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How to Design a Foolproof IoT Cybersecurity Strategy – ReadWrite
Published
3 years agoon
By
Drew Simpson
Technology has been advancing at a dizzying speed in the last decade. Here is how to design a foolproof IoT cybersecurity strategy.
One area that has been growing fast is the Internet of Things (IoT). IoT simply means a network of connected hardware devices that can communicate via an internet connection. The IoT network simplifies many processes and tasks by reducing human participation.
The Rise of IoT in Enterprise
While IoT has been a common concept in homes, enterprise use is only beginning to rise. And with that comes the need for improved IoT cybersecurity.
McKinsey’s report shows that the adoption of IoT technology on an enterprise level has increased from 13% in 2014 to 25% in 2019. The same report forecasts that the number of connected devices is expected to shoot to 43 billion by 2023. That’s three times the number of connected devices there were connected in 2018.
It’s inevitable. IoT is becoming a prominent ingredient in enterprise operations. But there’s a caveat that comes with the rise of IoT — increased cybersecurity risks.
And that’s why you must design a foolproof IoT cybersecurity strategy.
The Challenges of IoT Cybersecurity
IoT cybersecurity is a nightmare for most CISOs and CIOs. Unlike traditional IT cybersecurity, which is straightforward (more or less), securing an IoT environment is fraught with many challenges.
One of the biggest problems with IoT is that each device comes with its own software and firmware. In most cases, updating these is difficult. And as you know, software updates are a part of maintaining good cybersecurity hygiene. This poses a massive problem with IoT as every new line of code or functionality added could introduce new attack vectors. And conducting and monitoring updates at scale is next to impossible.
Another challenge is that most IoT devices don’t support third-party endpoint security solutions. One reason for this is regulations surrounding the devices (like FDA regulations for medical devices). As a result, enterprises end up focusing their security on the communication channels between devices and networks.
On an enterprise level, the number of connected devices is just too massive to keep track of. You can end up wasting valuable time and resources playing cat and mouse just to keep all your devices updated. That on its own can leave you open to attacks from other directions.
The Need for Enterprise Level IoT Cybersecurity Solutions
The need for innovation and efficiency are driving the growth of IoT adoption at an enterprise level. Business growth is virtually impossible today without keeping pace with current technology trends.
When it comes to cybersecurity, the more devices you have in your network, the more vulnerable you are. And because enterprises can deploy IoT devices and services at scale, they run a higher risk of being vulnerable to external threats.
That’s why, when adopting IoT in your business, you must be prepared to beef up your cybersecurity.
Because of the large number of devices in the network, IoT cybersecurity must be taken seriously. This is because a single infected device can infect and compromise the entire network. As a result, malicious agents can gain access to sensitive data or have control of your operations.
4 Must-Haves for Foolproof IoT Cybersecurity
Because there are many entry points that malicious actors can take advantage of, IoT cybersecurity requires a multi-layered and scalable security solution. Here are some of the major components to consider as you build your IoT cybersecurity strategy.
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Block Attackers with Next-Generation Firewalls
A firewall is a network security device that monitors network traffic. It can permit or block data packets from accessing your devices based on a set of security rules and protocols. As the name suggests, its purpose is to establish a barrier between your internal network and external sources. Doing this prevents hackers and other cyber threats from gaining access to your network.
While there are many different types of firewalls, for your IoT cybersecurity strategy to be effective, you must employ next-generation firewalls (NGFW). Basic firewalls only look at packet headers, while NGFW includes deep packet inspection. This allows for the examination of the data within the packet itself. As a result, users can more effectively identify, categorize, or stop packets with malicious data.
Next-gen firewalls are a vital part of any IoT cybersecurity strategy as they can monitor traffic between multiple devices effectively. As a result, only verified traffic is allowed access to your network.
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Secure Data with Encryption
Another layer of security you need to consider for your IoT cybersecurity strategy is encryption.
A study by ZScaler shows that over 91.5% of enterprise transactions occur over plain text channels. That means only 8.5% of transactions are encrypted. This is worrisome as this means hackers have a huge opportunity to access enterprise systems and wreak havoc. For example, they could launch a distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack that could cripple your business.
