Branche

Security in the Financial & Insurance Industry

We support banks, insurers, and financial service providers in securing their organizations and infrastructures reliably and in full compliance – across IT systems, operational processes, and highly sensitive sites.

Hardly any other sector faces such comprehensive requirements for security, integrity, and resilience as the financial and insurance industry. Institutions must comply with complex regulatory frameworks such as BAIT, VAIT, DORA, and NIS2 – while also being prime targets for highly sophisticated attackers with financial or geopolitical motives. We support banks, insurers, payment providers, central institutions, and security printers in building regulatory-compliant and technically robust security – vendor-neutral, in depth, and resilient.

Challenges in the Sector

Multi-layer regulation

Multiple regimes apply simultaneously: BAIT/VAIT, MaRisk, DORA, NIS2, ISO 27001, § 8a BSIG, internal audit standards.

High-likelihood cyber threats

Phishing, ransomware, identity theft, supply chain attacks, targeted strikes on payment infrastructures.

Diffuse responsibilities between IT, risk management & compliance

Fragmented accountabilities hinder the holistic implementation of technical and organizational measures.

Dependency on third parties & cloud services

Outsourcing and third-party relationships create new requirements for risk management and controls.

Reputational risks in case of incidents

A single public incident can trigger regulatory proceedings, loss of trust, and financial damage.

Regulatorische Anforderungen

Stand 2025

Financial and insurance institutions are subject to multiple overlapping regulations – from BAIT/VAIT and MaRisk to DORA, BSIG, and NIS2.

- Requirements by BaFin for structuring IT risk management and information security.
- Focus on governance, responsibilities, processes, and control mechanisms
- Cyber risks must be identified, assessed, and managed organizationally
- Physical security is implicitly included, e.g., through requirements for availability and protection of critical infrastructure (server rooms, data centers)
- EU Regulation (2022/2554), effective January 17, 2025.
- Binding for banks, insurers, payment service providers, investment firms, and critical ICT service providers
- Transposition of the NIS2 directive into German law (expected 2025).
- Applies in addition to DORA for many financial actors – e.g., insurers, credit institutions with critical functions, infrastructure operators
- Requirements for risk management, technical & organizational safeguards, executive accountability, and reporting to the BSI
- Currently, only certain large institutions (e.g., central banks, payment networks) are classified as KRITIS operators.
- Obligation to implement and audit adequate technical and organizational measures every two years
- Proof ideally via ISO 27001 or other sector-specific recognized standards

Lösungen

Our services for your security & compliance

Understanding & implementing regulation

Gap analyses according to BAIT, VAIT, DORA, NIS2, ISO 27001
Development of strategic implementation roadmaps
Support in internal audits, BaFin inspections, and reporting

Security architecture & protection needs assessments

Development and evaluation of technical security measures
Definition and optimization of safeguards for IT, data rooms, and cloud systems
Support in implementing DORA-compliant control mechanisms

Physical security in financial environments

Planning and optimization of access control, video surveillance, and facility protection
Technical protection concepts for self-service zones, data centers, print facilities, and headquarters
Alignment of physical measures with availability and protection requirements

Incident response & crisis preparedness

Establishment of reporting processes according to DORA and NIS2
Incident response playbooks and escalation chains
Support in exercises and testing (incl. TIBER-DE / TLPT)

Aus der Praxis

Our experience in the sector

We advise central banks, banking groups, specialist insurers, securities settlement providers, and highly sensitive financial service organizations. Our expertise ranges from strategic compliance consulting to security engineering for high-security facilities:

Implementation of BAIT/VAIT requirements

Support in DORA preparation, including risk analysis & third-party management

Data center planning & security engineering

Conducting protection needs and vulnerability analyses

Incident response & forensic support after cyberattacks

We speak the language of compliance as well as technology – and are familiar with the interfaces between executive boards, IT, information security, business continuity, and audit functions.

Consulting quality without product interests

As an independent consultancy, we do not sell products – we help you meet regulatory requirements with clear, verifiable measures – strategic, operational, and audit-ready. Our strength lies in interdisciplinarity – not sales interests.

Becoming resilient under regulation

Unsure whether your institution is affected by DORA or NIS2? Need clarity on structuring reporting processes or third-party management?

Weiterführende Ressourcen

Fallstudie

Risikoanalyse & Sicherheitsplanung für NIS2

Ein Lebensmittelhersteller mit europaweitem Vertrieb bereitet sich auf NIS2 vor – mit standortübergreifender Risikoanalyse und strukturierter Sicherheitsarchitektur.

Whitepaper

Sicherheit in der Lebensmittelindustrie – Anforderungen, Risiken und pragmatische Lösungen

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