UHNW families and family businesses face a distinct cyber risk: the boundaries between corporate, personal and household systems are often blurred.
In this Tatler article By Annabelle Spranklen, Valkyrie examines how that creates opportunities for attackers, particularly where valuable information, financial authority and trusted relationships sit across a wider network of family members, advisers, staff and external providers.
Although written with UHNW families in mind, many of the principles apply more broadly to family offices, owner-managed businesses, senior executives and private clients managing overlapping personal and professional risks.
The article considers the continuing effectiveness of business email compromise, credential theft and third-party access, alongside practical measures including clearer separation of personal and business systems, stronger financial controls, tighter access management and a structured response during the critical first 24 hours.
Two further points are worth highlighting:
➡️ Attackers increasingly target relationships rather than technology. Understanding who is trusted, who can authorise decisions and how people normally communicate can be more valuable than identifying a technical vulnerability.
➡️ Cyber resilience is also a governance issue. Families should know in advance who has the authority to make decisions, preserve evidence, engage external specialists and manage communications when an incident occurs.
Effective resilience comes from understanding the full ecosystem, reducing unnecessary exposure and ensuring that people, processes and technology work together.