One way you can prevent malicious actors from gaining access to your network is to secure your data with encryption. This must be both for your software and hardware. But more importantly, you must use encrypted VPN solutions to ensure the safe transmission of data between your devices.
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Identity and Access Management
Initially designed for users, identity and access management (IAM) security solutions were designed for users. IAM ensures that only authorized people have access to systems and information they need to do their job. It also ensures that only authorized users have access to critical data.
But with the proliferation of IoT, IAM (which is sound management) is becoming another layer of security that can be applied to devices.
Just like human beings, digital devices have identities. And IAM tools have evolved to the point of being able to manage hundreds of thousands of devices and their users. With products like A3 from AeroHive, for example, IAM can identify each device in your network and grants them specific access controls.
When it comes to enterprise IoT, managing all your connected devices’ digital identity is critical to safeguarding your network infrastructure. More important is to ensure that each device only has the required access levels to your data.
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Network Segmentation
Network access control (NAC) has been a critical part of cybersecurity since the birth of networks. And to this day, it remains an integral part of most cybersecurity strategies – especially IoT cybersecurity.
The good thing about traditional network endpoints is that they usually run endpoint protection services. However, with IoT, this is not the case. And that’s where network segmentation comes in.
Using NGFWs to segment your IoT network from the rest of your network is advisable as it keeps potential threats confined within a controlled environment. For example, if an attacker manages to gain access to a device in your segmented IoT network, the threat is confined to that part of your network alone.
Putting It All Together – Designing an IoT Cybersecurity Strategy
Now that you’ve seen your best options for IoT cybersecurity let’s quickly dive into designing your strategy. However, note that this is not a guide set in stone as every business’s cybersecurity needs are never the same.
That being said, here are a few guidelines to help you design your enterprise IoT cybersecurity strategy:
Determine what You Need to Protect
With your security protocols and guidelines in place, the next step to foolproof IoT cybersecurity is to determine what you need to protect. This involves conducting an audit on:
Your Processes
Understanding the most critical processes in your organization is essential as it enables you to know where to focus your efforts. Most cyberattacks target processes that can cripple your business, so be sure to have a clear picture of these. Know what they are — know how to protect.
Your Devices
From data storage devices to devices that facilitate your processes, you must know every device in your network and where it fits in your operations. Remember, you’re only as secure as your most vulnerable device. And because all your data is stored and transmitted by your devices, you must invest more effort and time in ensuring your security is foolproof here.
Your Personnel
One aspect of cybersecurity many organizations overlook is their staff. You must ensure that your employees are up-to-date with the latest cybersecurity protocols and safety measures. Failure to do this could make your employees unknowingly compromise your security. For example, one employee could give another a password just to speed up an aspect of your process. While this may seem as harmless as playing a game during work hours — this is a severe breach of security protocol.
Having a clear view of how your devices and their users are connected is crucial to understanding your network’s most vulnerable points. As a result, you can plan on which security solutions you can implement at each point.
Consider Compliance
Sure, compliance is not really a security issue, but they do go hand in hand. That’s why as you plan your IoT cybersecurity strategy, you must do so with compliance in mind.
Incompliance is a serious issue that must be addressed as you map out your cybersecurity plan. Failure to comply could lead to you being slapped with hefty fines.
So what exactly does compliance mean in cybersecurity?
Cybersecurity compliance involves meeting various controls enacted by a regulatory authority, law, or industry group. These controls are put in place to protect the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of data that your business works with. Compliance requirements are different for each industry or sector, and that’s why you must always be careful to know your industry’s specificities.
To ensure that you’re compliant, always have a compliance program that runs in conjunction with your cybersecurity strategy.
Know and Anticipate Your Threats
To ensure that you design a robust IoT cybersecurity strategy, you need to know and understand the security risks you face. To do this, start by evaluating your business by asking questions like:
- What is your product?
- Who are your customers?
While these may seem like simple questions, the answers will help you answer two fundamental questions:
This will help you narrow down the types of attacks that will most likely be targeted at your business.
You can also determine the kind of threats you’re most likely to face by studying your competitors. Take note of their risk profiles or the most common breaches in your industry.
