At the same time, dealers themselves can be proactive in helping their advisors be aware of what to look for, Mr. Freedman says.
Dealers must make cybersecurity awareness training relevant to advisors, he adds. That means moving beyond dry lectures in an airless conference room and engaging advisors with practical exercises. In one increasingly common approach, companies send out fake phishing campaigns to test employees’ and contractors’ cybersecurity readiness. Companies can even gamify these exercises to help create a sense of healthy competition.
Advisors – especially those who report their own mistakes – must feel confident that they won’t be punished. It’s up to executives to create an atmosphere of trust, Mr. Cunningham adds.