Financial institutions and banks store a large amount of personal and financial information about their customers. As all this data is sensitive and personal, robust cybersecurity measures are essential to safeguard it from cyber-attacks. 

The banking, financial services, and insurance (BFSI) sector in India has always been a vital part of the economy and has been growing rapidly in recent years. It has also been at the forefront of adopting technological developments and offering digital services. However, with this growth comes the need for strong cybersecurity measures to protect sensitive customer data from cyber threats. 
 
As our digital world is fraught with threats and hackers are constantly vying for ways to access sensitive data, we strongly recommend 5 best practices that BFSI companies in India can adopt to safeguard their systems and data within. 

Implement Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) 

Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is a powerful multi-layered access security system to thwart cybercrimes. This requires users to provide two or more forms of identification (which could include a password, biometric data, or a security token) to gain access to their accounts or banking applications. This makes MFA a stronger solution with an added layer of protection to prevent potential fraud and breaches of confidential data. 
 

Regularly Update Software and Systems 

A relatively straightforward yet often overlooked measure that can significantly boost your defense against cyber threats is regular software updates. Timely updates of software systems are to be done to patch vulnerabilities and fix bugs that can be exploited by cybercriminals. This simple procedure ensures necessary protection and mitigates the risk of cyber-attacks that could otherwise compromise sensitive information such as bank account details. 
 

Conduct Regular Security Audits 

A security audit serves as a strategic assessment of your organization’s overall security standing. It helps identify weaknesses in your systems, processes, and policies. BFSI companies should conduct regular security audits to identify any vulnerabilities in their systems and networks and patch them up. 
 

Train Employees on Cybersecurity Measures 

In banking systems, many touch-points leave the gate open for intruders to seize confidential data.  Therefore, it is important to train banking professionals on robust cybersecurity practices. They must mandatorily go through training on cybersecurity measures as part of the onboarding process and should also propagate this knowledge to their customers to plug any loose points. 
 

Establish an Incident Response Plan 

Companies should establish an incident response plan to handle security incidents effectively. An incident response plan is a crucial document that outlines a thorough action plan for dealing with potential security issues. It outlines the steps to be taken in case of a cyber-attack, including who to contact and what to do to ensure a quick and efficient recovery post-attack. By following this predefined set of guidelines, organizations can minimize downtime, financial losses, and reputational damage. 
 
We hope this article has cautioned banking and financial institutions on the need to stay vigilant of cyber threats and up to date with the latest cybersecurity trends to maintain the trust of their customers. 
 
Swan Solutions & Services, a trusted partner for leading IT security solutions, can help organizations and BFSI entities integrate advanced cybersecurity solutions that help protect against cyber threats and maintain compliance with industry regulations. 
 
Protect your organization’s critical data against malicious intent and attack with best-in-class cybersecurity solutions. Get in touch with our IT experts at  enquiry@swansol.com to know more about our data protection services.