Organisations are recognising workplace violence and active assailant incidents as major security risks, but many lack confidence in their ability to respond effectively, according to research from ASIS International.

The 2026 Active Assailant Preparedness Report, based on responses from 875 security professionals, found that workplace violence and active shooter incidents ranked as respondents’ top two security concerns. However, only 39% said they were highly or mostly confident that their organisation was prepared for an active assailant incident.

Communication was identified as a particular weakness. While most organisations have an active assailant security plan, just 32% of respondents said they could notify all employees, students or residents at an affected facility or campus within seconds. More than half said notification would take minutes.

Pamela Larson, CSO at Everbridge, which sponsored the report, said: “Active assailant incidents leave almost no margin for delay or uncertainty. Organisations have made preparedness a priority, but this research shows that having a plan is only part of the equation.

“People need timely information, security teams need a clear understanding of what is happening, and organisations need the ability to act quickly as circumstances change. The goal is to give people the information they need to make the safest possible decisions.”

The research found that comprehensive planning, regular drills, investment in communications technology, faster notification capabilities and behavioural threat assessment and management teams were associated with greater confidence in preparedness.

The study also examined the use of artificial intelligence in security and incident preparedness. More than half of respondents said their organisations were already using AI for at least one application, including surveillance, intelligence and information analysis, threat identification and weapons detection. However, familiarity with these applications remains limited.

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