The Swiss FS-CSC association has acquired an experienced partner for the operation of its Operational Cyber Security Cell (OCS) in the form of the globally active service provider FS-ISAC (Financial Services Information Sharing and Analysis Centre). After an extensive evaluation and bidding process, the contract with FS-ISAC was signed at the end of August 2022. This partnership will provide Swiss banks and insurance companies with a wide range of services to increase cyber security, including threat reporting and assessments, planning and implementation of measures in crisis situations, as well as exercises and support in the event of cyber attacks. These services are already available to FS-CSC members in a light version since September 1, 2022, and from 2023 onwards the entire services.
Cyberrisks have increased for the financial sector. Cyberincidents that damage the reputation of the Swiss financial sector or have the potential to result in a severe financial crisis are an ever-increasing threat. Close cooperation between financial institutions and authorities is thus crucial to identifying and combating cyberrisks.
The association Swiss Financial Sector Cybersecurity Centre (Swiss FS-CSC) thus aims to enhance the financial sector’s ability to withstand these risks – its cyberresilience – and promote a partnership between financial institutions and authorities on strategic and operational issues.
Founded in Zurich on 5 April 2022, the association has 55 founding members, including banks, insurers and industry associations – among them the Swiss Bankers Association (SBA), SIX, the Swiss National Bank (SNB), the Swiss Insurance Association (SIA) and the Association of Foreign Banks in Switzerland (AFBS). The Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority FINMA, the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) and the State Secretariat for International Finance (SIF) support it as affiliates.
Members of the Swiss FS-CSC enhance the cyberresilience of their own organisation, contribute to the good reputation and stability of the Swiss financial sector and lead the way in shaping the future of cybersecurity in Switzerland.
Membership is open to all banks, insurers, securities firms and financial market infrastructures authorised by FINMA as well as financial associations based in Switzerland.
If you are interested in becoming a member and would like to know more, send us an e-mail.
The Swiss FS-CSC is set up as an association with August Benz, Deputy CEO of the SBA, as its President. Alexandra Arni, Head of ICT at the SBA, and Marc Cortesi, CISO at Baloise Groupe, complete the Board.
The association is managed by its business office.
Members and affiliates can influence the association’s strategic orientation and operations through active participation in its committees.
The Steering Board, made up of selected members, is the Swiss FS-CSC’s strategic governing body. In the event of a systemic cyberincident, the Crisis Coordination Cell coordinates the necessary measures and communicates with members and authorities.
The Expert Group runs projects aimed at strengthening cyberresilience and organises strategic and operational cyberexercises.
The OCS manages information sharing on relevant events and monitors the situation in the financial market. It also provides sector-specific reports and supports crisis management.