In today’s Finance Pulse, gain insight into how:

• Diversifying investments with alternative assets can stabilize returns amidst current volatile markets.

• Critical cybersecurity practices can shield retail and e-commerce operations from business identity theft.

• Implementing a 10-step cybersecurity strategy is crucial for financial institutions to safeguard sensitive data against cyber threats.

Each of these articles is penned by members of Forbes Finance Council, key luminaries shaping the future of finance.

Navigating Market Volatility with Alternative Assets

In today's fluctuating financial climate, achieving stable investment returns requires strategic diversification beyond traditional stocks and bonds.

Here’s how harnessing the power of alternative assets can help:

📊 Understanding Volatility: Major indices like the S&P 500 can experience dramatic swings, illustrating the unpredictability of markets further exacerbated by economic uncertainties like elections, inflation, and interest rates.

⚖️ Diversification Strategy: Broadening your investment portfolio through alternative assets such as private equity, real estate, and cryptocurrencies can mitigate risks associated with market volatility. These assets often perform independently of the traditional markets, providing a cushion against economic shocks.

💹 Benefits of Alternatives: Historical data from sources like KKR highlights that portfolios incorporating a significant percentage of alternative assets (e.g., 40% stocks, 30% bonds, 30% alternatives) tend to outperform traditional stock/bond portfolios, particularly during downturns.

🛠️ Considerations & Planning: Accessing alternative markets has become easier but requires careful planning. Investors should evaluate their risk tolerance, investment timelines, and liquidity needs. Consulting with financial advisors to tailor investment strategies based on personal financial goals is advisable.

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Safeguarding Retail & E-Commerce Against Business Identity Theft

With the shift towards online operations, retailers and e-commerce businesses face heightened risks of identity theft, which more than one-third experienced in 2024.

Data breaches have surged, emphasizing the urgent need for comprehensive protective measures.

Here’s all you need to know:

🛡️ Understanding Risks: Business identity theft encompasses various forms, from financial fraud to sophisticated account takeovers, heavily impacting retail and e-commerce due to the value of consumer goods and the dependency on digital transactions.

🚨 The Silent Threat: While often less publicized than consumer fraud, business identity theft presents significant financial and reputational risks, yet many companies remain inadequately protected against these intricate cyber crimes.

📊 Strategic Defenses: To counter these threats, businesses should integrate advanced technologies like AI and machine learning, which can preemptively identify and react to fraudulent activity. Collaborating with fraud prevention experts also provides specialized insights and systems tailored to effectively thwart identity theft.

🔒 Enhancing Security Practices: It is crucial to implement rigorous identity verification, such as multifactor authentication and continuous transaction monitoring. Combined with robust technology solutions, these measures help secure operations without compromising the customer experience.

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Fortifying Cybersecurity in Financial Services: A 10-Step Guide

In an era where financial information is a prime target for cyberattacks, robust cybersecurity measures have become indispensable for financial institutions.

With over 20,000 cyber incidents in the last 20 years leading to massive financial losses, below are some strategies to enhancing your cybersecurity posture:

🔐 Strengthen Access Controls: Implement multifactor and role-based access controls to safeguard sensitive data, accompanied by regular reviews to ensure proper permissions.

🔒 Encrypt Valuable Data: Use strong encryption for data at rest and in transit to ensure that sensitive information remains secure from unauthorized access.

🔄 Frequent Software Updates: Develop a stringent patch management strategy to address vulnerabilities promptly and keep software systems up to current security standards.

👥 Employee Training: Regularly train staff on cybersecurity best practices and simulate phishing attacks to build awareness and preparedness among employees.

🛡️ Advanced Threat Detection: Use intrusion detection systems and security information management solutions to monitor, detect, and respond swiftly to potential security threats.

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Wrapping Up

If these articles sparked your interest, we have a network that you will absolutely love: Forbes Finance Council.

This exclusive, vetted community brings together the brightest minds in finance—founders, CEOs, CFOs, and other finance team leaders.

Put yourself at the forefront of innovation with access to publishing opportunities on Forbes.com, a personalized, SEO-friendly Executive Profile, and the chance to network with other respected leaders in the field.

Join Forbes Finance Council today, and become part of a group driving transformation in finance.