Knowing the threats you’re likely to face will help you understand the kind of security measures you must put in place. After all, knowing your enemy is half the battle won (so they say).
Once you’ve determined all these factors, the next step is the most critical – selecting your cybersecurity framework.
Select an Appropriate Cybersecurity Framework
Now that we’ve laid the groundwork, it’s time to get practical by selecting and implementing your preferred cybersecurity framework. In essence, a cybersecurity framework is a set of policies and procedures recommended by leading cybersecurity organizations. These frameworks enhance cybersecurity strategies in enterprise environments. A cybersecurity framework must be documented for both knowledge and implementation procedures.
Different industries have different cybersecurity frameworks designed and developed to reduce the risk and impact of your network’s vulnerabilities.
While cybersecurity frameworks are never the same, they all must address five critical functions of cybersecurity.
- Identify. Your framework must help you identify the existing cyber touchpoints within your business environment.
- Protect. This function addresses how you take care of access control, data security, and other proactive tasks to ensure your network is secure.
- Detect: Here, your framework addresses how you will identify any potential breaches. This is usually done by monitoring logs and intrusion detection procedures at network and device level.
- Respond. How do you respond when a breach is detected? You must have a procedure for understanding the breach and fixing the vulnerability.
- Recover. This stage of your framework deals with creating a recovery plan, designing a disaster recovery system, and backup plans.
With a cybersecurity framework covering these five areas, your enterprise IoT cybersecurity strategy will be robust enough to handle (almost) anything.
As I said, there are myriad different types of cybersecurity frameworks you can adopt. However, most of them fit in one of three categories, according to cybersecurity expert Frank Kim. Let’s take a cursory look at them, so you have a better understanding of frameworks and how they fit in your cybersecurity strategy:
Control frameworks are the foundation of your cybersecurity. They help you:
- Identify a baseline set of controls
- Assess the state of technical capabilities (and inefficiencies)
- Prioritize the implementation of controls
- Develop an initial roadmap your security team should follow
Examples of control frameworks include NIST 800-53 and CIS Controls (CSC).
Program frameworks are designed to help you develop a proactive cybersecurity strategy that enables you to identify, detect, and respond to threats. This is achieved by helping you:
- Assess the state of your security program
- Build a more comprehensive security program
- Measure your program’s maturity and compare it to industry benchmarks
- Simplify communications between your security team and business leaders
Examples of program frameworks include ISO 27001 and NIST CSF, among others.
The risk framework allows you to prioritize security activities and ensure that the security team manages your cybersecurity program well. You can use this framework to:
- Define key processes and steps for assessing and managing risk
- Properly structure your risk management program
- Identify, measure, and quantify risks
Examples of risk frameworks include ISO 27005 and FAIR.
For an exhaustive list of examples of the different types of cybersecurity frameworks you can implement in your business, check out this article.
It’s Time to Take IoT Cybersecurity Seriously
The rapid digital transformation that has been brought about by COVID-19 and the fast adoption of remote work has led to many organizations’ cybersecurity being stretched to its limits. Throw in IoT into the mix, and cybersecurity has become a nightmare for most organizations.
But this shouldn’t be the case for your business.
The key to winning cyber wars is to be proactive and anticipate cyberattacks before they happen. And this is when a cybersecurity strategy comes to play.
As you adopt IoT in your business’s infrastructure and processes, make sure to design and implement a robust security strategy. This will help mitigate the risk of you falling prey to malicious agents who thrive on taking advantage of vulnerabilities in an enterprise’s IT infrastructure.
So, it’s time to take your IoT cybersecurity seriously.
Neal Taparia
Entrepreneur & Investor
Neal Taparia is the co-founder of Imagine Easy Solutions, a portfolio of online educational services that reached over 30 million students yearly. Neal sold the business to Chegg (NYSE: CHGG), where he stayed there as an executive for three years. He’s now pursuing a new initiative, Solitaired, which ties classical games with memory and attention training.
