Financial services is the most attacked industry globally, and the cost of cybercrime is projected to hit $10.5 trillion annually. But within that industry, independent advisors and small RIAs sit in the worst possible position — high-value data, low-grade protection. Independent practices hold Social Security numbers, bank account details, portfolio data, and tax records for every client. Unlike wirehouses, most independent advisors don’t have a dedicated security team, a formal incident response plan, or even basic endpoint monitoring. 95% of cyberattacks begin with human error. The SEC has made cybersecurity a top examination priority. A real security posture includes perimeter defense, identity and access controls, threat detection, data protection, human defense training, and compliance governance — six layers, all working together. Start with a security assessment. Know where your gaps are before the SEC finds them.
