Most of us are familiar with Benjamin Franklin’s famous adage “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Unprecedented access to information in today’s digital world oftentimes results in information overload. Paralysis by analysis may be worse than no analysis at all. One concise resource that US companies have to keep abreast of international security issues and incidents is the Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC).

Founded over thirty years ago, OSAC is a public private partnership between the United States Department of State and the Private Sector. Its objectives are:

• To establish continuing liaison and to provide for operational security cooperation between State Department security functions and the Private Sector.
• To provide for regular and timely interchange of information between the Private Sector and the State Department concerning developments in the overseas security environment.
• To recommend methods and provide material for coordinating security planning and implementation of security programs.
• To recommend methods to protect the competitiveness of American businesses operating worldwide.

OSAC constituency is available to any American-owned, not-for-profit organization, or any enterprise incorporated in the U.S. (parent company, not subsidiaries or divisions) doing business overseas. Constituents have access a variety resources concerning international security issues including OSAC’s Morning Newsletter, Afternoon Digest and Weekly Digest.

Further information can be found on the OSAC website at: http://www.osac.gov.