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Financial institutions are under constant siege. Cyberattacks, data breaches, and regulatory hurdles create a complex battlefield for security managers.
Read the International Monetary Fund: Rising Cyber Threats Pose Serious Concerns for Financial Stability
In this blog post, we will explore the top 5 challenges faced by security managers in the financial services industry and provide actionable tips to help them overcome these obstacles.
Challenge 1: Data Breaches and Cyberattacks
Data breaches and cyberattacks pose a significant threat to financial services organizations. These attacks can lead to severe consequences, including financial loss, reputational damage, and regulatory fines.
According to a 2024 report by Deloitte, cyberattacks against financial institutions are increasing in both frequency and sophistication, with 68% of respondents reporting a rise in attempted or successful cyberattacks compared to the previous year.
How to Prevent Data Breaches and Cyberattacks
- Beyond Technology - Advanced security technologies like firewalls and intrusion detection systems are essential, but they're not enough
- Proactive Defense - Regular security assessments, penetration testing, and employee training create a multi-layered defense
- Secure Coding Training – Development teams that are knowledgeable in secure coding techniques can not only prevent cyberattacks from the start but can monitor and recover more effective
Challenge 2: Regulatory Compliance
Financial services organizations operate under a complex web of domestic and international regulations. These regulations, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS), and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) rules, are designed to protect consumer data, ensure the integrity of financial markets, and prevent financial crime. Non-compliance with these regulations can result in severe penalties, including fines, legal action, and reputational damage.
The challenge for security managers lies in keeping up with the ever-evolving regulatory landscape, interpreting complex and sometimes ambiguous regulations, and ensuring compliance across multiple jurisdictions.
Strategies for Regulatory Compliance
- Stay Ahead of the Curve - Regular compliance assessments and technology solutions help organizations stay on track.
- Cultivate a Culture of Compliance - Make compliance a core value, ensuring all employees understand its importance.
- Secure Coding Training – Developers can easily achieve compliance goals with secure coding training based on compliance regulations.
Challenge 3: Third-Party Risk Management
Relying on third-party vendors introduces vulnerabilities. A vendor's security lapse can become your problem. This is particularly true in the financial services industry, where sensitive customer data is often entrusted to third-party vendors for processing, storage, or other services. This can make it difficult for financial institutions to assess the security risks associated with their vendor relationships.
Read More: The AI Tools Every Developer Should Know (And How to Stay Secure)
How to Mitigate Third-Party Risk
- Contractual Safeguards - Include strong security requirements in all vendor agreements.
- Ongoing Vigilance - Continuous monitoring and incident response planning are essential.
- Secure Coding Training – Secure coding training helps manage third-party risk by reducing vulnerabilities, enhancing vendor selection, and improving due diligence.
Challenge 4: Insider Threats
Insider threats are a growing concern for financial institutions. These threats can come from employees, contractors, or other individuals with authorized access to the organization's systems and data. Insider threats can be intentional or unintentional, and they can cause significant damage to an organization.
Non-malicious insider threats can occur when employees inadvertently compromise the organization's security. Employees may make mistakes when handling sensitive data, such as sending it to the wrong recipient or leaving it unsecured.
Preventing Insider Threats
Financial institutions should implement technical, administrative, and human-centric measures to prevent insider threats. These measures may include:
- Access Controls - Implement strong access controls to limit access to sensitive data and systems.
- Monitoring And Logging - Monitor user activity and log all access to systems and data.
- Employee Training and Awareness - Provide employees with training on security best practices and the risks of insider threats.
Challenge 5: Cloud Security
The adoption of cloud computing has brought numerous benefits to the financial services industry, including increased scalability, flexibility, and cost-effectiveness. However, migrating sensitive data to the cloud also introduces new security challenges.
Security managers must carefully consider the risks associated with cloud adoption and implement appropriate measures to protect their organization's data. The expanded attack surface, coupled with the shared responsibility model between the cloud provider and the customer, requires a multifaceted approach to security.
Strategies for Cloud Security
- Maintain Control - Implement strong access controls, encrypt data, and monitor cloud activity diligently.
- Be Prepared - A comprehensive incident response plan is a must.
- Secure Coding Training - Empowering developers with the skills to build secure applications, financial institutions can confidently leverage the benefits of the cloud while minimizing the associated risks.
Application Security for Financial Institutions
The financial services industry is a complex landscape with unique security challenges. You may have noticed the recurring theme to help prevent these risks – secure coding training and security education.
Secure coding training is a cornerstone of this strategy, empowering developers to write secure code and reduce the risk of vulnerabilities. By investing in ongoing secure coding education and fostering a culture of collaboration, organizations can strengthen their defenses against cyberattacks and build a more resilient security posture.
If you're ready for your next step, contact our team today to learn how secure coding training can be the foundation of your organization's practical application security program.
