CBUAE Cybersecurity Compliance | ITSEC
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Central Bank of the UAE

CBUAE Cybersecurity
Compliance & Testing
Services

Comprehensive compliance solutions for UAE banks, financial institutions, and payment service providers. Meet every requirement of the Central Bank's Information Security Standards.

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Industry Certifications & Accreditations

ISO 27001 Certified
Information Security Management
CREST Approved
Penetration Testing Excellence
PCI DSS QSA
Payment Card Industry Qualified
UAE Licensed
Dubai Economic Zone Authority

Proven Track Record in CBUAE Compliance

85+
Banks & FIs Served
100%
Compliance Success Rate
20+
Years Experience
24/7
Expert Support

What is CBUAE Compliance?

Information Security Standards — Mandatory for All Licensed FIs

The Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) mandates comprehensive cybersecurity controls for all licensed banks, financial institutions, and payment service providers. These Information Security Standards are based on ISO 27001 and require annual third-party security assessments, incident reporting within 24 hours, and board-level oversight of cybersecurity risks.

ISO 27001 Alignment

Comprehensive Information Security Management System (ISMS) based on international standards

24-Hour Incident Reporting

Mandatory notification to CBUAE for all material cybersecurity incidents

Payment System Security

PCI DSS compliance, SWIFT CSP controls, and secure payment gateway architecture

CBUAE Information Security Standards: 8 Core Requirements

Mandatory cybersecurity controls for all UAE-licensed financial institutions

Information Security Governance
Board-level cybersecurity oversight and CISO appointment
Access Control & Authentication
Multi-factor authentication and privileged access management
Data Protection & Encryption
At-rest and in-transit encryption for customer data
Network Security
Segmentation, firewalls, and intrusion detection systems
Security Monitoring
24/7 SOC, SIEM, and continuous vulnerability management
Incident Response
24-hour CBUAE notification and BCDR plans
Third-Party Risk
Vendor security assessments and cloud provider validation
Security Testing
Annual penetration testing and vulnerability assessments

Our CBUAE Compliance Services

Specialized frameworks designed for financial institutions operating under CBUAE supervision.

Gap Assessment

CBUAE Compliance Gap Assessment

Comprehensive evaluation of your current security posture against Central Bank Information Security Standards

Security Testing

Annual Security Testing Program

Comprehensive penetration testing and vulnerability assessments as mandated by CBUAE

Payment Systems

Payment Systems Security

Specialized testing for payment gateways, SWIFT, and card processing systems

Ongoing Support

Continuous Compliance Support

Year-round advisory services to maintain CBUAE compliance

Information Security Governance review

Technical controls assessment (ISO 27001 alignment)

Board reporting and CISO function review

Policy and procedure documentation audit

Risk management framework evaluation

Detailed remediation roadmap with timelines

ITSEC Standard

External & internal network penetration testing

Mobile banking app security testing

Social engineering and phishing simulations

Web application security assessment

Wireless network security review

KYC/AML system security assessment

ITSEC Standard

PCI DSS Level 1 compliance assessment

Payment gateway penetration testing

Real-time payment system security

SWIFT Customer Security Programme (CSP) audit

ATM & card skimming security review

Crisis management capability assessment

ITSEC Standard

Quarterly vulnerability scanning

Incident response retainer (24/7)

Policy updates for regulatory changes

Monthly security health checks

CBUAE incident notification support

CISO advisory services

ITSEC Standard

Frequently Asked Questions

What financial institutions must comply with CBUAE Information Security Standards?
All UAE-licensed banks (commercial, retail, Islamic), finance companies, payment service providers, money exchange houses, and insurance companies regulated by CBUAE must comply with the Information Security Standards.
How often must we conduct security assessments?
CBUAE requires annual third-party penetration testing and vulnerability assessments. Additionally, continuous vulnerability scanning and quarterly internal security reviews are recommended best practices.
What is the incident reporting timeline to CBUAE?
Material cybersecurity incidents must be reported to CBUAE within 24 hours of discovery. This includes data breaches, system compromises, ransomware attacks, and any incident affecting customer data or operations.
Do we need ISO 27001 certification for CBUAE compliance?
While ISO 27001 certification is not explicitly mandated, CBUAE's Information Security Standards are closely aligned with ISO 27001. Many banks pursue certification as it demonstrates comprehensive compliance and international best practices.
What are the SWIFT CSP requirements for UAE banks?
Banks using SWIFT must comply with the SWIFT Customer Security Programme (CSP), which includes mandatory and advisory controls. ITSEC provides specialized SWIFT CSP attestation services.
How long does a CBUAE compliance assessment take?
A comprehensive gap assessment typically takes 4-6 weeks, depending on the size and complexity of your institution. Penetration testing projects range from 2-4 weeks for core systems.
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