Lessons from the Louvre: The Value of Regular Risk Assessments

Lessons from the Louvre: The Value of Regular Risk Assessments

The recent Louvre heist has captured worldwide attention, not only for the brazenness of the crime but for how it happened. Investigators confirmed that a surveillance camera near the entry point was facing the wrong direction, creating a blind spot that thieves exploited to steal jewels worth millions.

This wasn’t a failure of having no system. It was a failure of oversight. A camera that is working and recording is still ineffective if it does not cover the right area. That distinction is what every organization should take to heart. Security systems often sit untouched once installed, quietly drifting out of alignment with the risks they were designed to address. Problems go unnoticed until an incident exposes them.

At USI, we stress the importance of ongoing wellness checks. Camera systems need to be reviewed to confirm they still cover critical areas, that storage is reliable, and that monitoring staff know how to respond when an outage occurs. Even a small adjustment repositioning a lens, updating a server, tightening a policy can be the difference between prevention and loss.

But technology alone is not enough. A comprehensive risk assessment examines the full picture: the physical environment, the systems in place, the procedures guiding people, and the digital networks that tie it all together. Doors, locks, lighting, and access policies matter as much as camera placement. Training staff to respond effectively matters as much as the alarms that notify them. And today, cyber protections are inseparable from physical security.

A weak password can compromise an access control system. An unpatched server can expose live surveillance feeds. Remote connections can give intruders a way into building management systems. These vulnerabilities are real and increasingly common, which is why every assessment we deliver covers cyber alongside physical and technological layers.

The lesson from the Louvre is clear: even the most prestigious institutions are vulnerable when oversight slips. While your organization may not house priceless jewels, your assets whether intellectual property, sensitive data, employee safety, or brand reputation are no less valuable. Regular checks and holistic risk assessments ensure that protection is not only present but effective.

Investing in prevention is not about avoiding headlines. It is about ensuring the systems you rely on will work when you need them most.