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Politics
ServiceNow’s New Release of Low-Code Platform With Generative AI
Published
5 hours agoon
09/27/2023By
Drew Simpson
ServiceNow has launched a recent version of its low-code platform designed to enhance workflow productivity and offer new automation tools for strengthening security and governance. This update also integrates comprehensive solutions for automating crucial healthcare, finance, and talent transformation functions. This latest release allows organizations to streamline operations, improve efficiency, and drive innovation. Using the advanced automation features, businesses can effectively scale their digital transformation initiatives and adapt to the ever-evolving global landscape.
Embracing Generative AI Technology
CJ Desai, president and chief operating officer at ServiceNow, stated that the Vancouver release expands platform capabilities by incorporating generative AI across workflows, increasing efficiency, and delivering innovative solutions to customers. With the integration of generative AI technology, ServiceNow aims to transform business processes and enable organizations to simplify complex tasks effortlessly. This development marks a crucial milestone in their pledge to promote digital innovation and deliver outstanding user experiences for their clientele.
Refining the Now Assist Suite
The company concentrates on enhancing the Now Assist suite of solutions tailored to ITSM (IT service management), CSM (customer service management), HRSD (human resource service delivery), and Creators. ServiceNow employs its proprietary domain-specific large language models (LLMs) to support these functions, allowing users to incorporate general-purpose OpenAI LLMs or the company’s specialized models. Additionally, these LLMs guarantee optimal platform performance, improved task automation, and seamless workflow management across different sectors. By providing a variety of customizable language models, ServiceNow empowers businesses to optimize their processes and deliver exceptional user experiences tailored to their distinctive needs.
AI Integration for ITSM, CSM, and HRSD Solutions
Now Assist for ITSM and CSM offers users summaries of incident histories, cases, and chats for faster problem resolution. The HRSD-focused solution employs generative AI and automation for previously manual tasks, such as providing employee leave information, addressing payroll discrepancies, and processing document modifications. This AI technology integration aims to streamline HR processes and boost productivity by reducing the time and effort spent on routine tasks. Consequently, HR professionals can concentrate on more strategic objectives, improving overall employee satisfaction and driving business growth.
Text-to-Code for Creator-Centered Features
The Creator-focused functionality introduces text-to-code, allowing users to convert natural language text into JavaScript code suggestions to expedite Now Platform development. This innovative feature enables developers to optimize their workflow, reduce coding errors, and increase productivity by using simple phrases to represent complex code structures. As a result, users can enjoy a more intuitive application development process, making the Now Platform more accessible and efficient for professionals with varying expertise levels.
Advantages of Domain-Specific LLMs
Jon Sigler, Senior Vice President for the Now Platform, emphasized the benefits of domain-specific LLMs, as they offer enhanced, faster, safer, and more cost-effective outcomes. By customizing solutions to specific industries and their unique requirements, domain-specific LLMs facilitate seamless integration and ease of use with existing systems. This approach promotes rapid adoption and improved productivity, empowering organizations to drive innovation and maintain a competitive edge in their respective markets.
Potential Impact of Generative AI on Workplace Efficiency
ServiceNow reported 30-40% time savings in initial tests with employees and selected clients when using generative AI solutions for repetitive tasks such as content production or case updates. Therefore, the integration of generative AI into ServiceNow’s platform could considerably enhance workplace efficiency and lower manual effort in managing recurring tasks. This increase in productivity might result in an improved customer experience and higher employee satisfaction rates across various industries.
Caution Advised in Interpreting Early Results
However, Amy Lokey, the company’s SVP of product experience, warned that these results are preliminary for an emerging technology. It is essential to approach these findings with cautious optimism, as many factors could potentially affect the development and implementation of the technology. As progress continues, both companies and researchers must closely monitor advancements and potential obstacles to ensure the technology can achieve its full potential in revolutionizing different industries.
ServiceNow’s Commitment to Increased Productivity and Lower Costs
ServiceNow aims to build upon these features to boost productivity and reduce costs. By streamlining processes and enhancing user experiences, ServiceNow aims to create a more efficient working environment for businesses. This approach will result in significant time savings and cost reductions, further reinforcing their commitment to the growth and success of their clients.
FAQs
What is the latest Now Platform update?
