Preparing for the Future: Why Family Offices Need a Proactive Cybersecurity Strategy


Preparing for the Future: Why Family Offices Need a Proactive Cybersecurity Strategy

Preparing for the Future: Why Family Offices Need a Proactive Cybersecurity Strategy

Cybersecurity is no longer a niche concern—it’s a boardroom conversation. In an increasingly digital, data-driven environment, family offices and financial firms rely on technology for nearly every function: reporting, document management, communication, compliance, and strategic decision-making. But with that reliance comes risk. Real, measurable, business-threatening risk.

At Forest Systems, we help firms bring clarity and confidence to their core financial operations. But we also know that no matter how efficient your systems are, they’re only as valuable as they are secure. It’s why we take cybersecurity seriously—for our own firm, and for the clients we serve.

The Stakes Are Higher Than You Think

Let’s look at the numbers. According to research from the Wharton Global Family Alliance:

  • Only 20% of family offices say their enterprise cybersecurity is resilient.
  • 50% believe a data breach would be at least somewhat costly.
  • Just half have a documented IT disaster recovery plan.
  • Most employ less than one full-time IT professional, often without strong cybersecurity expertise.

These findings reveal a disconnect between how critical technology is to daily operations—and how vulnerable many organizations are in practice.

Family offices often assume they’re too small, too private, or too under-the-radar to attract attention. Unfortunately, the opposite is true. Smaller, leaner operations are often more attractive to attackers because they typically lack the internal expertise or budget to mount a strong defense. And with high-value data at stake, the consequences of a breach can be devastating.

Where Cybersecurity Meets Strategy

Our work at Forest Systems gives us a front-row seat to the systems, habits, and vulnerabilities that shape today’s financial firms. While cybersecurity isn’t our core service offering, we believe it's our responsibility to help clients approach it with the same strategic mindset they bring to their investments or tax planning.

That’s why we’ve partnered with FoxPointe Solutions to ensure our clients have access to cybersecurity professionals who understand the needs—and nuances—of family offices and financial institutions. This partnership enables us to offer both the tools and the expert insight needed to mitigate risk without overcomplicating day-to-day workflows.

Cybersecurity is not a one-time investment or a set-it-and-forget-it software patch. It’s a set of thoughtful, proactive habits that touch everything from how your data is stored, to who has access, to how your team is trained. It's about building muscle memory into your operations—so you’re not scrambling after a breach, but staying a step ahead of it.

Three Questions to Ask Yourself Right Now

  • Do we have a clear, documented cybersecurity plan? If the answer is no—or you’re unsure—that’s the first red flag.
  • Have we assessed our current tools and vendors for security vulnerabilities? Trusted systems still need to be reviewed regularly.
  • Do we have the right experts at the table? Even a part-time cybersecurity advisor can bring vital perspective and protection.

Why This Matters for Family Offices

The operational complexity and confidentiality requirements of a family office make cybersecurity especially urgent. From investment strategies and legal documentation to personal identifying information, the data you manage is both sensitive and valuable. A breach isn’t just an IT issue—it’s a reputation, compliance, and trust issue.

If the past few years have shown us anything, it’s that disruption isn’t a matter of if—but when. And whether that disruption comes in the form of a ransomware attack, data leak, or even an accidental internal error, being prepared makes all the difference.

As Charlie Wood of FoxPointe Solutions says, “This is not about checking a box.” It’s about treating cybersecurity with the same level of intention and leadership that you apply to everything else in your business.

Our Commitment

At Forest Systems, we continue to invest in the security, reliability, and resilience of our operations. We hire the best people, develop strong internal protocols, and align ourselves with expert partners to help our clients stay ahead of what’s next.

Because at the end of the day, our mission isn’t just to make your processes faster—it’s to make your business stronger.

And that means preparing for the future, even the risks we hope never come to pass.

Let’s make sure your business is ready.