Cyber risks for wealthy families don’t start in the office—they start at home. Discover how UHNW families are rethinking security across every part of life.
Every time I visit a client’s home for a risk assessment, I see the same thing: layers of physical protection. Gates. Guards. Cameras. Secure entry. On one property, we were escorted by a former head of the FBI.
But once we’re inside and start mapping the digital side? That protection starts to look a lot thinner.
Private email accounts linked to investment transfers. No guest Wi-Fi separation. Unsecured tablets in the hands of kids. Clients using airport VPNs for sensitive transactions. Smart homes installed by integrators who never changed default credentials. Executive schedules sitting in shared calendars.
It’s not carelessness.
First, there’s the very human belief that bad things happen to other people. Other people get hacked. Other people fall for phishing. We’re too smart. Too small. Not wealthy enough. (Or too wealthy, too protected—the logic bends.)
Second, the tools used to protect their physical lives don’t extend into the digital ones. There’s no guard, no gate, no camera that stops a hacker with purpose.
This is why personal cybersecurity for UHNW families has become non-negotiable. Because in every family office we work with, cyber risk doesn’t just live in business systems or corporate email. It lives in text threads, streaming devices, travel routers, and nanny cams. And more often than not, no one’s been tasked with seeing the whole picture.
Lately, more clients are asking where cybersecurity and physical security intersect—and they’re right to. The targeted killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in December 2024 was a wake-up call. For families with visibility, wealth, or influence, the idea that digital vulnerabilities can lead to real-world consequences isn’t abstract anymore. A leaked address. A hacked security system. A compromised schedule. These aren’t just privacy issues. They’re personal safety issues.
The risks aren’t always where people expect them to be. But there are clear patterns—and clear ways to get ahead of them.
The Digital Perimeter Is Blurry
When you’re protecting a principal or their family, it’s not just about hardening the family office network. We look at how digital access points weave through homes, vehicles, aircraft, advisors, staff, and vendors. And that perimeter? It’s always shifting.
More often now, we’re seeing attackers go after people, not institutions. They impersonate advisors. Monitor inboxes. Intercept Wi-Fi connections. They slip in during travel. Some clients tell us they’ve never been hacked, and technically they’re right—because in many cases, attackers sit quietly in the background for weeks or months, learning how decisions get made and where they can insert themselves.
What’s Exposed: Common Cyber Risks for Wealthy Families
- Smart home security gaps
- Executive digital protection lapses
- Staff and household access
- Inconsistent device management
1. Start with visibility
Where to Start: Five Practical Steps
What Protection Looks Like in Practice
One of our clients—a multi-residence family with a small internal team—came to us after a deal nearly fell through due to a suspected breach. They had excellent in-person security, but none of their communications or residential networks were monitored. Smart home controls were accessible over the internet. Staff devices weren’t patched. And there was no protocol for vetting outside vendors.
We helped them build out a tailored cybersecurity strategy that covered everything: travel devices, remote access policies, email hygiene, executive protection tools, and real-time monitoring. It didn’t disrupt how they lived. It just closed the gaps.
Now, whether they’re home or in the air, their systems are protected. Their people are trained. And their communications stay private.
There’s a reason we don’t rely on remote scans alone. Read more about why on-site risk assessments are essential for HNWIs.
Protection That Matches the Stakes
Most cybersecurity providers are built for businesses. Fewer understand how security plays out across families, staff, properties, and vendors—all at once.
That’s where Decypher comes in. We don’t just protect networks. We protect lives, by designing security around how people really live.
If you’re not sure where the exposure is—or who’s watching the whole picture—that’s the right place to start.
What is personal cybersecurity for UHNW families?
We offer discreet, full-environment risk assessments for a limited number of families each year. If you're ready to take a closer look, schedule a short consultation with our team to get started—quietly, thoroughly, and without assumptions.
You can also learn more about our private client services here.