The latest Now Platform update is ServiceNow Vancouver, a low-code platform designed to enhance productivity in workflows, offer new automation tools for security and governance, and provide solutions for automating crucial functions in healthcare, finance, and talent transformation. The platform aims to help organizations streamline operations, improve efficiency, and drive innovation.
What is generative AI, and how is it implemented in the Now Platform?
Generative AI is artificial intelligence that focuses on creating new content or ideas, automating processes, and increasing efficiency. The Now Platform incorporates generative AI across workflows to enable organizations to simplify complex tasks and deliver innovative solutions for their clientele. The integration of generative AI technology marks a pivotal milestone in ServiceNow’s commitment to digital innovation and exceptional user experiences.
What is the Now Assist suite?
The Now Assist suite is a collection of solutions designed to improve IT service management (ITSM), customer service management (CSM), human resource service delivery (HRSD), and Creators. ServiceNow employs domain-specific large language models (LLMs) to support these functions and guarantee optimal performance, improved task automation, and seamless workflow management across various sectors.
How does AI integration benefit ITSM, CSM, and HRSD solutions?
Now Assist for ITSM and CSM provides users with summaries of incident histories, cases, and chats to enable faster problem resolution. In addition, the HRSD-focused solution uses generative AI and automation to streamline HR processes, reduce the time and effort spent on manual tasks, and help HR professionals focus on more strategic objectives, improving overall employee satisfaction and driving business growth.
What is text-to-code, and how does it enhance the Creator experience?
Text-to-code is an innovative feature that allows users to convert natural language text into JavaScript code suggestions to accelerate Now Platform development. By simplifying complex code structures with plain phrases, text-to-code enhances developers’ workflow, reduces coding errors, increases productivity, and makes the Now Platform more accessible and efficient for professionals with varying expertise levels.
What are the advantages of domain-specific LLMs?
Domain-specific LLMs offer enhanced, faster, safer, and more cost-effective outcomes by customizing solutions for specific industries and their unique requirements. This approach enables seamless integration with existing systems, easier implementation, faster adoption, and improved productivity, empowering organizations to drive innovation and maintain a competitive edge in their respective markets.
What is the potential impact of generative AI on workplace efficiency?
ServiceNow reported 30-40% time savings in initial tests with generative AI solutions for repetitive tasks such as content production or case updates. With the integration of this technology, ServiceNow could significantly enhance workplace efficiency, lower manual effort, and improve customer experience and employee satisfaction across various industries.
Should we be cautious about the early results of generative AI implementation?
Yes, it is essential to approach any early results with cautious optimism, as many factors could potentially affect the development and implementation of generative AI technology. Companies and researchers must continuously monitor advancements and potential obstacles to ensure the technology can achieve its full potential in revolutionizing different industries.
What is ServiceNow’s commitment to increased productivity and lower costs?
ServiceNow’s ultimate goal is to build upon the latest features to boost productivity, reduce costs, streamline processes, and enhance user experiences. By creating a more efficient working environment and achieving significant time savings and cost reductions, ServiceNow reinforces its commitment to the growth and success of its clients.
Featured Image Credit: Photo by Google DeepMind; Pexels; Thank you!
Deanna Ritchie
Managing Editor at ReadWrite
Deanna is the Managing Editor at ReadWrite. Previously she worked as the Editor in Chief for Startup Grind and has over 20+ years of experience in content management and content development.
Politics
3 Steps to Ace Campus Recruitment with Skill Test
Published
11 hours agoon
09/27/2023By
Drew Simpson
Campus placements are as important for candidates as they are for recruiters. The session not only assesses a student’s eligibility but also reflects the efficiency of your hiring team. Candidates and recruiters are equally engaged before and during the campus hiring sessions.
Harvard Business Study claims that 84% of employers believe campus hiring is essential. Therefore, your hiring team needs to give their best to find the fittest candidate, just as your applicants do their best to crack the competition and get campus placements!
While your best candidate may have other job options in campus recruitment, you don’t have a lot of top talents in your hand to choose from. You would need to hire the BEST, who many other competitive firms have already noticed! Finding top talent, hence, becomes very tough.
