The inevitable lag between an attack and a company's response can mean lost revenue (and trust on the part of customers) until the threat is contained.

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F I N A N C I A L I S E R V I C E S

As attackers are increasingly motivated by the prospect of financial gain, the financial services sector becomes an increasingly tempting target. The move from paper notes to electronic data as a medium of exchange, and the institutions’ reliance on information services makes them particularly vulnerable to attack, and significant financial damage. These vulnerabilities are shared by securities dealers, insurers and investment companies. They form a financial infrastructure that is vital to the smooth functioning of local and international commerce. Damage to any one entity can have a ripple effect, as disruption of services or the sudden drop in the value of assets can cause reactive behaviors elsewhere.

Federal regulators, traditionally charged with monitoring the health of the financial infrastructure, have acknowledge the risks of cyber crime and have set out best practice guidelines to minimize the risk. These include network and data redundancies, business information technology protocols, physical security protocols, and continuity plans.

While these measures provide a degree of protection, the inevitable lag between an attack and a company’s response can mean lost revenue (and trust on the part of customers) until the threat is contained. ACSI’s Real-Time Forensics can isolate an intrusion in progress, minimizing damage and gathering evidence that can be used to prosecute cyber criminals….thus giving financial institutions a formidable weapon in the war against cyber crime.