Featured Member: Paul Viollis

1. As it pertains to UHNW client needs, what are the most significant trends you’re seeing now related to the work you do at Viollis Group Intl?

By far, the biggest issue causing clients harm is the use of public email. Just over 91% of those emails we examine have been breached along with their passwords. This is a simple fix but a devasting problem if it comes to fruition.
Video conferences being breeched and sensitive information being exposed via unknown attendees and surreptitious recoding and monitoring. This was the main reason we underwrite the creation of Hercules.
Home burglaries/home invasions in affluent neighborhoods by organized groups targeting homes that use Wi-Fi to connect systems. The use of a WIFI kill switch completely disables cameras and alarm systems. Main targets are those whose wealth is identifiable online and who don’t screen contractors.
Children studying abroad encountering harmful issues (harassment, assaults and alcohol/drug related incidents) requiring immediate assistance.

2. Tell me about Hercules and why you launched it? Why is Hercules beneficial for our Membership’s clients?

The impetus behind Hercules was the sociological change precipitated by COVID. How we, as a global community, communicate and meet today was formed from the changes that were derived by that particular era. Specifically, how and where business meetings are handled to include court cases, medical consults, financial transactions, attorney -clients communications and government related decisions. The current platforms provided a much needed service, but unfortunately, security was an afterthought and to a large extent, still is. Yet, we still maintain this mode of communication regardless of the sensitivity of the content. Enter Hercules. Hercules provides the highest level of government grade security and tri-factor authenticated access control while removing current industry features which present inherent threats such as AI, recording, data mining, voice processing, transcribing and link sharing. In essence, membership clients enter into a virtual SCIF (sensitive compartment information facility) from any search engine or Wi-Fi connection and are ensured the highest level of access control, worldwide.

3. Regarding the hires you make, when looking for talent, what are the three key traits you look for?

Either I or one of my 5 partners have had to work with them for an extended period of time so as to vouch for their character, work ethic and actual capabilities
Minimum of 20 years of in service experience in the field they will be working for us in
Firm understanding that we operate under a zero margin for error philosophy and that impeccable response time to all client-related and internal communications without exception or excuses, is a daily requirement.

4. What are the biggest changes happening NOW within the industry, and how will they impact the families we serve?

Family offices moving to secure email systems after being breached.
Residential security projects and criminal/civil exposure from ICE raids.
Video conference meetings being breeched.
Children getting compromised over online gaming

5. How can firms who serve these families help make them better aware of the dangers they face, knowingly or not?

Educate on the business model of risk to their demographic absent the fear factor that often gets sprinkled in. Dispassionate but entirely factual, family members, without exception, always respond well to that.
Do their due diligence on which video conference platform they elect to discuss highly sensitive information on. Once that gets breached, no apology will suffice.

6. You have written and contributed to several publications. Can you share with us some tips from Silent Safety and what should be keeping families of wealth up at night. In other words, what are the most common dangers that families of affluence aren’t paying attention to as they should?

Vetting those around them, especially contractors. Without question, the lions share of crimes committed against the UHNW is perpetrated by those close to them.
The blatant risk that comes from all electronic communications; public email, video conferences, social media and high-risk apps such as TikTok and snap chat.
Threats to their children through their daily activities such as gaming, social media and events they attend.
Lack of contingency plans when traveling internationally. With anti-American sentiment rising, lack of cooperation from local governments and American targeting is a high probability

7. In your book “Safeguarding America, the Blueprint for Keeping You and Your Family Safe,” give us a teaser of the blueprint.

Mapping out ownership of the family-specific crisis management and response plan. This isn’t to say some elaborate corporate-esque plan but a discussion enfolding the families lifestyle and how best to enjoy it while identifying the potential risks so they can preemptively be mitigated. Key point, don’t stop living your life just manage it with eyes wide open.

8. There is so much uneasiness in the world these days. What stressors should we be focused on and what keeps YOU up at night?

What keeps ‘me’ up at night is a loaded question. Having been on 24-7 call for the last 43 years, I don’t get much sleep. One need look no further than the local newsstand to find a plethora of issues to become anxious over but that’s no way to live. That said, I am emphatic about preemptively managing concerns for my clients so they can put their heads on the pillow and not on swivel. Whether it be personal, cyber, financial, residential, business or travel risk,with open lines of communication, 24-7, there is absolutely nothing they can be concerned about that we can’t begin to handle immediately.

9. Why did you join the Institute?

Steve Prostano. I have always admired Steve and when I learned about the UHNWI and the incredible cadre of professionals that have joined its ranks, I was compelled to reach out and become involved. This, in concert with the fact that I have always been an advocate of education. America is advanced citizenship and Americans, for the most part, embrace fact based information and that is precisely what the UHNWI does for our community. It delivers fact based information by true subject matter experts on issues that are currently keeping the community up at night. It is professionally delivered and devoid of valueless opinions.

10. What question should I have asked you that our community would find most useful to share with their affluent clients?

Do they know the difference between the Deep Web and Dark Web and IT v Cyber? Without question, this will bring the highest probability of risk to each family member and I have yet spoken with a client that has been well informed on either.

11. Tell me briefly about the Deep Web and Dark Web

Think of the internet at 100%. 1 % is composed of the clear net or the part of the internet that is used by us on a daily basis for personal and business use. Right at 99% is what is referred to as the Deep Web or where the most nefarious individuals and groups (human trafficking, gun/drug/firearms distribution, terrorists etc) conduct their business. At any given time about 4-6 % of the deep web is what is referred to as the dark web or the home of both in and non state ac tors involved in all forms of stealing personal and proprietary information for financial gain. Connection from the clear net to the Deep Web is made through the TOR (The Onion Router) which is a highly encrypted bridge.

12. Explain the distinction between IT v Cyber?

IT is the current backbone of business and personal communication but with a baseline purpose of connectivity, speed and convenience. IT was never created with security in mind, hence the term ‘patch’. Cyber security is the policing of electronic communications and involves utilizing preemptive intelligence gathering on adverse individuals/groups to create highly fortified systems, procedures and platforms.

13. What book are you reading now?

Help is Here by Max Lucado (I’m a big Lucado fan)