Tag Archive for: BaFin

TIBER-DE
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TIBER-DE | Increasing the cyber resilience of the financial system

Digiti­sation of the financial sector — Chances & cyber risks

The increasing digital­i­sation of the financial sector not only provides new oppor­tu­nities, but also leads to increased cyber risks. In particular, attacks on the financial system can have serious conse­quences not only for the affected company, but also for the entire public. For this reason, the central banks of the European System of Central Banks have already launched the TIBER-EU (Threat Intel­li­gence-based Ethical Red Teaming) programme in 2018. TIBER-EU serves as a framework for threat-based penetration tests.

In the summer of 2019, the Deutsche Bundesbank and the German Federal Ministry of Finance (BMF) decided to implement TIBER-DE as a national framework for financial companies to test their own resis­tance to cyber attacks. This imple­mention has now taken place.

To whom is TIBER-DE addressed?

TIBER-DE partic­u­larly addresses critical companies in the financial sector, such as large banks and insurance companies and their IT service providers and payment service providers. In its TIBER imple­men­tation, the Deutsche Bundesbank empha­sises that the purpose of conducting TIBER-DE tests is to “establish a network of national companies belonging to the target group in order to improve the cyber-resis­tance of the financial sector in a sustainable and cooper­ative way, together and by conducting TIBER-DE tests.

What happens in a TIBER-DE test?

In a TIBER-DE test, commis­sioned hackers (“Red Team”) use infor­mation from a threat intel­li­gence provider (“spy”) to test the cyber resis­tance of a company. The primary goal is to identify security gaps in the production systems (“critical functions”) within the framework of an attack scenario that is as real as possible. The TIBER-DE test consists of three phases, which are presented here in a shortened form:

  • In the prepa­ration phase the initi­ation, the kick-off, the deter­mi­nation of the test scope and the procurement takes place. In particular, the corre­sponding contracts with all parties involved are concluded, the test scope is deter­mined and the financial super­visory authority is informed about the intended TIBER-DE test.
  • In the test phase, infor­mation on the threat situation is collected and the Red Team penetration test is conducted on the basis of the previ­ously defined test scope.
  • Finally, the final phase includes the prepa­ration of the test reports, a replay and feedback, a remedi­ation plan for found vulner­a­bil­ities as well as a final report and the attes­tation including the transfer of results.

Risks of the TIBER-DE Test

The TIBER-DE test targets the productive systems with the “critical functions” of an institute in order to realis­ti­cally evaluate their cyber-resis­tance. However, this is also accom­panied by risks, e.g. regarding the confi­den­tiality, integrity or avail­ability of the data or systems. In any case, the institute has to perform a detailed risk analysis and take appro­priate measures to minimise the risks before a TIBER-DE test is performed.

Furthermore, companies are confronted with organ­i­sa­tional, technical and data protection challenges. Critical business processes have to be identified, defensive measures have to be estab­lished and documented. In addition, TIBER-DE tests must be coordi­nated with the various stake­holders concerned, e.g. service providers. Furthermore, a confi­den­tiality oblig­ation must be observed by all parties.

Currently the partic­i­pation in TIBER-DE tests is based on a voluntary basis. Along with the not incon­sid­erable risks this seems to be the reason for the hesitation to perform a TIBER-DE test.

Team up for a successful TIBER-DE test

The experts of SRC can prepare a TIBER test together with you. This includes the company-wide scoping of the critical business processes to be tested and support in estab­lishing compliant reporting channels and processes to control and execute TIBER tests. This means that the internal prepa­ra­tions are now in place to have a TIBER-compliant penetration test performed by a service provider. With the experience gained from countless penetration tests, bank compliance and infor­mation security management projects, we are happy to support you through the entire process of a TIBER test.

Amendment of BAIT 2021
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Amendment of BAIT 2021- The new require­ments for financial institutions

The amendment of BAIT for 2021 means new require­ments for credit insti­tu­tions. In contrast, BaFin faces the challenge of imple­menting the Guide­lines on security measures for opera­tional and security risks under the PSD2 and the Guide­lines on ICT and security risk management of the EBA in Germany. This is to be completed by 31 December 2020 with an amendment to the BAIT (banking super­visory require­ments for IT). First drafts have already been discussed and commented on in the insti­tutes and associations.

BAIT 2021 focuses on IT security

With a separate and new chapter, opera­tional IT security is moving further into focus. The require­ments formu­lated there can only be fulfilled with a Security Infor­mation and Event Management System (SIEM). This also includes the estab­lishment and operation of a Security Opera­tions Centre (SOC). Regular opera­tional checks are required. These include:

  • internal deviation analyses
  • Vulner­a­bility scans
  • Penetration tests
  • the simulation of attacks (“Red Teaming”)

The new require­ments of BAIT 2021 lead to the estab­lishment of a profes­sional cyber security infra­structure. This means extensive and independent internal infor­mation security structures.

The management assumes overall responsibility

It is noticeable that the draft already refers not only to the respon­si­bility of the management. The management is even required to explicitly acknowledge the overall respon­si­bility for infor­mation security. This also includes regular infor­mation about their concerns and the decision to deal with security risks appropriately.

Require­ments for IT emergency management are consolidated

We expect further changes in the area of IT emergency management. The require­ments from BAIT will be consol­i­dated with those from section AT7.3 of MaRisk. This creates uniform national require­ments. In addition, we expect to tighten and specify the require­ments with regard to emergency planning and prevention, BCM, disaster recovery and backup strategies. In our view, outsourcing to service providers will also be covered by the revised version.

