Bank cyber-attacks highlight the need for ‘war games’
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- Published: Friday, 03 April 2015 13:51
In the light of recent news showing that $1bn (£648m) has been stolen since 2013 in cyber-attacks on up to 100 banks and financial institutions worldwide Konrads Smelkovs of KPMG’s cyber security team says that it is time for financial institutions to be more proactive when it comes to information security.
Smelkovs comments:
“These attacks were unique in terms of the organization it took to execute them. However, the tools used by these cyber-crime gangs weren’t particularly sophisticated. It was the persistence and cautious approach of the criminals that netted them the prize. The banks targeted - primarily in Russia and Ukraine - suggest a selective operation in areas where tracking transactions is more complex.
“Financial institutions need to take more of a pre-emptive approach to such attacks. Playing ‘war games’ is one effective way of highlighting potential weak spots where attacks are simulated. Each organization should also look to have someone committed to defending their network, rather than someone who merely adheres to prescribed standards. The continued investment towards anti-malware technology and internal network monitoring tools remains crucial to being a step ahead of cyber criminals.”