From another perspective, the candidates must judge your recruitment process and choose their most trusted organizations. This brings us to whether you can deliver a good candidate experience or not, and also whether it meets up to candidate expectations or not.
Winning top candidates is as complex as gaming a client in the scenario of campus hiring. There are five prominent challenges that you might be experiencing during campus hiring. In this blog, we will help you identify the loopholes in campus hiring strategies, share three easy steps to beat your competitors and bag you the ‘BEST’ candidates.
What Are The Challenges Faced In Mass Recruitment?
The huge competition for talent in the job market results in constant tension between job-seekers and employers. While, on the one hand, first-time interviews are taxing for aspirants, 41% of recruiters agree it is challenging to fill entry-level job posts. Both parties are under equal pressure to achieve their goals and targets. There are five prominent challenges that a recruiter experiences.
- Short of manpower: Not every firm can afford a hiring team. Also, the more people involved, the messier the outcomes we can end up with.
- Challenging hiring deadlines: The battle between the need to choose the best and the need to meet HR deadlines.
- Bulk candidate influx: A huge number of applicants must be managed and served equally to maintain a positive candidate experience.
- Give offer letters: Delay in the processing of offer letters by the company and their acceptance by the candidate is a common occurrence when it comes to campus hiring.
- Flaws in the hiring process: There are many flaws in the recruitment process that lead to a wrong hiring
- Lousy candidate experience: Inability to attend to the candidate’s queries and to convey updates or feedback can result in a bad candidate experience.
- Possibility of a bad hire: Investing hours in the hiring process only to know that your ‘looking good’ candidate is an imposter!
- Biased onboarding decision: Discriminately favoring a new hire due to good scores in your screening assessments or just because you have a ‘gut’ feeling that the person will lead the team someday.
Tackling The Campus Hiring Challenges In Steps
No, you need not get scared with PMaps Consultancy having your back in this campus hiring session. Below, we give you the absolute tried and tested steps to win a good candidate and orient your new team of freshers in the organization.
Step1- Administer skills assessments
Skills assessments are comprehensive tests that evaluate the candidate’s behavioral attributes, job-specific skills, and general logic and reasoning. It provides an in-depth report on candidates’ competency for a job position based on their natural traits. Skill tests are the go-to tool for obtaining the complete profile of an individual within 15 minutes!
Additionally, they are the new day scientific recruitment tools that can provide a wide range of hiring solutions. Some of these are:
- Coding Assessments are a popular way to assess candidates’ technical skills for specialized roles such as software developers, programmers, web developers, etc. These skill tests can determine a candidate’s ability to write code, solve problems, and follow instructions.
- Sales Assessments are tools that gauge the sales skills of candidates for sales roles. These assessments can assess a candidate’s ability to generate leads, qualify prospects, and close deals. Sales assessments can be tailored to the specific requirements of the role.
- Customer Service Assessments can be used as determinants to screen the customer service skills of candidates for client dealing roles. These assessments can assess a candidate’s ability to understand and resolve customer issues, provide excellent customer service, and build customer relationships.
- Voice and Accent Assessments evaluate candidates’ communication skills for roles requiring precise and concise communication. These assessments can assess a candidate’s ability to speak clearly, pronounce words correctly, and use proper grammar. PMaps language test also checks the solution’s-ability of the applicants along with the other language factors.
Step2- Check the cultural fitness of your candidates before onboarding
The cultural fitness of an applicant cannot be gauged through their body language. Certain psychological traits define the cultural behavior of the candidate. The candidate’s culture fit with your organization depends on how well their culture aligns with the workplace situation. This allows your candidates to visualize your goals and hence encourages retention. This can be measured through cultural-fitment assessments.
Step3- Cross-check your candidates with Behavioral Questions
This is an essential step, no matter how well your interviewee has performed thus far. Constantly revisit the assessment reports, confirming consistency in their behavior. If the accounts show their leadership traits to be high, ask them to describe one situation where they have practically expressed this ability. Ask your candidates many ‘How,’ ‘Why,’ ‘What,’ and ‘When’ questions.
Behavioral question banks are prepared based on pre-employment test reports to ease your work. If the candidate fakes, you can quickly identify the divergence from expected answers and hints of storytelling.