Financial insti­tu­tions face major challenges

According to the assessment of the SRC experts for bank compliance, the expected changes will pose great challenges for the affected insti­tu­tions. This concerns especially the required know-how and the limited resources on the labour market.

Janine Wolff

BarCamp “Infor­mation Security Management in Credit Insti­tu­tions” — 19 September 2019

In cooper­ation with SRC Security Research & Consulting GmbH, Bank-Verlag GmbH hosts a BarCamp on the subject of “Infor­mation Security Management in Credit Insti­tu­tions”. The event will take place on 19 September 2019 at the premises of Bank-Verlag in Cologne.

The Federal Financial Super­visory Authority (BaFin) has also defined the new function of the Infor­mation Security Officer with the “Banking Super­visory Require­ments for IT” (BAIT). He or she controls the infor­mation security process and reports directly to management. What this theory looks like in practice will be examined in more detail on 19 September at the BarCamp “Infor­mation Security Management in Credit Institutions”.

The BarCamp Principle

A BarCamp is an open conference with practical workshops. The workshops serve the exchange and discussion among the partic­i­pants. At the beginning, the partic­i­pants themselves develop the contents and the agenda, which they then develop further. There are no prede­fined speakers or proce­dures to be found in a BarCamp. Instead, this principle relies on the (moderated) exchange of experience.

BarCamp “Infor­mation Security Management in Credit Institutions

The BarCamp “Infor­mation Security Management in Credit Insti­tu­tions” gives Infor­mation Security Officers as well as all those respon­sible for infor­mation and IT security management at credit insti­tu­tions the oppor­tunity to exchange infor­mation on topics such as BAIT audits, service provider management or risk management. In addition, contacts can be estab­lished and expertise expanded. The coffee breaks can be used for individual discus­sions. At the end of the event, a “get-together” provides an in-depth exchange among the participants.

The SRC Speakers

Four experts from different areas of SRC will share their knowledge and expertise with the participants.

Sandro Amendola, deputy head of the evalu­ation body at SRC, is respon­sible for the topic “IT compliance in the banking industry”. In addition, he develops security concepts and security require­ments for payment trans­action proce­dures on behalf of the German banking industry, among others.

Jochen Schumacher is respon­sible for commu­ni­ca­tions at SRC. He concen­trates on product management, the technical and editorial support of the website as well as the planning, imple­men­tation and moder­ation of events.

Florian Schumann is Head of IT at SRC. In addition, he is an infor­mation security consultant and qualified auditor according to § 8 (a) BSIG for critical infrastructures.

Dr. Deniz Ulucay works at SRC as a consultant for infor­mation security. His focus is on the devel­opment of ISMSs, in particular for operators of critical infra­struc­tures. He is also respon­sible for the devel­opment and imple­men­tation of security concepts.

Regis­tration & Schedule

Further infor­mation about the regis­tration and the course of the BarCamp on the topic “Infor­mation security management in Credit Insti­tu­tions” can be found in this flyer (GER) and on the website of Bank-Verlag. Here you can register directly online for the event and bring in the topics that are important and inter­esting for you and thus help to determine the course and outcome of the BarCamp “Infor­mation Security Management in Credit Institutions”.

For further questions Mrs. van Kessel is at your disposal (Tel. 0221/5490–161, andrea.vankessel(at)bank-verlag.de).

Information Security Officer for Credit Institutions
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Certificate Course “Infor­mation Security Officer for Credit Insti­tu­tions” — November 6 to 9, 2018

The German Banking Act (KWG) and MaRisk require banks to ensure the integrity, avail­ability, authen­ticity and confi­den­tiality of data in their IT systems and processes. However, secure and efficient IT is also absolutely essential for the economic success of a credit institution.

The new “Banking Super­visory Require­ments for IT” (BAIT) formulate concrete expec­ta­tions. Among other things, the Federal Financial Super­visory Authority (BaFin) has issued a guideline calling for the new function of the ” Infor­mation Security Officer ” to be set up. He or she controls the infor­mation security process and reports directly to management.

In cooper­ation with Bank-Verlag, SRC has already success­fully offered three certificate courses to become an “Infor­mation Security Officer (ISB) for credit insti­tu­tions”. After the great response and the continuing demand, we are pleased that the Bank-Verlag has made another date for this four-day certificate course possible.

From 6 to 9 November 2018, you will again have the oppor­tunity to receive further training in Cologne to become an “Infor­mation Security Officer (ISB) for credit institutions”.

Teamed up with Heinrich Lottmann (TARGOBANK AG & Co. KGaA) and Alexandros Manakos (HSBC Trinkaus & Burkhardt AG), the SRC experts Sandro Amendola, Florian Schumann and Randolf Skerka will give a lecture on the norms and standards according to ISO and IT-Grund­schutz, as well as on all legal/regulatory require­ments relevant to you as an ISB. In addition, the topics IT risks and emergency precau­tions as well as business conti­nuity management will be dealt with.

After passing the final exami­nation, you will receive the certificate “Infor­mation Security Officer for Banks”.

Optionally, you will have the oppor­tunity to acquire the basic IT knowledge required for the course in a one-day intensive seminar in Cologne on 5 November 2018 prior to the event. This course deals with the basics, terms, encryption and IT security techniques in infor­mation technology.

Course website
Online regis­tration
Course Flyer

Tag Archive for: BaFin