Proven DFSA Compliance Expertise
What is DFSA Compliance?
Cyber Risk Management Rules (GEN Module)
The Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) regulates all financial services conducted in or from the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC). Firms must follow the DFSA's Cyber Risk Management Rules, set out in the General Module (GEN) of the DFSA Rulebook, and implement an appropriate framework to identify and mitigate cyber risks and to detect, respond to, and recover from cyber incidents.
Framework to identify and mitigate cyber risks, with board and senior management oversight
Notification of cyber incidents to regulators and other stakeholders as appropriate (see GEN 5.5)
Periodic evaluation of controls through testing, audits and exercises
ITSEC handles the cybersecurity and testing obligations that sit under DFSA supervision. For the authorisation itself, our group company KOLL Group handles DFSA licence applications in the DIFC, from category selection through to submission. KOLL Group is a wholly owned subsidiary of ITSEC L.L.C FZ.
6 Security Areas ITSEC Assesses for DFSA-Regulated Firms
ITSEC's assessment areas, aligned to the DFSA's Cyber Risk Management Rules (GEN). Check the current DFSA Rulebook for exact requirements.
Our DFSA Compliance Services
Cyber risk management framework review (DFSA GEN Module)
Third-party risk management evaluation
Incident response capability testing
Information security governance assessment
Business continuity & disaster recovery validation
Gap analysis with detailed remediation roadmap
External & internal network penetration testing
Trading platform security testing
Cloud infrastructure security review
Web & mobile application security assessment
API security and integration testing
Wireless and remote access security
BCDR plan testing and tabletop exercises
Recovery time objective (RTO) validation
Supply chain disruption scenarios
Ransomware resilience simulation
Failover and redundancy testing
Crisis management capability assessment
CISO advisory and virtual CISO services
DFSA incident notification support
Security roadmap and strategy
Policy and procedure development
Regulatory change management
Board reporting and presentations
Why DFSA-Regulated Entities Choose ITSEC.
With over 20 years of cybersecurity and regulatory expertise, ITSEC is the trusted partner for financial institutions seeking full DFSA compliance.Our specialized security and governance framework aligns with the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) Rulebook — ensuring every control, system, and operational process meets regulatory expectations within the DIFC.
ITSEC Services Mapped to DFSA’s Cybersecurity & Governance Framework
Our comprehensive compliance framework aligns every governance, risk, and cybersecurity mandate outlined in the DFSA regulatory rulebook for financial institutions operating within DIFC.
Track Your DFSA Compliance Journey
Real-time visibility into your governance, risk, and cybersecurity posture
Simulate financial service disruptions to validate response and recovery capabilities in line with the DFSA's GEN rules.
Conduct impact assessments and cross-functional resilience testing across people, processes, and technology.
Implement DFSA-compliant escalation, communication, and reporting workflows within defined recovery objectives.
Cyber Risk Governance
Identify and mitigate technology risks in line with the DFSA's Cyber Risk Management Rules and Guidelines.
Threat Detection & Response
Deploy advanced monitoring systems and Security Operations Center processes for real-time DFSA-compliant surveillance.
Vulnerability Management
Readiness assessment for DFSA cyber risk reviews.
Outsourcing Risk Assessment
Evaluate third-party providers under DFSA’s outsourcing requirements, focusing on data control and accountability.
Service Level Assurance
Embed contractual clauses ensuring DFSA compliance, performance metrics, and data confidentiality obligations.
Continuous Oversight
24/7 security operations center setup and threat monitoring.
Regulatory Alignment
Establish policies and control frameworks that align with the DFSA's GEN module for operational soundness.
Board & Senior Management
Define cybersecurity oversight responsibilities and evidence board and senior management oversight of cyber risk.
Internal Audit Coordination
Integrate audit trails and compliance testing with DFSA’s technology governance and risk expectations.
Your Path to DFSA Compliance
A proven 5-step process that takes you from cybersecurity assessment to DFSA regulatory compliance.
Governance and policy mapping ●
DFSA regulatory roadmap ●
● Risk management assessment
● Compliance improvement plan
Threat simulation report ●
DFSA audit readiness summary ●
● Policy and control updates
● DFSA compliance documentation
Continuous monitoring plan ●
Annual compliance assurance report ●
Security and Compliance Service Tiers
Tailored service tiers for DFSA-regulated firms — choose the level of compliance coverage you need, from governance to full audit readiness.
Perfect for DFSA-regulated firms preparing for their first DFSA inspection
✔ Vulnerability Assessment & Penetration Testing
✔ Basic Key Governance Framework
✔ Incident Response Plan
✔ DFSA-Compliant Documentation
✔ Quarterly Vulnerability Scans
✔ Email Support
Comprehensive coverage for activeexchanges and broker-dealers
✔ Virtual CISO Services (50 hours/year)
✔ Advanced Key Lifecycle Management
✔ Core Banking Security Assessment
✔ SOC Setup & SIEM Integration
✔ Monthly Security Reviews
✔ 24/7 Incident Response Hotline
✔ Dedicated Compliance Manager
White-glove service for high volumeplatforms and multi-entity groups
✔ Full-Time Virtual CISO (Unlimited)
✔ Multi-Entity Compliance Coordination
✔ Multi-Entity Governance Framework
✔ Custom Security Architecture Design
✔ Weekly Status Meetings
✔ Priority DFSA Inspection Prep
✔ Continuous Threat Monitoring
✔ SLA-Backed Response Times
DFSA Compliance Case Study
The DFSA framework defines cybersecurity, risk management, and governance standards for all financial institutions operating within the DIFC. Non-compliance may result in regulatory sanctions, license restrictions, or enforcement actions.
The level of detail in their governance framework matched exactly what the DFSA auditors expected.”
— Chief Risk Officer, DFSA-Regulated FinTech
Dubai International Financial Centre
☑ Cyber Resilience & Incident Response Plan
☑ Outsourcing & Third-Party Risk Review
☑ DFSA Control Mapping & Audit Readiness-Compliant Documentation Package
☑ Continuous Monitoring and Compliance Dashboard