By VALERIE KROEGER
Office of Indiana Secretary of State Connie Lawson

With an ever-growing list of financial institutions targeted by organized cyber-attacks, Secretary of State Connie Lawson today issued an advisory reminding investors of the importance of understanding how their personal information is being protected by financial firms. The advisory is on the Secretary of State’s website here.

“The increasing reliance on technology in our daily lives could leave our sensitive financial information more vulnerable to unwanted viewing or theft without proper safeguards in place,” said Secretary Lawson.

In September 2014, the North American Securities Administrators Association, of which the Secretary of State’s office is a member, reported that 62 percent of state-registered investment adviser firms participating in a NASAA pilot survey had undergone a cybersecurity risk assessment, and 77 percent had established policies and procedures related to technology or cybersecurity.

“Investors should think about the safety of their financial information, and talk with their investment professionals about what steps firms are taking to safeguard client information,” said Carol Mihalik Indiana Securities Commissioner.

To help investors with that discussion, the Secretary of State’s office suggests asking the following questions:

• Has the firm addressed which cybersecurity threats and vulnerabilities may impact its business?
• Does the firm have written policies, procedures, or training programs in place regarding safeguarding client information?
• Does the firm maintain insurance coverage for cybersecurity?
• Has the firm engaged an outside consultant to provide cybersecurity services?
• Does the firm have confidentiality agreements with any third-party service providers with access to the firm’s information technology systems?
• Has the firm ever experienced a cybersecurity incident where, directly or indirectly, theft, loss, unauthorized exposure, use of, or access to customer information occurred? If so, has the firm taken steps to close any gaps in its cybersecurity infrastructure?
• Does the firm use safeguards such as encryption, antivirus and anti-malware programs?
• Does the firm contact clients via email or other electronic messaging, and if so, does the firm use secure email and/or any procedures to authenticate client instructions received via email or electronic messaging, to work against the possibility of a client being impersonated?

“As a customer, you have the right to ask these questions and get answers you can understand in writing,” Secretary Lawson said. “This is all part of the process of doing your due diligence and becoming an informed investor.”

For more information, contact the Secretary of State’s Securities Division at (317) 232-6682 or www.in.gov/sos.