland security departments responding to the changing nature of crime?

Over the past few years, the nature of crime has changed drastically; new forms of threats are emerging that target a country’s strategic installations and infrastructure. Furthermore, terrorist organizations across the world have started using advanced technologies which makes tracking them harder. Organized crime syndicates and drug cartels have joined hands to offer each other logistical support. Lone wolf attacks are also on the rise, which target specific communities based on religion, race, and ethnicity. All these factors demand an altogether new approach to tackling crime. As a result, to fight this new-age crime, modern approaches have been designed by security agencies, some of which are discussed below:

Increased focus on intelligence gathering

Most terrorist attacks involve months of meticulous planning on the part of the terrorist organizations. Security agencies, by studying past attacks, try to search for patterns that precede a major terrorist attack. Moreover, security agencies generally have agents or moles who tip off these agencies about an impending attack during its planning phase itself. The use of sophisticated intelligence-gathering machines and equipment also plays a huge role in preventing these attacks.

Growing dependence of electronic gadgets

Electronic surveillance has probably become the most important tool for security agencies in countering new-age crime. Different types of electronic devices have been developed which help in profiling criminals and investigating crimes. For instance, face detection technology has made it quite easier to recognize a criminal, especially if he/she has been a habitual offender. Similarly, advancements in forensic science help investigators to ascertain the nature of the crime. Technologies such as biometric identification, DNA profiling, malware-detection software, etc., have helped homeland security agencies to engage in counterterrorism activities with confidence.

Emphasis on behavioral science and criminology

An altogether different approach, this school of thought emphasizes ascertaining what goes on in the minds of criminals and terrorists that triggers them to commit an act of terror. This approach, by studying the psychological angle, tries to bring about a behavioral change in society so that people, especially youth, do not turn to terrorism or crime in an act of desperation. For this, security agencies have started hiring psychologists and criminologists to help them cope with the changing nature of terrorism and crime.

Role of the private sector in transforming homeland security agencies

With each passing year, the crime rate is increasing in almost every country around the world. Hence, the burden of responsibilities on security agencies has been increasing exponentially. To solve this problem, many countries have allowed private companies to operate in the homeland security industry. These companies have invested heavily in R&D activities to develop technologies that aid security agencies in counterterrorism activities. These huge investments and years of research have led to the launch of some ingenious products and services in the industry that widen its scope.

For instance, in April 2023, IBM launched a new QRadar security solution for speed detection and threat response. The company released a statement saying that this AI-powered, cloud-driven security solution will help security agencies to detect, investigate, and respond to threats effectively.

To sum it up, global security agencies have evolved tremendously in the past decade or so, in response to the changing nature of crime. Various new approaches have been developed in the security domain which offer a new perspective to fighting terrorism and crime. The entry of private players in the industry will further strengthen the position of the domain in the near future.

To gain a better understanding of the growth drivers and investment opportunities in the industry, talk to our experts today!

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