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BANKING INDUSTRY

Security for Banking

Weworkwithbanksofallsizes—fromsmallcommunitybankstolargeinternationalinstitutionssupervisedbyFFIECagenciesincludingFDIC,OCC,andFRB.Ourtestersunderstandtheregulatorylandscapeandtailoreveryengagementtoyourinstitution’sriskprofile,examinationexpectations,andoperationalconstraints.

Industry snapshot

A distinctive risk profile

Banks operate under the strictest regulatory scrutiny of any sector, with every application, API, and ATM is a potential entry point for highly motivated adversaries.

$5.9M
Avg breach cost
Finance sector, IBM 2024
6+
Overlapping frameworks
DORA · PCI · NIS2 · ISO · SWIFT
24/7
Uptime demand
Payments never sleep
#1
Targeted sector
Financially motivated actors
Compliance

Regulatory Frameworks

Every engagement is mapped to the frameworks that matter most in this industry — so each finding directly supports your compliance posture.

FFIEC IT Examination Handbook
mandates risk-based penetration testing of external/internal networks, web applications, and social engineering controls
GLBA Safeguards Rule
requires annual penetration testing and semi-annual vulnerability assessments for all financial institutions since June 2023
PCI DSS v4.0 (Req. 11.4)
annual penetration testing and testing after any significant infrastructure change for cardholder data environments
SWIFT CSP (Control 7.3A)
mandatory annual independent assessment and penetration testing of SWIFT-connected infrastructure
SOX (Sarbanes-Oxley)
IT controls testing including red team exercises to validate controls protecting financial reporting systems
DORA (Digital Operational Resilience Act)
EU regulation effective January 2025 requiring annual resilience testing for all financial entities, plus Threat-Led Penetration Testing (TLPT) every 3 years for significant institutions, aligned with the TIBER-EU framework
Methodology

Testing methodology

A tested, repeatable approach covering every layer of the modern environment relevant to this industry.

01 · PHASE

External & internal network penetration testing aligned with NIST SP 800-115 and FFIEC guidance

02 · PHASE

Web & mobile banking application testing following the OWASP Top 10 and OWASP Mobile Top 10

03 · PHASE

ATM penetration testing

physical, logical, and network-level assessment of ATM security controls

04 · PHASE

SWIFT network segmentation testing and secure zone validation in line with SWIFT CSCF

05 · PHASE

DORA TLPT exercises

threat intelligence-driven red team testing on live production systems covering critical functions, with mandatory purple-team collaboration

06 · PHASE

Social engineering and phishing simulations targeting banking staff and customers

07 · PHASE

Wire transfer and core banking system security assessment

Services

Key services

Targeted services for the most common security needs in the industry.

Threat landscape

Threats facing this sector today

Every security engagement is scoped based on the attack patterns that actually hit this sector — not a generic checklist.

Payment-system fraud

Manipulation of SWIFT, SEPA, card network, and core banking flows to divert funds or alter settlement logic.

ATM & POS network attacks

Jackpotting, skimming, and malware targeting ATM fleets and merchant-acquiring infrastructure.

Online-banking takeover

Credential stuffing, MFA bypass, and session hijacking attacks against retail and corporate online banking.

Insider abuse & privilege misuse

Compromised or malicious insiders with access to core banking, trading, or KYC systems.

Ransomware & extortion

Double-extortion groups specifically targeting tier-1 banks to force rapid payout under regulatory pressure.

Third-party & supply-chain risk

Compromise of outsourced development, SaaS, or fintech partners used as a stepping-stone into the bank.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Ready to secure your bank?

Talk to our team about a security assessment tailored to the unique risk profile of your organization.

Request a Security Assessment