A comprehensive analysis by Willis Research Network and the Atlantic Council has identified gray-zone aggression—tactics that operate in the ambiguous space between peace and war while maintaining plausible deniability—as an increasingly material threat to corporate operations worldwide. The report underscores how these evolving tactics, which include cyber operations, economic coercion, and disinformation campaigns, pose direct risks to business continuity across all sectors and geographies.
In response to these findings, the report recommends that corporate leadership undertake a systematic reassessment of existing insurance coverage to ensure adequate protection against gray-zone incidents. The analysis further advises executives to elevate geopolitical risk management within their organizational frameworks, positioning it as a strategic priority rather than a peripheral concern.
Additional recommendations include conducting stress tests on supply chain resilience and implementing scenario planning exercises that account for geopolitical instability. These measures are designed to help corporations identify vulnerabilities and develop contingency strategies that strengthen their operational resilience in an environment of heightened gray-zone activity.