Leading security firm plans Oman operations
MUSCAT: Le Beck, which has a presence in some of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, is planning to begin operation in the Sultanate in coming months, a top-level official said. In an interview with the
Anthony Tesar, chief executive officer of Le Beck International security and risk management consultancy, highlighted the company’s future plans and its intended operations in Oman to enhance the already high standard of security prevalent in the country.
“I will give Oman a six on six in security. The government policies and law enforcement in the country are excellent. However, we must be aware that these risks must be kept at bay in the future too and institutions in the nation must keep up the security standards. That is what we want to come here for, keep the country safe as it is,” Tesar, who is a former bomb disposal officer in the Brit- ish army and a former United Nations’ weapons instructor, said.
“We possess expertise from one of the most challenging situations in the Middle East and that is what we can offer the companies in Oman. Give our clients the peace of mind and help them concentrate on core business.”
The security consultancy operates out of its headquarters in Bahrain and also has a footprint in Saudi Arabia. It specialises in analysing current affairs and advising its clients on further steps to mitigate any risks involved. After the U.S. elections last year, the firm released its research on each of Trump’s cabinet advisers and the potential impact it can have on relations with GCC. Currently, it releases daily security alerts detailing all situations around the globe that may impact the Middle East.
Apart from threats stemming from extremist groups, Le Beck specialises in staff training and IT infrastructure and physical security that allows for an early detection of criminal activities that include cyber attacks and physical crimes.
“Middle East consists of some high level risks due to the geopolitical scenario. We are expecting these risks to cascade through borders into other countries as they have previously done. What we do is to mitigate these risks for private institutions so their most valuable assets: business, people and brand reputation remains safe.”
Crippling cyber attacks
Financial institutions and oil and gas infrastructure have often been hit by crippling cyber attacks that directly impact the economy. According to Tesar, if a defence mechanism present in such institutions, from IT systems to employee practices and knowledge are fortified, it leaves little chance for criminal activities.
“We notice that the most violent crimes take a good deal of planning. This is where we have to discourage criminals. At Le Beck, we make sure that our defence systems are so strong that they can never be a target for criminals and they instead are forced to look at other places for their activities,” he explained.
Le Beck started in 2004 after a challenging security scenario in Saudi Arabia, where it now has two stand-alone offices, which help tackle safety concerns in the country. It is currently headquartered in Bahrain and according to Tesar, they plan operations in Oman.
In Bahrain, during the Arab Spring, Le Beck helped organisations save millions of dollars by persuading them to stay in the country over an expensive shift of office out of the country by providing them with the right security advisory and support.
A new security mobile application by Le Beck is expected to be launched by June. The app will provide real-time updates of the security situation in all countries in the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) region to residents and corporate clients, in an effort to promote safety in countries, including Oman.
“We are planning to launch the app soon to update residents on security issues that have taken place around them. This is one of our many initiatives as a security consultancy,” Tesar said.