skip to main content
Travelers Logo
  • About
  • For Brokers
  • Contact Us
  • Careers
  • Français
Français
Main Navigation
  • For Individuals
      • Insurance for Individuals
      • Car
      • Home
      • More
      • New Home Warranty
        • TRU Builder™
        • Buyers & Homeowners
        • Builders & Developers
        • More
      • Services
        • Payment Options
        • Why Credit History Matters
    • Learn more

      You're a Safe Driver. Why Not Get Rewarded for It?

      IntelliDrive® is an auto insurance program available for customers in Ontario. 

      Learn more
  • For Business
      • Commercial Insurance
      • Industries
        • Business and Professional Services
        • Construction & Contractors
        • Hospitality
        • Manufacturing
        • More
      • Management & Professional Liability
        • Crime
        • Cyber
        • Directors and Officers Liability
        • Employment Practices Liability
        • More
      • Surety
        • Contract
        • Commercial
        • Developer
        • Project Loss Insurance
      • New Home Warranty
        • TRU Builder™
        • Buyers & Homeowners
        • Builders & Developers
        • More
      • Services
        • Cross Border Solutions
        • Risk Control
    • Learn more

      5 Ways to Use Digital Marketing to Grow Your Small Business

      Learn how to use digital marketing to help grow your small business.

      Learn more
  • Claim Centre
      • Claim Centre
      • Report a Claim
      • Claim Process
      • Frequently Asked Questions
      • Claim Support Materials
      • Recommended Repair Facilities
      • Recommended Treatment Facilities
      • Understanding Your Tow Rights
      • Report Fraud
      • CAT Response
    • Learn more

      Claim Process

      Navigating the claim process is easier if you know what’s ahead. Learn about what’s next after you file a claim.

      Learn more
  • Prepare & Prevent
      • Car
      • Home
      • Business
      • New Home Warranty
      • Weather
      • Insurance 101
    • Prepare and Prevent

      Prepare & Prevent

      Tips and expertise to help you protect your business and prevent risks at home and on the road. 

      Learn more
  • About Us
      • Our Story
      • Leadership Team
      • Corporate Governance
      • Newsroom
      • Financial Strength
      • Broker Compensation
    • Learn more

      We’re Travelers Canada

      Our team of 1,400 employees work every day with one common goal — to support our brokers and customers across Canada when they need us most.

      Learn more
  • For Individuals
    • Insurance for Individuals
    • Car
    • Home
    • More
    • New Home Warranty
      • TRU Builder™
      • Buyers & Homeowners
      • Builders & Developers
      • More
    • Services
      • Payment Options
      • Why Credit History Matters
      • Find a Broker
  • For Business
    • Commercial Insurance
    • Industries
      • Business and Professional Services
      • Construction & Contractors
      • Hospitality
      • Manufacturing
      • More
    • Management & Professional Liability
      • Crime
      • Cyber
      • Directors and Officers Liability
      • Employment Practices Liability
      • More
    • Surety
      • Contract
      • Commercial
      • Developer
      • Project Loss Insurance
    • New Home Warranty
      • TRU Builder™
      • Buyers & Homeowners
      • Builders & Developers
      • More
    • Services
      • Cross Border Solutions
      • Risk Control
      • Find a Broker
  • Claim Centre
    • Claim Centre
    • Report a Claim
    • Claim Process
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Claim Support Materials
    • Recommended Repair Facilities
    • Recommended Treatment Facilities
    • Understanding Your Tow Rights
    • Report Fraud
    • CAT Response
      • Find a Broker
  • Prepare & Prevent
    • Car
    • Home
    • Business
    • New Home Warranty
    • Weather
    • Insurance 101
      • Find a Broker
  • About Us
    • Our Story
    • Leadership Team
    • Corporate Governance
    • Newsroom
    • Financial Strength
    • Broker Compensation
      • Find a Broker
    • Find a Broker
  • Home
  • Prepare & Prevent
  • Business
  • Business Risk Assessment

Business Risk Assessment

Small business bike shop Small business bike shop

Risk assessment is fundamental to developing a realistic, reliable business continuity plan. Companies that proactively consider which events are most likely to occur are able to focus disaster response planning efforts where they will yield the best return on investment – and remain better positioned to recover from a disaster.

Always base response and recovery strategies on an understanding of the threats your company faces, as well as their potential impact on business operations.

The Most Common Threats

The following list contains some common threats that may leave critical business resources and operations vulnerable.

  • Natural disasters such as tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes, floods, lightning strikes and wildfires.
  • Manmade or technological events like fires and explosions, industrial accidents, chemical/hazardous material spills, communications and utility outages, system disruptions and transportation accidents.
  • Malicious attacks including terrorism, bomb threats, vandalism, threats to reputation (off- or online), protests, civil unrest/riots, robbery and armed intruders.
  • Cyber attacks such as denial of service attacks, computer viruses, worms, Trojan horses, cyberwarfare and cyberterrorism.
  • Loss of workforce events such as long-term disability or illness, epidemic (e.g., flu, virus outbreaks), fatalities and worker strike.
  • Supply chain disruptions, which can include counterfeit parts, regulatory requirement violations and transportation disruptions.
  • Human error, such as poor training, poor maintenance, carelessness, misconduct, substance abuse, fatigue and counterfeit parts.

Assessing Risk

When determining what the biggest risks are to your businesses, consider the following:

  • Historical – What has happened in your community, to your facility or neighborhood before?
  • Geographic – What is your proximity to flood plains, major airports, etc.? 
  • Physical – What is it about the design or construction of your facility/office that might make your business particularly susceptible to a certain event?
  • Organizational – What is it about your employee, operational or technological infrastructure that might make your business particularly susceptible to a certain event?
  • Regulatory – Is your business/industry required or mandated to prepare for any hazards?

Related Content

  • Premises Security and Liability
  • Managing Your Intellectual Property
  • 5 Types of Cyber Criminal

See All Business Content


Travelers logo

© 2025 The Travelers Indemnity Company. All rights reserved. Travelers and the Travelers Umbrella logo are registered trademarks of The Travelers Indemnity Company in Canada, the U.S. and other countries. Travelers Insurance Company of Canada, The Dominion of Canada General Insurance Company and St. Paul Fire and Marine Insurance Company (Canada Branch) are the Canadian licensed insurers known as Travelers Canada.

  • Travelers on Twitter
  • Travelers on Facebook
  • Travelers on LinkedIn
  • Travelers on Instagram
Français

Products & Services

  • For Individuals
  • For Business
  • Claim Centre
  • Prepare & Prevent

Our Company

  • Why Travelers
  • Careers
  • Community Involvement

Connect

  • Contact Us
  • Payment Options
  • Why Credit History Matters
  • Find a Broker

Legal & Compliance

  • Terms & Conditions
  • Accessibility
  • Privacy & Security
  • Cookie Settings
  • Legal Notices
  • Consumer Complaints
  • Consumer Code