BLUE OWL CAPITAL INC. - (OWL)
10-K Filing Date: February 23, 2024
Item 1C. Cybersecurity.
Cybersecurity Processes and Risk Assessment
Our cybersecurity program is focused on (i) protecting the confidentiality of business, client, investors in our products and employee information; (ii) maintaining the security and availability of our systems and data; (iii) supporting compliance with applicable laws and regulations; (iv) documenting cybersecurity incidents and our responses; and (v) notification of cybersecurity incidents to, and communications with, appropriate internal and external parties.
We have implemented an information security governance policy (the “ISG Policy”) governing cybersecurity risk, which is designed to facilitate the protection of sensitive or confidential business, client, investor and employee information that we store or process and the maintenance of critical services and systems. Our cybersecurity program is managed by our Chief Technology Officer and Head of Technology Infrastructure (together, “IT Management”), who report to our Chief Operating Officer. IT Management and its team are responsible for implementing our monitoring and alert response processes, vulnerability management, changes made to our critical systems, including software and network changes, and various other technological and administrative safeguards. These processes and systems are designed to protect against unauthorized access of information, including by cyber-attacks, and our policy and processes include, as appropriate, encryption, data loss prevention technology, authentication technology, entitlement management, access control, anti-virus and anti-malware software, and transmission of data over private networks. Our processes and systems aim to prevent or mitigate two main types of cybersecurity risk: first, cybersecurity risks associated with our physical and digital devices and infrastructure, and second, cybersecurity risks associated with third parties, such as people and organizations who have access to our devices, infrastructure or confidential or sensitive information. The cybersecurity-control principles that form the basis of our cybersecurity program are informed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology Cybersecurity Framework (“NIST”).
Our cybersecurity program includes review and assessment by third parties of the cybersecurity processes and systems. These third parties assess and report on our compliance with applicable laws and regulations and our internal incident response preparedness, including benchmarking to best practices and industry frameworks and help identify areas for continued focus and improvement. Annual penetration testing of our network, including critical systems and systems that store confidential or sensitive information, is conducted with third party consultants and vulnerabilities are reviewed by IT Management for remediation. When we engage vendors and other third party partners who will have access to sensitive data or client systems and facilities, our infrastructure technology team assesses their cybersecurity programs and processes.
We also provide our employees with cybersecurity awareness training at onboarding and annually, as well as interim security reminders and alerts. We conduct regular phishing tests and provide additional training as appropriate.
Governance and Oversight of Cybersecurity Risks
We have developed an incident response framework to identify, assess and manage cybersecurity events. The framework is managed and implemented by our Cyber Risk Operating Committee (the “C-ROC”), a cross-functional management committee that includes our General Counsel, Chief Operating Officer, Chief Compliance Officer and IT Management. The C-ROC is responsible for gathering information with respect to a cybersecurity incident, assessing its severity and potential responses, as well as communicating with business heads and senior management, as appropriate. This framework contemplates conducting simulated cybersecurity incident response exercises with members of senior management on an interim basis in coordination with external cyber counsel.
Our cybersecurity program, which is overseen by the C-ROC, is managed by an internal team that is responsible for enterprise-wide cybersecurity strategy, policies, engineering and processes. The team is led by our Chief Technology Officer, who has over 25 years of experience advising on technology strategy, including digital transformation, cybersecurity, business analytics and infrastructure, and our Head of Technology Infrastructure, who has over 20 years of experience in the information technology field with a focus on IT risk governance and management, information security, incident response capabilities and assessing effectiveness of controls. The C-ROC meets regularly and forms cross-enterprise teams, as needed, to manage and implement key policies and initiatives of our cybersecurity program.
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Our Board of Directors has delegated the primary responsibility for oversight and review of guidelines and policies with respect to risk assessment and risk management, including cybersecurity risk, to the Audit Committee. Our Chief Technology Officer periodically reports to the Audit Committee as well as the full Board, as appropriate, on cybersecurity matters. Such reporting includes updates on our cybersecurity program, the external threat environment and our programs to address and mitigate the risks associated with the evolving cybersecurity threat environment. These reports also include updates on our preparedness, prevention, detection, responsiveness and recovery with respect to cyber incidents.
Impact of Cybersecurity Risks
In 2023, we did not experience a material cybersecurity incident, and we are not aware of any cybersecurity risks that are reasonably likely to materially affect our business. While we do not believe that our business strategy, results of operations or financial condition have been materially adversely affected by any cybersecurity incidents, we describe whether and how future incidents could have a material impact on our business strategy, results of operations or financial condition in “Item 1A. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Operations—Cybersecurity risks and cyber data security incidents could adversely affect our business by causing a disruption to our operations, a compromise or corruption of our confidential information and confidential information in our possession and damage to our business relationships.” and “Item 1A. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Legal and Regulatory Environment—Increased data protection regulation may result in increased complexities and risk in connection with the operation of our business and our products.” Additionally, although we have insurance coverage for cybersecurity events, there can be no assurance that we will be able to maintain our insurance coverage or it will be enough to cover the cost associated with one or more cybersecurity events. See “Item 1A. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Legal and Regulatory Environment—We may not be able to maintain sufficient insurance to cover us for potential litigation or other risks.”