"Michael Julian has written an excellent book. Practical, detailed, and a potential life saver if you find yourself in the midst of a targeted attack."
How Organizations Assess Active Threat Risk: A Practical Guide to Modern Preparedness
Active threat incidents once felt rare and unimaginable. Today, they represent a growing operational and human safety concern for workplaces, schools, and public-facing organizations. The challenge for leadership is no longer whether an event could happen, but how to evaluate the risk and prepare proactively.
At A.L.I.V.E. Active Shooter Survival Training, we help organizations develop situational awareness, threat preparedness, and survival skills through training that saves lives when seconds matter.
This guide explains how organizations assess active threat risk and why preparedness is now considered an essential component of workplace safety.
From Unthinkable to Foreseeable Risk
Active threat events are no longer dismissed as isolated anomalies. Data, news coverage, and federal guidance have made it clear that organizations are expected to acknowledge and address the risk.
Active threat preparedness now carries implications for:
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Workplace safety standards
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Employee expectations
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Duty of care requirements
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Legal and liability considerations
When a risk becomes foreseeable, preparedness becomes reasonable.
Step One: Identify Who and What Needs Protection
Risk assessment begins with understanding what is at stake.
Organizations must protect:
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Employees
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Visitors and customers
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Students or members
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Leadership and executives
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Physical environments
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Operational continuity
Human safety always sits at the top of the hierarchy.
Step Two: Understand the Active Threat Landscape
Threats vary based on environment.
Common categories include:
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Workplace violence
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Targeted attacks
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Domestic disputes spilling into workplaces
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Ideological or grievance-driven violence
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Opportunistic shootings in public venues
Understanding the ecosystem of threats informs readiness.
Step Three: Evaluate Vulnerabilities in the Environment
Threats only become incidents when vulnerabilities are present.
Vulnerabilities may include:
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Uncontrolled access points
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Lack of situational awareness culture
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No emergency communication procedures
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Poor layout or choke points
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No active threat response training
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Unprepared leadership
Identifying vulnerabilities is a critical preventive step.
Step Four: Assess Preparedness Capabilities
Even without an incident, organizations can assess how well they could respond.
Preparedness involves evaluating:
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Whether employees know what to do
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How quickly action could be taken
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Whether escape routes are known
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What would happen in the first 30 to 60 seconds
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How communication would occur under stress
Prepared organizations reduce chaos and save time, and time saves lives.
Step Five: Recognize the Role of Human Decision-Making
In active threat events, survival depends heavily on:
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Awareness
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Speed
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Clarity
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Adaptability
Employees must make decisions before law enforcement arrives.
Training builds these decision-making skills.
Why Most Organizations Underestimate Active Threat Risk
Organizations often misjudge risk due to:
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Optimism bias (“It will not happen here”)
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Lack of firsthand exposure
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Fear of creating panic
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Misconceptions about liability
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Belief that policies alone are enough
Preparedness is not about fear. It is about responsibility.
Training Is the Most Effective Response Tool
Policies, drills, and communication systems are important, but they do not replace human understanding.
Effective training teaches:
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Situational awareness
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Environmental assessment
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Escape prioritization
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Barricade techniques
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When and how to defend
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How to communicate with others
These skills cannot be improvised under stress.
The A.L.I.V.E. Method as a Survival Framework
At A.L.I.V.E., we train individuals to think and act decisively using the five-step method:
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Assess the situation
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Leave if escape is possible
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Impede the threat when escape is not possible
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Violence as a last resort to survive
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Expose information to first responders when safe
This method transforms fear into function.
Active Threat Preparedness Is Now Leadership Work
Preparedness is no longer just a safety department responsibility. Leadership is expected to:
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Recognize foreseeable risk
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Empower employees with training
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Demonstrate a duty of care
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Protect culture and morale
Preparedness builds organizational trust.
Why Prepared Organizations Experience Better Outcomes
Prepared organizations benefit from:
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Reduced confusion
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Faster response time
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Lower casualty potential
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Higher survival rates
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Improved post-incident resilience
Preparedness changes outcomes.
Take Action Before a Threat Becomes an Incident
Organizations do not control when or where active threats happen. They control how prepared they are when they do.
If your organization is ready to proactively assess risk and train employees to survive an active threat, A.L.I.V.E. Active Shooter Survival Training can help. Contact Us Today For A Free Consultation!
Leadership prepares. Awareness protects. Training saves lives.
Hear From An A.L.I.V.E. Student Survivor Of The Las Vegas Massacre
"As a retired 32 year law enforcement veteran, with several years of SWAT and tactical experience, I learned some different unique perspectives as it pertains to civilians dealing with active threat situations. Very good class for civilians who may have never experienced reacting to a life and death stressful situation."
- Christopher C.
A.L.I.V.E. STANDS FOR:
Assess
Assess the situation quickly
Leave
Leave the area if you can
Impede
Impede the shooter
Violence
Violence may be necessary
Expose
Expose your position carefully for safety
INDUSTRIES WE SERVE
Corporations
Government
Healthcare
Places of worship
Schools & Universities
Venues
MICHAEL JULIAN
Creator of A.L.I.V.E.
A.L.I.V.E., which stands for Assess, Leave, Impede, Violence, and Expose, was created in 2014 when Michael began teaching his Active Shooter Survival philosophy throughout the United States. His book on the subject, 10 Minutes to Live: Surviving an Active Shooter Using A.L.I.V.E. was published in 2017 and the online version of the A.L.I.V.E. Training Program was launched in 2019 and is now part of the corporate security training program for companies throughout the world.
Why A.L.I.V.E. Active Shooter
Survival Training Program?
The A.L.I.V.E. Active Shooter Survival Training Program is a comprehensive training program designed to provide individuals with the necessary skills and knowledge to survive an active shooter incident. Its emphasis on situational awareness and decision-making makes it a practical and effective approach to active shooter situations. By empowering individuals to take proactive measures to protect themselves and others, the program can help prevent tragedies and save lives.