Mountain View, CA: May 17, 2025
The cybersecurity risk to family offices is extremely high in the current environment.
According to recent data from Deloitte, 43% of family offices globally have experienced a cyberattack over the past 12 - 24 months, and 25% have experienced three or more attacks. Those based in North America are the most likely to be attacked, compared to other regions across the globe.
At Forest Systems, we understand these risks, and we speak with our clients often about the importance of addressing them head on. Today, we are taking that commitment a step further, through a strategic partnership with FoxPointe Solutions, a leading advisory firm specializing in compliance, risk management, and cybersecurity, and a division of The Bonadio Group, a top 50 accounting firm.
In honor of this partnership, Forest Systems’ Founder and CEO Ed Van Deman sat down with Charlie Wood, Partner and Practice Lead for FoxPointe, to discuss the cybersecurity threats family offices face, the importance of mitigating risk, and the value of trust in a fast-changing, increasingly digital environment.
What’s been a throughline to your career?
EVD: I’ve always been interested in the quantitative applications of finance...
CW: For me, the throughline is all about risk and growth...
Where do you see your work intersecting?
CW: This collaboration allows us to provide even more value to our clients...
EVD: I couldn’t agree more. Cybersecurity is extremely complex...
What’s the ideal client engagement?
CW: The ideal client is really one who understands their risk and wants help minimizing it...
How do you see AI and automation reshaping processes?
EVD: AI will revolutionize accounting. It’s going to be radically different...
What are the biggest blind spots?
CW: The biggest blind spots we see are not knowing what type of data they have and who has access to it...
EVD: Another one I see is when CPA firms or family offices say, “We’re not worried about cybersecurity...”
What keeps clients up at night?
CW: Many of our clients are worried about being the target of malicious threat actors...
EVD: Agreed. We’re going to find out over time how much and how well clients are addressing cybersecurity...
How do you build and maintain trust?
CW: By doing the right thing...
EVD: Charlie makes a great point. I would also add that building trust is a constant process...
To learn more about Charlie Wood, Partner & Practice Lead at FoxPointe Solutions, please read his bio here. To learn more about Ed Van Deman, CEO & Founder at Forest Systems, read his bio here or connect with Ed on LinkedIn.