The year 2026 presents an unprecedented challenge for security leaders. Global sporting events, major elections, geopolitical tensions, and evolving threat actors will all place increased pressure on organizations responsible for protecting people, facilities, operations, and critical infrastructure.
In this episode of the Liferaft Security Spotlight Sessions, security management leader Amanda Jones shares practical guidance on how organizations can prepare for one of the busiest operational years in recent memory. Drawing on two decades of experience launching and strengthening threat intelligence programs, Amanda discusses how security teams can build resilience, improve coordination, and stay ahead of emerging risks.
Whether you're building a new security function or refining an existing one, this conversation provides practical insights for navigating a rapidly changing security landscape.
During this Security Spotlight Session, you'll discover:
Security planning is no longer limited to individual events or isolated incidents.
In 2026, organizations must prepare for overlapping risks that include international sporting events, political demonstrations, election-related tensions, misinformation campaigns, cyber threats, executive protection concerns, and disruptions to transportation and supply chains.
Even organizations that aren't directly involved in hosting major events will experience indirect impacts through employee travel, business continuity challenges, public demonstrations, and increased pressure on local infrastructure.
Success depends on proactive planning rather than reactive response.
One of the strongest messages throughout the discussion is that preparedness starts well before the first major event.
Security leaders should identify capability gaps, clarify response processes, and strengthen partnerships early in the year rather than waiting until operational tempo increases.
Mega-events affect far more than host venues. Organizations across transportation, healthcare, education, retail, manufacturing, financial services, and corporate environments often experience increased security demands as cities become busier and public resources become stretched.
Planning for these secondary impacts is just as important as preparing for the event itself.
Successful security programs rely on collaboration. Amanda discusses the importance of building relationships with law enforcement, emergency management agencies, local governments, and private-sector partners before an incident occurs. Trusted communication channels become invaluable during periods of heightened activity.
Artificial intelligence and real-time intelligence platforms provide significant advantages for monitoring emerging threats.
However, technology should simplify decision-making rather than increase analyst workload. Organizations should adopt solutions that improve situational awareness while allowing teams to focus on investigation, assessment, and response.
Modern security programs extend beyond physical protection. Organizations must also be prepared for protests, misinformation, online narratives, reputational threats, and duty-of-care responsibilities affecting employees, executives, customers, and partners.
A comprehensive approach combines protective intelligence with continuous monitoring of publicly available information to identify risks before they escalate.
Security leaders entering 2026 face an environment where multiple high-profile events, political developments, and emerging technologies will overlap.
Organizations that invest in planning, intelligence, collaboration, and adaptable security programs will be far better positioned to respond confidently when conditions change.
This Security Spotlight Session offers practical guidance for leaders responsible for protecting people, operations, and critical assets throughout one of the busiest security years in recent history.
The convergence of global sporting events, national elections, geopolitical tensions, AI-driven threats, and increased public demonstrations creates a uniquely complex operational environment that requires proactive planning and continuous monitoring.
Key events include the FIFA World Cup, Winter Olympics, Commonwealth Games, and U.S. midterm elections. These events may influence transportation, public safety, critical infrastructure, executive protection, travel security, and business continuity.
Even organizations outside host cities should assess travel risks, supply chain disruptions, workforce safety, protest activity, and local infrastructure impacts. Scenario planning and threat intelligence help organizations anticipate indirect effects.
Organizations should establish clear governance, implement threat intelligence capabilities, define incident response procedures, and build partnerships with internal stakeholders and external agencies.
Major events require coordination between corporate security, law enforcement, emergency management, public agencies, and private organizations. Early collaboration improves communication, resource sharing, and incident response.
AI helps security teams analyze large volumes of information, identify emerging risks, automate repetitive tasks, and improve situational awareness. When implemented effectively, AI enables faster and more informed security decisions.
Protective intelligence is the continuous collection and analysis of information about potential threats to people, facilities, and operations. It enables organizations to identify warning signs early and reduce risk before incidents occur.
This discussion is valuable for corporate security leaders, protective intelligence teams, enterprise risk managers, government agencies, higher education institutions, healthcare organizations, critical infrastructure operators, and any organization responsible for business resilience.
You can listen to the complete episode on Spotify.