Domestic Extremism: How to Counter Threats Posed to Critical Assets

Journal Article · Tue Aug 02 00:00:00 EDT 2022 · Counter-Insider Threat Research and Practice (CITRAP)

OSTI ID:1882219

Baweja, Jessica ^[1]; Dunning, Madelyn P. ^[1]; Noonan, Christine ^[1]

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1. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)

Although facilities with sensitive information, hazardous materials, critical infrastructure, or other sensitive items have security measures in place to protect those critical assets, the threat of domestic extremism (DE) has challenged those security measures in new ways. The project described in this brief report used focus groups to identify best practices, tools, or techniques relevant to preventing or countering DE and sought to identify gaps in security measures. Five focus groups with twenty-two subject matter experts from government, healthcare, and other stakeholder groups were conducted to understand how organizations protect critical assets against the DE threat. The results of the focus groups underscore the importance of organizational culture, codes of conduct, and behavior observation programs in prevention of DE events. In addition, results emphasized the value of multidisciplinary teams, employee assistance programs, and regular threat assessment as resources when responding to DE incidents. However, monitoring of social media and lack of adequate resources remain challenges when attempting to prevent or counter the DE threat.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
• Grant/Contract Number: AC05-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 1882219
• Report Number(s): PNNL-SA-170005
• Journal Information: Counter-Insider Threat Research and Practice (CITRAP), Journal Name: Counter-Insider Threat Research and Practice (CITRAP) Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 1; ISSN 2769-5166
• Publisher: The Threat Lab
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

98 NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, SAFEGUARDS, AND PHYSICAL PROTECTION
critical asset protection
domestic extremism
insider threat mitigation