According to a recent post on the TechRepublic webpage, going into 2023, cybersecurity is still topping the list of CIO concerns. “This comes as no surprise. In the first half of 2022, there were 2.8 billion worldwide malware attacks and 236.1 million ransomware attacks. By year end 2022, it is expected that six billion phishing attacks will have been launched.”

The article identifies the eight top security threats for next year being the following:

An article in the November 16^th issue of the Data Administration Newsletter, written by
Dr. John Talburt, has some interesting points to make about data governance, drawing inspiration from Waldo, an early robotic device created in 1945 to let a human remotely operate mechanical hands in a sealed chamber.

The ISSB recently announced that it is working with the European Commission and EFRAG toward a shared objective to agree as soon as practicable a framework for maximizing interoperability of their standards and aligning on key climate disclosures.

According to a recent press release, “This comes as the ISSB engages with jurisdictions globally and regularly consults with IOSCO in preparation for potential IOSCO endorsement of its proposed standards. It is a signal of significant momentum around the world, as more jurisdictions undertake work to consider how to incorporate the ISSB’s standards into their domestic systems of reporting.” 

A recent post on the Politico webpage notes that the oversight gaps that allowed for the disastrous failure of FTX underscore the deep risks of trading on unregulated digital currency exchanges.

About 75% of organizations have experienced a serious cyberattack in the past three years — up from 60% last year — according to the 2022 Cyber Security Insights Report conducted by S-RM, a global intelligence and cybersecurity consultancy.

The report, using information from 600 C-suite and IT budget holders from organizations with more than $500 million in revenue, also found that US businesses were slightly more likely to experience a serious cyberattack (77%) than those in the UK (73%), although both markets saw an increase in attacks.

A paper, posted on the IFAC Gateway November 1, 2022, points out that, “over the course of the COVID pandemic, IFAC has stressed a core set of key priorities for G20 leaders: advancing sustainability, supporting sound public financial management, resisting regulatory fragmentation and embracing global collaboration. These remain unchanged as we march toward 2030. In 2022, however, it has become clear just how important global collaboration is to achieving our goals.”

A recent article in CFO noted that, at the November 7 and 8 Financial Executive International’s Corporate Financial Reporting Insights conference in New York, the PCAOB and the SEC, its parent regulator, made it clear that the PCAOB will be (1) increasing enforcement activity and imposing stiffer penalties and (2) holding auditors responsible for failures to spot fraud perpetrated by issuers, particularly fraud that harms investors.

“There is no doubt that the real estate market in Canada is experiencing a reset. Players in the industry are navigating this disruption in different ways. For some it has led to a pause on development decisions and transactions,” Frank Magliocco, Real Estate Leader, PwC Canada says. “However, now is not the time to pause on actions necessary to set the industry up for sustained outcomes and growth. It’s time to focus on digital tools and other innovations that enable the business, and to capitalize on new opportunities that emerge during this period of change and embrace long-term fundamental trends.”

Yet more ESG news coming your way. The recently EY Global Corporate Reporting and Institutional Investor Survey finds a significant reporting disconnect with investors on ESG disclosures.

KPMG’s just released biennial Survey of Sustainability Reporting 2022 explains that we are on the precipice of adopting mandatory and regulated sustainability reporting, and the reporting landscape is poised to change drastically. “The findings in this report reflect on the current state of reporting today, the gaps that should be filled to meet regulatory requirements and the overarching business strategy considerations that can allow companies to meet increasing regulatory expectations while still creating impact and generating value.”