Financial Services Cybersecurity
Meet regulator and examiner expectations while protecting client assets — security built for how financial firms actually operate.
Regulator Expectations Meet Real Attacker Interest
Financial services firms sit at an uncomfortable intersection: they hold exactly the kind of data and access attackers want most, while facing some of the most specific regulatory security requirements of any industry. Falling short on either side carries real cost.
We work with RIAs, wealth managers, credit unions, and lenders to build programs that satisfy GLBA and FTC Safeguards Rule requirements while actually reducing the risk of fraud and account compromise — not just producing a document for the next exam.
Why Financial Services Is a Target
- Direct access to client funds and account credentials
- High-value nonpublic personal information (NPI)
- Specific, examinable regulatory requirements under GLBA
- Wire and ACH transfer processes attackers actively target
- Extensive third-party and vendor dependencies
- Client trust — and firm reputation — hinge on getting it right
Risks Specific to Financial Services
The threats that consistently show up in our financial services engagements.
Attackers impersonate clients or intercept requests to redirect wire and ACH transfers — often after compromising an advisor or operations inbox first.
The FTC Safeguards Rule requires specific, documented controls — a written risk assessment, access controls, encryption, and incident response planning — that go beyond generic policy language.
Client and employee account compromise is often the first stage of fraud, making phishing resistance and MFA coverage a top-priority control.
Custodians, portfolio management platforms, and outsourced back-office providers extend your risk surface — and your regulatory obligation to oversee it.
Nonpublic personal information — account numbers, SSNs, financial statements — creates significant breach notification and liability exposure if compromised.
State and federal examiners expect evidence, not assurances — documented risk assessments, testing results, and remediation tracking.
How Helm Helps
Services we most often deliver for financial services firms.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this help with FTC Safeguards Rule compliance?
Yes. Our audit and assessment engagements map directly to the FTC Safeguards Rule's required elements — risk assessment, access controls, encryption, incident response planning, and vendor oversight — with a prioritized remediation plan, not just a compliance narrative.
We're a small RIA or credit union. Is this overkill for our size?
No — regulatory expectations under GLBA and the Safeguards Rule apply regardless of size, and smaller firms are frequently targeted precisely because attackers assume lighter controls. We scale engagements to fit firms from a handful of employees up to multi-branch institutions.
Can you support us through an M&A transaction or investor diligence?
Yes. We provide sell-side security readiness and buy-side target assessment for financial services transactions, understanding the specific diligence questions regulators and acquirers ask in this sector.