Conclusion
PMaps can assist you with the hectic campus recruitment process with complete technological support. We offer pre-employment tools to help you assess freshers for entry-level job posts. It saves you valuable time and helps you meet your financial goals regarding recruitment.
Best of all, we take care of your candidate’s experience through our visual-based tools that evaluate your applicants beyond the language barrier. Want to learn more? Let our experts know you are interested through our website or email at PMaps.
Featured Image Credit:
Pratisrutee Mishra
Content Writer at PMaps
Beginning at the age of 10 years old, Pratisrutee Mishra has had an immense interest in writing. The young, professional Gen-Z writer now holds an experience of 4+ years in SEO Content Development. Pratisrutee is an equally avid psychology learner and research aspirant at PMaps.
Politics
Mastering High-Net-Worth Divorce Strategies
Published
17 hours agoon
09/26/2023By
Drew Simpson
Going through a divorce is always a challenging experience, and it can become even more intricate and lengthy when it involves individuals with high-net-worth. Barron’s reported that a 2019 Martindale-Nolo Research study showed the average divorce duration is approximately one year. Nonetheless, 13% of the respondents disclosed that their divorces took more than two years to conclude. In some instances, particularly when extensive assets or complex matters like child custody are in play, divorces have even lasted between five and eight years, as observed by some advisors.
The complexity and duration of high-net-worth divorces often depend on several factors, including the level of cooperation and agreement between the two parties and the expertise of the lawyers involved.
Both parties must engage experienced legal counsel and communicate openly to streamline the process and avoid unnecessarily prolonging the emotional and financial distress accompanying such situations.
But let’s get real — you don’t need to worry about both parties — you need to worry about yourself and your business.
Understanding Financial Aspects
Financial aspects are crucial in divorce proceedings and often carry higher risks for affluent individuals. Financial professionals have provided these seven tips to help maneuver these complexities and offer direction.
First — have a clear understanding of your assets, liabilities, and overall financial standing — jointly and individually. This can be achieved by organizing and reviewing all relevant paperwork, financial statements, and records, as it sets the foundation for informed decision-making during the negotiations.
Tip 1: Obtain Expert Guidance
Working with experienced legal and financial professionals with expertise in high-net-worth divorces is essential. They can give thorough advice concerning asset division, tax ramifications, and settlement negations, ensuring a fair result for all parties involved.
Tip 2: Protect Your Assets — Repeat, Protect Your Assets
In high-net-worth divorces, securing your financial future is crucial by documenting all assets and income sources, obtaining accurate valuations, and safeguarding any separate property. This will help prevent any unwarranted distribution of your wealth and ensure you maintain the standard of living you are accustomed to.
Tip 3: Prioritize Open Communication
Both parties should maintain open lines of communication throughout the divorce process to maintain civility and work towards a mutually beneficial outcome. This minimizes conflict, helps each party understand the other’s perspective, and can lead to quicker resolution and a smoother transition into post-divorce life.
Tip 4: Emphasize Transparent Communication
Open conversations with your spouse about your financial ambitions and expectations can prevent disagreements and holdups. It is vital to be candid and open about your financial circumstances. Moving forward together requires understanding each other’s priorities, goals, and concerns related to money matters. Additionally, frequent check-ins and discussions will help maintain trust, foster mutual support, and encourage collaboration in handling your shared financial responsibilities.
Tip 5: Be Familiar with Your Assets, Before if Possible
Understand all jointly and individually owned assets, including real estate, investments, and business holdings. Acquiring a clear comprehension of your possessions will benefit the negotiations. By knowing the value and details of each asset, you can make better decisions and ensure a fair distribution during the settlement process. In addition, it can help to prevent potential misunderstandings and minimize conflicts as you work towards a mutually agreeable resolution, especially in a high-net-worth situation.
Tip 6: Refrain from Making Significant Financial Choices Hastily
Divorce can be emotionally draining, and impulsive financial decisions can have long-lasting consequences. Take your time to evaluate any choices that could affect your finances and seek expert advice before moving forward.
