Nuclear Security In A Time Of Crisis

The COVID-19 global pandemic has had a significant impact on the implementation of security across a wide range of industrial sectors. As an event, it is largely unprecedented in terms of its global scale, its expected duration, and its targeted impact on the human element of organizations. In the nuclear sector, governments, regulators and operators have had to quickly put in place new measures to protect the health of staff, while at the same time continuing to ensure the security of nuclear material, sensitive information and systems. While the wide-ranging impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is arguably unique, this is not the first time that the nuclear industry has had to respond to external crises that have necessitated adaptation. The analysis of these incidents has largely focused on safety but maintaining security during a crisis is equally important. This paper will review findings from a recent handbook published by Kings College and the Stimson Center. The handbook includes case studies of how nuclear operators responded during times of crisis and how those crises impacted nuclear security operations, including security culture, physical protection measures, material accounting, and access control.