At SegSummit 2024 in São Paulo, industry leaders from across sectors came together to discuss some of the most pressing security challenges facing their industries today. From combating theft and fraud to addressing cyber threats and asset protection, the event highlighted the unique difficulties that sectors such as energy, agribusiness, and mining face.
As these industries evolve, so do the threats they encounter, making innovative and adaptable security strategies essential. In this post, we’ll explore the key insights from each sector and how they address these challenges with technology, intelligence, and collaboration.
Insights from the Brazilian Energy Sector
At SegSummit 2024, the Energy Sector Security Challenges panel highlighted the growing security concerns in protecting critical infrastructure, assets, and workforce. Industry leaders shared their experiences addressing issues like theft, fraud, and balancing technology and operational costs.
Minele Machado, Technology and Digitalization Manager at Neoenergia, emphasized the complexity of securing massive infrastructures:
- “With 16 million consumers, multiple generation points, and a range of renewable energy sites, protecting assets like substations and wind farms remains a constant challenge.”
- She discussed how cable theft impacts revenue: “Cable theft is where our revenue is shrinking due to these losses.”
- On solutions: “I don’t believe in one good solution. We need hybrid solutions, but even with all this technology, there are still vulnerable points to investigate.”
Maria Luisa Santos, Strategic Security and Operations Analyst at Energisa Mato Grosso, shared a successful case of dismantling an association involved in energy theft:
- “Energy theft is complex to trace, and we needed to work closely with the state's public security secretariat, providing weekly updates on our operations.”
Thiago Cecarechi, Senior Corporate Security at CPFL Energia, highlighted the importance of partnerships and strategic reporting:
- “We need to produce actionable reports so that, even with limited resources, the police can efficiently address energy theft.”
- He also stressed the broader societal impact: “A 30 cm theft (cable) can leave children without schools and hospitals without power for surgeries.”
Moderating the session, Equatorial’s Asset Protection and Strategic Intelligence Corporate Security Executive, Johnatan Costa, emphasized the need for a balanced security approach:
- “Security is a tripod: processes, people, and technologies.”
The panel made it clear that collaboration with public security and strategic use of intelligence and technology are essential in combating energy theft and protecting critical infrastructure.
Insights from the Agribusiness Sector
The Agro Sector panel explored the unique challenges of protecting assets and operations in agribusiness, a sector that plays a critical role in feeding a significant portion of the global population. Industry leaders discussed the importance of securing the supply chain, combating fraud, and addressing the growing threat of organized crime as the sector expands into more remote areas.
Daniel Miranda, Head of Corporate Security, Services & Administration at Bayer, highlighted the sector’s economic significance:
- “30% of Brazil’s GDP comes from agribusiness, responsible for feeding more than 10% of the planet’s population.”
Massamitsu Alberto Iko, Head of Compliance, Fraud Investigations, Ethics, Business Integrity & Security at Bunge, addressed the increasing involvement of organized crime as agribusiness expands into remote regions:
- “As agribusiness borders move north into remote areas, organized crime involvement increases along with the rise in commodity values. Cargo theft is a direct consequence.”
- On security strategy: “Security needs to be involved from the beginning of the process—it shouldn’t just be reactive. Customized strategies and technology are essential.”
Daniel Nascimento, Security Manager for Brazil at Syngenta, discussed the dangers of counterfeit products in the market:
- “25% of the agrochemicals market in Brazil is illegal—$4 billion in counterfeit products. For seeds, 30% of the market involves illegal products, causing $30 million in losses for the industry.”
- On solutions: “Technology and training have helped reduce the number of robberies. Organized crime actively seeks information, so technology is key to monitoring the environment and protecting our cargo.”
Rubenita S. Santiago Siqueira, Corporate Security Manager at Cofco International, emphasized the importance of preparedness:
- “When we talk about organized crime, everyone involved is trained. Is your team two steps ahead or two steps behind? All professionals must be ready to conduct intelligence analysis and use physical security tools.”
The panel concluded that technology, training, and proactive risk management are critical to securing assets and preventing losses in the agribusiness sector.
Insights from the Mining Sector
The Mining Sector panel explored the complex challenges of securing expansive operations and high-risk environments. Industry experts discussed the role of technology and internal security processes in protecting assets and ensuring operational continuity.
Roberto Monteiro, General Manager Southeast, at Vale S.A., emphasized the need for customized security solutions:
- “We are testing proximity and thermal radar solutions to determine where they fit in our operations. The solution is there—we must adapt it to our case.”
- On internal threats: “The enemy can be outside or inside, and in some cases, the enemy was inside. Internal threats are just as dangerous as external ones.”
Renan Magalhães, Senior Regional Security Manager at Alcoa, discussed the challenges of securing large perimeters:
- “It’s impossible to protect 70km of area with personnel alone. We must focus on high-risk areas and use proactive solutions to address threats.”
- On asset protection: “We use drones to identify threats at 2-3km distances. This helps us protect our cargo, perimeters, and information and minimizes the risk to our personnel.”
Paulo Henrique da Silva, Corporate Security Manager for Brazil at Gerdau, highlighted the need for a thorough risk analysis:
- “Security solutions like drones, electric fences, and cameras are important, but risk analysis is critical. The better the risk analysis, the more we can dissuade attackers from entering our areas.”
Marcos Silva, Regional Security Manager at Hydro, shared the challenges of securing operations in remote regions:
- “In the Amazon, the biggest issue is the land. Our main technological challenge is ensuring reliable communication in these vast, remote areas.”
- On preventive measures: “Risk analysis is key to shortening decision-making and reducing personnel risk exposure.”
The Mining Sector panel emphasized that technology, risk analysis, and proactive monitoring are crucial for safeguarding operations, especially in vast and remote regions.
Conclusion
The key takeaways from SegSummit 2024 emphasize the urgent need for a proactive approach to security. It is no longer acceptable to wait for incidents to happen across all sectors.
The focus now is on using advanced technologies such as drones and AI, as well as conducting comprehensive risk assessments, to gain a grip on threats and prevent them from escalating into significant problems.
Furthermore, the importance of intelligence cannot be overstated. Using data and insights to anticipate risks and inform decision-making is crucial to staying ahead of increasingly sophisticated threats.
By investing in intelligence-driven, proactive security strategies, industries can better protect their assets, secure operations, and minimize potential disruptions in an unpredictable and constantly changing environment.
If you’d like to learn more about how AKTEK empowers organizations with advanced intelligence solutions to better protect people, assets, and operations, visit our website or contact us today.
We’re here to help you stay ahead of the challenges and secure your future.
