FM Sitharaman takes stock of steps for cybersecurity at banks amid rising border tensions

Finance Minister. Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday convened a high-level meeting with the Managing Directors and CEOs of public and private sector banks and insurance companies amidst emerging security concerns arising from tensions at the border.

Senior officials from the Department of Financial Services of the Ministry of Finance, the CERT-In, the RBI, the IRDAI, and the NPCI attended the meeting, which focused on reviewing the banking sector's operational and cybersecurity preparedness, including digital public-facing applications such as internet banking and UPI.

The Managing Directors and CEOs of all the banks and insurance companies apprised the Finance Minister about the measures they are undertaking, given the ongoing tensions at the border.

Bank MDs & CEOs informed that cybersecurity measures have been reinforced throughout the banking system. Anti-DDoS (Distributed Denial-of-Service) systems have been implemented by banks to protect against massive cyber-attacks. To guarantee institutional readiness, mock drills have been held encompassing cybersecurity and disaster recovery scenarios at the highest levels. They apprised that phishing attempts are being actively watched, and staff members have received several internal alerts to increase awareness.

Bank officials stated that their Security Operations Centre (SOC) and Network Operations Centres are fully operational and on high alert. These centres are coordinating closely with CERT-In and the National Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Centre (NCIIPC), facilitating real-time data sharing and threat monitoring.

During the meeting, the Finance Minister stressed the critical role of the banking and financial sector in ensuring economic stability during heightened geopolitical tensions and challenging times.

She directed all banks to remain fully alert and prepared to deal with any eventuality or crisis, ensuring uninterrupted access to banking & financial services for citizens and businesses across the country, especially in border areas.

She remarked that banking services, both physical and digital, must function without disruption and glitches. Emergency protocols should be updated and tested to handle any arising contingencies, she added..

The Finance Minister expressed deep concern about the safety of bank employees and their families working at branches around the border areas. She directed banks to ensure their adequate safety by effectively coordinating with the security agencies.

She asked banks to ensure that citizens and businesses do not suffer under any circumstances, and priority must be given to seamless cash availability at ATMs, uninterrupted UPI and internet banking services, and continued access to essential banking facilities.

The Finance Minister directed banks to conduct regular audits of their cybersecurity systems and data centres and ensure that all digital and core banking infrastructure is fully firewalled and monitored round the clock to prevent breaches or any hostile cyber activity.

She instructed banks to designate two dedicated senior officials identified at the headquarters, one for reporting all cyber-related matters and the other to ensure operational matters, including the functioning of bank branches and the availability of cash in ATMs. Both dedicated officers should report any incident to CERT-In/relevant agencies and DFS on a real-time basis.

In this regard, banks were also asked to coordinate in real time with the RBI, CERT-In and relevant government agencies to ensure robust and agile information exchange and response, according to an official statement.

Besides, the Finance Minister directed insurance companies to ensure timely claim settlements and uninterrupted customer service.

The Finance Minister mentioned that the sponsor banks should ensure that regional rural banks (RRBs) are well-supported during these times and hand-hold them for any issues that they are facing.

Sitharaman reiterated that the government is firmly committed to national security and economic stability, noting that the country’s banking and financial system remains robust and resilient.