Brian K. Lee (brian.k.lee@gartner.com) is a Managing Vice President and Dian Zhang (dian.zhang@gartner.com) is a Research Specialist at Gartner in Arlington, Virginia, USA.

The past few months have reminded companies of the need to prepare for macro crises—the recent COVID-19 outbreak being the primary example. While companies grapple with the wide-ranging and increasingly prolonged effects on their businesses, compliance executives have a substantial role to play in helping to respond and manage through the crisis.

To help organizations minimize disruption, compliance executives should focus on two major sources of concern: employees and third parties.