Awareness Is Security: Monitoring for Global Disruptions that Impact Business

Awareness and security go hand-in-hand. The true threat isn’t always the attack itself; it’s missing the signs right in front of us.  

In the past 48 hours, the world watched an international flashpoint erupt. On June 12, Israeli defense forces initiated an air campaign targeting Iranian nuclear facilities. By June 21, U.S. forces had followed with a coordinated operation. Iran has threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz through which 20% of the world’s crude oil flows and major airlines are suspending service to key Gulf hubs. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has issued a National Terrorism Advisory System Bulletin. Domestic cities like New York, Los Angeles, and D.C. are already increasing security presence. 

This is not a regional event confined to the Middle East. It’s a global risk event with potential ripple effects across energy, aviation, finance, and corporate operations. Despite the elevated rhetoric and activity, we want to be clear: there are currently no credible threats directed at U.S. or allied commercial businesses by name, and no verified targeting of corporate brands, assets, or leadership. Our teams are watching closely for any changes in that posture. 

Iran’s historical playbook is asymmetric. It leans on proxy groups, cyber capabilities, and economic disruption, not just conventional strikes. That means we are looking for more missile launches. We are also monitoring misinformation efforts, retaliatory hacks, and threats to corporate personnel, brands, and infrastructure. (Iran’s Gray Zone Strategy) Iran will likely target U.S. military personnel and other government officials deployed in the region. 

This situation isn’t theoretical for enterprise risk leaders and corporate security professionals. A supply chain delay in the Gulf, a sudden cyber intrusion traced to a foreign actor, or a spontaneous protest targeting corporate offices. Disruptions move fast and do not respect borders or timelines.  

We work with you to surface early indicators. We scan, verify, and distill the signals that matter, so you can act with confidence instead of guesswork. We are keeping people safe, operations running, and reputations intact during moments of high uncertainty; we are not merely tracking threats. 

What You Can Do Now: 

• Stay informed: use only verified intelligence sources. Don’t amplify unconfirmed claims or speculation. 

• Update your posture: Reassess high-risk regions for personnel, shipping routes, or partners. 

• Review cyber risk assessments; Confirm visibility and resilience against attacks linked to geopolitical triggers. Reaffirm your team about phishing, spam, and other attack mechanisms. 

• Communicate with confidence: Maintain transparency with internal stakeholders using facts, not fear. 
  

As of this update, there are not verified calls for action against U.S. corporate brands or specific business interests. Although online chatter about Western influence and economic retaliation has increased, we have not identified any direct targeting of Fortune 500 companies, executives, or facilities. Our team continues to monitor open-source, closed, and fringe online spaces closely and will issue alerts if we detect any shifts in the narrative.  

In today’s interconnected environment, the speed and reach of disruption can outpace traditional risk assessments. That’s why it is imperative for enterprise security leaders to rely on dedicated intelligence and monitoring partners teams who are laser-focused on surfacing early indicators before they cascade into crises.  

For Fortune 500 companies, the stakes are especially high. . They are emerging realities that require near real-time visibility and the ability to interpret what matters most, when it matters most. 

Monitoring partners serve as a force multiplier. They act as your early-warning system for watching across platforms, vetting threats, and contextualizing activity that could otherwise be lost in the noise. They help corporate leaders separate flash from substance, so action plans can be triggered based on verified intelligence, not speculation. 

As the conflict evolves, organizations must resist the urge to simply react to ‘maybes’. Strategic foresight, built on accurate and timely data, is how global companies preserve continuity, protect personnel, and maintain stakeholder trust in times of uncertainty. 

The events of the past week are a stark reminder: Awareness isn’t optional. It’s operational. And now more than ever, awareness is security.   
 
Hetherington Group leverages the best resources, talent and technology to keep their corporate security professionals operational. Reach out if we can be of assistance.