The New York Department of Financial Services (the “NYDFS”) plans to include cyber security as part of its bank examination process. The NYDFS issued a report (the “Report“) entitled “Report on Cyber Security in the Banking Sector”, in which the NYDFS stated that it plans to review a bank’s cyber security incident response and event management, access controls, network security, vendor management, and disaster recover in evaluating the bank’s overall safety and soundness. The NYDFS pointed out that while national news reports about the data breach at Target and the Bitcoin hacking scandal at Mt. Gox have recently brought more public awareness of cyber threats, the bank regulatory agencies have been warning banks for more than a year as cyber attacks have become increasingly more sophisticated.
The Report is based on a survey of 154 banks and credit unions in New York. The survey covered industry trends, concerns, and opportunities for improvement across a cross-section of depository institutions. According to the Report, the NYDFS believes that smaller institutions are less prepared than the larger banks to handle cyber threats.
Enhancing cyber security is expected to increase the cost of regulatory compliance, especially for smaller institutions. Steps to improve cyber security may include hiring IT security personnel, engaging outside consultants, upgrading software, and implementing new security protocols. Nevertheless, many banks recognize the importance of the investment and are already strengthening their institution’s cyber security. Moreover, the NYDFS does not plan to have a one-size-fits-all solution. The revised procedures are expected to be tailored to the respective bank’s risk profile.
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