Global finance fears information technology more than anything else. This is what emerges fromAllianz Risk Barometer 2018, the insurance group's annual research on risk perception in various sectors of the economy.
The "cyber risk”, which last year was in second position, this year climbs on the first step of the podium. As many as 51% of the 515 companies interviewed fear negative repercussions for their business from cybercrimes, data breaches and failures of various kinds to their IT systems. The percentage of companies indicating this risk as a priority has grown significantly in recent months, from 40% last year. Who knows what events related to bitcoin did not play a role in this change…
They are in second place in the standings changes in the legislative and regulatory scenario, which concern 28% of financial companies compared to 36% in 2017. In this case, the focus is above all on economic sanctions, protectionist measures, the consequences of Brexit and potential crises in the Eurozone.
Last year the trend of the markets was at the top of the list of risks perceived by companies active in the finance sector (41%), while in 2018 this concern dropped to third place, reported by 28% of respondents. The positive performance of the price lists has evidently reassured operators, who do not fear excessive imbalances linked to volatility, stagnation or market fluctuations. In short, the bubble risk does not seem to be particularly perceived.
Immediately off the podium are two new entries. The first, in fourth position, is the risk of business interruption, reported by 27% of the companies in the sample. The second, closing the top 5, is the concern linked to new technologies (23%), or the impact that the greater interconnectivity of systems, nanotechnologies, artificial intelligence, 3D printing and the use of drones.
