The November 26 attack was not a mere attack on the Maximum city but on its very fabric with the Indian economy being the latest target on the terror map.
But is India Inc secured enough? Well, it does not seem so!
After the terror attacks, India Inc has been forced to look at improving security systems in the financial capital.
Even as ‘terror insurance’ is becoming a common term these days, everybody would like to see a more secure India.
Security needs to be beefed up not only in public domains but also for corporate entities.
Well, one would look upon this as a time for big business for security solution providers.
However, it does not seem so.
The security companies say that despite Mumbai has been targeted several times, investment on security is last on any corporate's radar.
Pramod Rao, MD, Zicom Security Systems, said, "People spend just two-three per cent of overall budget on security systems and 80 per cent of that goes in fire ventilation etc. So there’s hardly anything left for security."
Although most corporates have the basic security systems, much more is required to be done, just like corporates in US have invested heavily in entry point security after the 9/11 attacks.
The security companies say that a three-pronged strategy is required including vehicle scanners, turnstiles and metal detectors at the entry point. Once inside, X ray baggage machines, biometric identification systems and a trained team of guards as well as advanced CCTV cameras must be in place to pick up all kinds of suspicious activity.
However, industry members estimate that less than 10 per cent of corporates in Mumbai have a consolidated set-up.
M.S Naik, Owner, Monitor Services, "While terror attacks have increased the number of people getting cautious, some still think about their budgets and how much they can afford.”
While the security companies are not so bullish of big business, listed companies like Zicom saw its stock moving up by 15 per cent over the last three days.
Although attacks like those in the last week have seen corporates get attentive about securing their domain, the need of the hour is not only to standardise security systems but also to dedicate larger budgets to them, so as to ensure greater safety of the employees.