Advisers not prepared for cyber attacks, survey reveals
The Kamino Cyber Security survey conducted in October 2017 has revealed that the entire financial services industry, including financial advisers, accountants and superannuation funds, were not adequately prepared when it came to cyber security.
Only 46 per cent of respondents said they would be adequately prepared to deal with a cyber-attack on their business, with 25 per cent admitting their business was not doing enough to protect its systems from cyber threats and the remaining 29 per cent unsure.
Managing director of Kamino, Julian Plummer, said the results were concerning as 45 per cent of the respondents had experienced at least one cyber security attack. The survey also revealed only 32 per cent of respondents were aware of the new data breach notification laws that came into effect February this year.
“These laws will have a huge impact on the businesses affected,” said Plummer. “This lack of awareness of the laws most likely translates to an overall lack of preparedness for the changes now in effect, which is worrying considering the ramifications of a cyber breach incident on a financial planning or accounting practice.”
Some other key findings from the survey were:
- There was over-confidence when it came to dealing with cyber threats;
- The most common cyber incidents were caused by malware or phishing emails, which indicated that there was a lack of basic security hygiene in the industry; and
- Some critical controls that could help prevent cyber incidents are missing across the board.
AUTHOR
Anastasia Santoreneos
Recommended for you
Compared to four years ago when the divide between boutique and large licensees were largely equal, adviser movements have seen this trend shift in light of new licensees commencing.
As ongoing market uncertainty sees advisers look beyond traditional equity exposure, Fidante has found adviser interest in small caps and emerging markets for portfolio returns has almost doubled since April.
CoreData has shared the top areas of demand for cryptocurrency advice but finds investors are seeking advisers who actively invest in the asset themselves.
With regulators ‘raising the bar’ on retirement planning, Lonsec Research and Ratings has urged advisers to place greater focus on sequencing and longevity risk as they navigate clients through the shifting landscape.
