SCTE 227 2016

Cable Operator Location Risk Assessment Operational Practice

A location risk assessment (LRA) is performed to identify threats that could negatively impact the ability

to conduct business in a geographic location. The results of the LRA help to align strategic business

decisions with effective risk reduction solutions at a geographic location. The LRA considers all threats

whether they are financial, natural, political or human related. The LRA identifies and weighs the risks to

business continuity based on a four-step process.

The four steps are:

  1. Strategic risk assessment
  2. Tactical risk assessment
  3. Strategic and tactical risk assessment report
  4. Project evaluation matrix

The purposes of performing the LRA are to:

  •  Determine if it is appropriate to do business in a specific geographic location,
  •  Identify probable threats to the business within the specific geographic location,
  •  Determine the financial exposure to the company should the probable threats occur, and
  •  Determine cost effective solutions to mitigate or minimize the risks.

The scope of the location risk assessment applies to all areas of the cable operator business that would

impact operations based on locational considerations. Also, third party facilities such as co-location

facilities, an LRA should be conducted.

These steps are guides for determining the overall risk assessment for a location. Depending on the

particular cable operator project all steps may not be required.

The information learned from the strategic, tactical and location risk assessments will be summarized by

category on the strategic and tactical risk assessments report. Based on the narrative issues an overall rank

will be determined and assigned for an overall risk assessment. The overall risk assessment rank and

reason for ranking will be transferred to the project evaluation matrix.