September 11, 2006—Five years after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, businesses in big cities across America have radically changed the way they approach security, says an article in Investor’s Business Daily.
Perhaps the most visible change has come in areas like building lobbies, where security has been beefed up at access points with metal detectors, bomb-detection machines, and extra security personnel. The private sector spent $45.9 billion to $76.5 billion on homeland security during fiscal year 2003, with up to $14.3 billion allocated to securing areas like building entrances, according to a Deloitte Consulting and Aviation Week study.
The Sept. 11 attacks taught companies that having large numbers of employees and assets in one place is not a good idea, and many companies have since decided to sprinkle employees and assets at satellite locations near their main offices. For example, Morgan Stanley placed 1,400 workers at a site in White Plains, N.Y., north of the company’s New York City offices. This site will serve as a backup site in case the main office is disabled. Goldman Sachs has also opened satellite locations around New York City.
For more information, see the article in Investor’s Business Daily.
