MFSA: Guidance on IT related Arrangements

Whereas technological arrangements deliver cutting-edge benefits to both financial services firms and their customers, it is also true that these introduce new risks to licence holders, ranging from ICT governance risks to cybersecurity risks and IT outsourcing risks.

Download our Summary of the Guidance

The Guidance establishes a number of risk mitigation factors emanating from increased reliance on technological arrangements, that need to be adequately mitigated. This includes the establishment of a comprehensive ICT governance framework. The MFSA Guidance also includes extensive guidance on the outsourcing of IT to third parties.

Pillars of information assurance

The Guidance is principled-based and does not favour one type of technology or service model over another, as long as the compliance obligations can be met. The principle-based approach also applies to ICT risk, security governance, and control frameworks. Significantly, the Guidance allows for the principle of proportionality. As a result, mitigating controls and governance arrangements should take into consideration the nature, scale, and complexity of the technology arrangements, the risks arising thereof, as well as the level of dependence on such technology arrangements for the implementation of critical or important functions. All licensed entities are mandated to ensure compliance with the principles.

What do you need to know?

• Familiarize yourself with the MFSA guidance document and how this may impact your firm
• Consider setting up a team/task force, including your IT team, to take a systematic approach to ensure compliance with the Guidance. Engage external expertise if required
• Understand the categories of data your firm processes, the medium through which they are processed, and where and how they are stored
• Perform an ICT risk assessment that is commensurate to the nature, scale, and complexity of the firm. When defining the frequency, depth, detail, and intensity of ICT risk assessment, these should proportionate to the size, structure, and operational environment of the firm
• Draw up a gap analysis between the current ICT practices within your firm and the MFSA guidelines requirements
• Establish what remedial actions required in order to ensure compliance with the MFSA Guidance
• Establish a framework to ensure that IT risk is effectively and efficiently managed in an on-going manner
• Take reasonable measures to be in a position to demonstrate that your entity complies with the MFSA guidance document