Last year’s six cyber predictions were more on target than not in a year that ended up being unpredictable in many ways. Cyberattacks continued to pose a threat to insureds and insurers, as hackers matured, ransom payments increased, and the cyber insurance market continued to change. Looking at the cybersecurity environment, the predictions outlined will help organizations be prepared for what lies ahead.
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Cyberattacks are impossible to completely prevent and the consequences of a data breach can be devastating. In addition to information and finances lost, breaches can result in downtime and reputational damage that can set your company far behind competitors. If your organization has experienced a cyberattack, there are three things that can be done to help you make it through the data breach and come out stronger than before.
No matter where you are in your life’s journey, there’s an element of risk to plan for to protect your assets. Blake Panosh, Baird’s Manager of Insurance & Annuities, covers common insurance planning misconceptions, as well as who should consider insurance planning and how to get started.
Cyber-attacks at all levels are not a new phenomenon, nor do the Russians have a monopoly on them. While the Russia/Ukraine crisis is at the forefront, it won’t be the last global event that family offices will need to address when cybersecurity is involved. Family offices, executives, and enterprises can take actions to help alleviate the cyber-attack risk when it comes to cyber retaliation from Russia or other state-sponsored cyber-attacks.
On August 24, 2022, the California Attorney announced a settlement with Sephora, Inc. that included a fine of $1.2 million for alleged violations of the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA). The settlement is important because it makes clear that the use of analytics, advertising cookies, and other automatic data collection technologies are a "sale" under the CCPA. Businesses that are subject to the CCPA (and the upcoming CPRA) should immediately review their CCPA compliance to minimize being a potential target of further enforcement actions.
From a litigation perspective, the shifting economic environment's impact on family offices has been about how bad results and different risk tolerance can cause conflicts between multiple stakeholders. At the core family level, friction between family members has often centered around the dividends and determining the asset distribution.
Ransomware is one of several common cybersecurity risks companies face today. In addition to being a victim of a cyber attack, these companies may become the target of lawsuits alleging a variety of harms, including failure to deliver contractual promises and negligent cybersecurity practices. By being prepared and employing practical strategies, companies can safeguard against a ransomware attack and mitigate other cybersecurity risks.
Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) has become the next frontier in risk mitigation and long-term value creation. While ESG introduces high-stakes responsibilities for the board, it rests on the same overriding principles of traditional governance, including communicating execution of a strategy in alignment with corporate purpose, vision, and values. Forward-thinking boards will lean into ESG and view it is as an opportunity to improve business resilience while contributing to the greater benefit of all stakeholders.
Both your physical health and your financial well-being are connected to good habits and hard work. While good habits can help prevent negative health events, nothing is guaranteed. It’s important to have plans in place to mitigate the stress that can result from a change in your physical or mental condition. Along with addressing your long-term care insurance, there are other steps to take to incorporate health into your wealth plan and prepare for the unexpected.
Given the high-profile nature of some startups raising money through misrepresentation and in certain cases fraud—resulting in significant losses for their investors—there has been a call for increased scrutiny and new regulations. What are the implications of such proposals and how may they affect investment firms’ obligations to their investors, as well as the overall startup investment landscape?