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Demand for Payment and Registration: Comply and Join Now

Russia's Central Bank steps up cybersecurity measures for money transfer entities, following over 7 billion rubles in hacker-caused thefts in the initial quarter. Enhanced cryptoprotection and reinforcement of electronic signatures are now mandatory. Banks will also incorporate cryptoprotection...

Demand to settle financial obligations, join the service
Demand to settle financial obligations, join the service

Demand for Payment and Registration: Comply and Join Now

In a recent development, the Russian Central Bank has announced new cybersecurity requirements for organizations involved in money transfers. The new regulations aim to bolster security measures and protect against potential threats, particularly in the areas of digital signatures, cryptographic safeguards, and biometric confirmation of operations.

One of the key aspects of the new requirements is the use of **enhanced digital signatures**. These signatures, based on cryptographic standards, will ensure the integrity and authenticity of electronic documents, a crucial factor in preventing fraud and unauthorized transactions.

The regulations also mandate **strong cryptographic protection** for communications and data. This includes the use of robust cryptographic algorithms to protect the confidentiality and integrity of transaction data, aligning with international cybersecurity standards that emphasize authenticated and encrypted communications.

To further reduce fraud risks, **biometric verification systems** are required for critical operations, such as money transfers. These systems, which can include fingerprint or facial recognition, add an additional layer of security, ensuring that the person authorizing the transaction is legitimate and reducing the risk of unauthorized access.

Strict **identity management** practices are also a part of the new requirements. These practices include the use of unique identities for users, regular review of access rights, and the implementation of multi-factor authentication (MFA) proportional to asset sensitivity. Secured administration systems, separated from general applications and protected through encryption and authentication, are also necessary.

While recent EU and international sanctions have impacted the financial and banking sectors related to Russia, they mainly focus on restricting transactions and access to systems like SWIFT rather than prescribing cybersecurity technicalities within Russia itself. However, these external pressures reinforce the need for Russian institutions to strengthen their internal cybersecurity posture, especially in secure authentication and cryptographic validation.

In summary, Russian organizations involved in money transfers must now: - Utilize **enhanced digital signatures based on cryptographic standards**, - Implement **strong cryptographic protection for communications and data**, - Confirm operations through **biometric authentication methods**, - And maintain rigorous identity and access management controls to comply with evolving cybersecurity requirements in this high-risk sector.

Other changes include the clarification of the incident reporting deadline, the involvement of foreign bank branches and electronic platform operators, and the requirement for organizations not traditionally considered banks but participating in payment interactions to implement a full range of cybersecurity measures.

The implementation of these new requirements is expected to impact thousands of organizations, with costs varying depending on the scale of the organization's network. Compliance assessment, performed by specialized organizations, is estimated to cost around one million rubles. Despite the potential costs, increased tariffs are unlikely to be accepted by the market.

The Bank of Russia is tightening cybersecurity requirements for organizations involved in money transfers, aiming to standardize protection assessment processes and increase central bank control. These measures are crucial in ensuring the security and integrity of financial transactions in Russia.

In alignment with the new regulations, businesses dealing with money transfers will need to incorporate enhanced digital signatures based on cryptographic standards for secure electronic document verification. Additionally, strong cryptographic protection will be mandatory for secured communications and data, following international cybersecurity standards that emphasize authenticated and encrypted communications.

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