Cybersecurity and Physical Risk Management
Protecting the family from digital extortion, physical threats, and reputational damage.
The Vulnerability of Wealth
Family offices are prime targets for cyber-attacks because they control institutional-scale capital but often employ consumer-grade security. A simple spear-phishing attack on a family member's personal email can compromise the entire office.
Mandatory Security Protocols
- Hardware security keys (YubiKey) for all financial and email access. SMS 2FA is easily bypassed via SIM-swapping.
- Strict wire transfer protocols (e.g., dual-authorization and verbal confirmation for any wire over $50,000).
- Scrubbing family members' personal information from data brokers to reduce physical security risks.
| Threat Vector | Mitigation Strategy |
|---|---|
| Wire Fraud (BEC) | Mandatory voice verification for changed routing instructions |
| Ransomware | Air-gapped backups, zero-trust network architecture |
| Physical Extortion | Privacy trusts for real estate titles, strict social media blackouts |
Common Mistakes
Allowing principals to use personal Gmail accounts for investment committee communications. All correspondence must run through the SFO's managed, archived domain.
Check your vulnerabilities using our Cyber Risk Score tool.
Take the Next Step
Model your specific requirements using our interactive operational and setup tools.
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