Tip 7: Create a Comprehensive Post-Divorce Financial Plan
Establishing a clear, well-thought-out financial plan for your post-divorce life is crucial to ensure stability and success. This plan should address budgeting, expenses, retirement goals, and emergency savings, allowing you to take control of your financial future effectively.
Post-Divorce Considerations
Even after the divorce, there might be financial matters you still need to work on together. Maintaining open and respectful communication can ease the process and aid in reaching amicable decisions, ultimately benefiting both parties.
Evaluating Tax Consequences — Get Professional Advice
Divorce can drastically impact your tax situation, so consult a financial expert to be aware of any potential tax repercussions regarding your assets and income. It is crucial to understand how filing statuses, exemptions, deductions, and the tax treatment of asset divisions, alimony, and child support may change following a separation. Proper evaluation and planning can help minimize negative tax consequences and ensure both parties are well-prepared for their new financial circumstances.
Reexamining Your Estate Plan
As your financial situation changes post-divorce, it is vital to update your estate plan accordingly. This should include adjusting your will, beneficiary designations, and any trusts or guardianship plans for minor children.
Additionally, consider revising the power of attorney and healthcare proxy documents to ensure the right person is designated to handle essential matters on your behalf. Engaging with a qualified estate planning attorney can provide guidance and expertise to ensure your estate plan accurately reflects your current circumstances and wishes.
Monitoring Your Credit During the Divorce Process
During and after the divorce, be vigilant in checking your credit report for any possible errors or fraudulent activities. Maintaining a strong credit score will be crucial for obtaining loans or mortgages in the future. Additionally, consider setting up alerts with credit monitoring agencies to ensure you receive prompt notifications of any changes to your credit. This proactive approach will help protect your financial well-being and allow you to address potential issues before they escalate.
Though divorce is never a simple procedure, following the above advice from financial specialists can minimize potential difficulties that arise when significant assets are involved and ensure a more equitable resolution for all parties concerned.
Taking the time to fully understand the financial implications of the divorce process and being prepared to make informed decisions can lead to a smoother transition during this challenging period.
It is crucial to maintain open communication, gather accurate information, and consult with experienced professionals to achieve an optimized outcome that fits the unique needs and circumstances of each individual involved in the divorce.
FAQs
What is the average duration of a divorce?
A 2019 Martindale-Nolo Research study discovered that the average divorce duration is approximately one year. However, 13% of the respondents disclosed that their divorces took more than two years to conclude.
Why is it essential to work with experienced professionals in high-net-worth divorces?
Working with experienced legal and financial professionals with expertise in high-net-worth divorces ensures thorough advice concerning asset division, tax ramifications, and settlement negotiations, leading to a fair result for all parties involved.
How does open communication benefit the divorce process?
Open communication throughout the divorce process minimizes conflict, helps each party understand the other’s perspective, and can lead to quicker resolution and a smoother transition into post-divorce life.
Why is it crucial to understand your assets in a divorce?
Understanding all jointly and individually owned assets, including real estate, investments, and business holdings, will benefit the negotiations. Knowing the value and details of each asset helps ensure a fair distribution during the settlement process and prevents potential misunderstandings.
What should be included in a post-divorce financial plan?
A post-divorce financial plan should address aspects such as budgeting, expenses, retirement goals, and emergency savings, allowing you to take control of your financial future effectively.
How can divorce impact your tax situation?
Divorce can drastically impact your tax situation, affecting filing statuses, exemptions, deductions, and the tax treatment of asset divisions, alimony, and child support. Proper evaluation and planning can help minimize adverse tax consequences and ensure both parties are well-prepared for new financial circumstances.
Why should you update your estate plan after a divorce?
As your financial situation changes post-divorce, it is essential to update your estate plan accordingly. This includes adjusting your will, beneficiary designations, and any trusts or guardianship plans for minor children. Revising power of attorney and healthcare proxy documents ensures the right person is designated to handle essential matters on your behalf.
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Deanna Ritchie
Managing Editor at ReadWrite
Deanna is the Managing Editor at ReadWrite. Previously she worked as the Editor in Chief for Startup Grind and has over 20+ years of experience in content management and content development.