Cyber Security

Over the past few weeks we heard about an increasing number of significant cyber-security breaches targeting government agencies, major corporations, utilities, and famous individuals. The most notable of the week was a breach of Michelle Obama’s personal accounts. Another recent breach involved LinkedIn, and the list goes on. The White House is stepping-up its efforts to control this urgent problem creating a task force to address it, but alas, the situation appears to very difficult to control, and the feds are worried. For example, a breach of a utility could readily shutdown power grids, or an infiltration of the air-traffic system would wreak all sorts of chaos globally. At the local level, it is critical that companies step-up their focus on cyber security because each and every commercial business is fair game for a hacker, and don’t underestimate what damage might be done to your business. On a more personal level, all accounts and online commerce is fair game for some young wizard in a foreign land, and we are all exposed to identity theft. Change that password now!

Tony LoPinto is the Global Sector Leader of Korn/Ferry International’s Real Estate Practice and founder of SelectLeaders. The views expressed in this article are the author’s own.