Intro and Overview

TIBER-EU, which stands for Threat Intelligence-Based Ethical Red Teaming for the European Union, has become a crucial part of making online security stronger within the financial sector. Designed to address the unique challenges faced by financial institutions, TIBER-EU is a collaborative initiative that empowers organizations to proactively assess and enhance their cyber resilience. This blog covers the key components, objectives, and importance of the TIBER-EU framework, and helps understand its role in the ongoing fight against cyber threats across European financial institutions.

Why is TIBER-EU important for European financial institutions?

Financial entities across Europe are urged to integrate TIBER-EU into their cybersecurity strategies due to their specialized and thorough nature. This framework takes a focused and strategic approach, carefully checking the cyber strength of important business services. When companies go through a complete TIBER-EU assessment, they get valuable insights into potential problems, helping them fix issues early. Following TIBER-EU rules aligns them with regulations, meeting industry standards and boosting trust in the financial world. Using TIBER-EU makes cybersecurity stronger and makes stakeholders feel confident about the security and reliability of financial operations.

Who are the key stakeholders in the TIBER-EU process?

Several key stakeholders play crucial roles in the TIBER-EU process:

National Authority: The overseeing authority, typically the national financial supervisory body, guides and supervises the TIBER-EU assessment to ensure alignment with the framework.

Red Team: The external ethical hacking team responsible for conducting the TIBER-EU assessment, simulating real-world cyber-attacks to evaluate the organization’s defenses.

Critical Functions Owners: Representatives from within the organization who oversee and manage critical business services and systems being assessed.

TIBER-EU Coordinator: The coordinator ensures seamless communication and collaboration between all stakeholders, facilitating the efficient execution of the TIBER-EU assessment.

Accreditations Required

To participate in a TIBER-EU assessment, service providers must hold specific accreditations like the ethical hacking team must possess relevant certifications, demonstrating expertise in simulated attack scenarios and threat intelligence analysis.

Project Team Structure and Key Points

Effective collaboration is essential for a successful TIBER-EU assessment. Key points to consider are:

Communication: Open and transparent communication between the National Authority, Red Team, and Critical Functions Owners is vital throughout the assessment.

Information Sharing: Critical Functions Owners must share necessary information with the Red Team to ensure a thorough and realistic assessment of cybersecurity defenses.

Continuous Support: The organization should provide ongoing support to the Red Team during the assessment, addressing queries and facilitating a smooth evaluation process.

What are the five phases of the TIBER-EU framework?

Phase 1: Preparation

• Identification of Critical Functions and Systems:

Organizations identify and define the critical functions and systems that are essential to their operations and require protection.

• Selection of the Red Team:

A team of cybersecurity experts, known as the Red Team, is selected. This team is responsible for simulating cyber-attacks and assessing the security measures of the organization.

• Coordination with the National Authority:

The organization coordinates with the National Authority, which is responsible for overseeing and facilitating the TIBER-EU assessment. This ensures compliance with regulatory requirements and standards.

Phase 2: Intelligence Gathering

• Red Team Conducts Threat Intelligence Analysis:

The Red Team gathers information on the latest cyber threats, vulnerabilities, and attack techniques relevant to the organization.

• Scenarios for Simulated Attacks Are Developed:

Based on threat intelligence, the Red Team creates realistic scenarios for simulated cyber-attacks that may pose a threat to critical functions and systems.

• Communication with Critical Functions Owners for Insights:

The Red Team communicates with the owners of critical functions to gain insights into the organization’s specific processes, vulnerabilities, and potential weak points.

Phase 3: Execution

• Simulated Cyber-Attacks Are Carried Out by the Red Team:

The Red Team executes simulated cyber-attacks according to the predefined scenarios, testing the organization’s security measures and response capabilities.

• Response and Resilience of Critical Functions Are Evaluated:

The effectiveness of the organization’s response and resilience mechanisms in the face of simulated cyber-attacks is evaluated, providing insights into areas that need improvement.

• Continuous Communication and Coordination Among Stakeholders:

Ongoing communication and coordination take place among stakeholders, including the Red Team, Critical Functions Owners, and the National Authority, to ensure a comprehensive assessment.

Phase 4: Reporting

• Detailed Report on Vulnerabilities and Findings:

The Red Team compiles a detailed report outlining the vulnerabilities, weaknesses, and findings discovered during the assessment.

• Recommendations for Remediation and Improvement:

Based on the assessment results, the Red Team provides recommendations for remediation and improvement of the organization’s cybersecurity posture.

• Presentation to the National Authority and Critical Functions Owners:

The findings and recommendations are presented to both the National Authority and the owners of critical functions, ensuring transparency, and facilitating the implementation of necessary changes.

Phase 5: Remediation

• Organization Addresses Identified Vulnerabilities:

The organization takes corrective actions to address the vulnerabilities and weaknesses identified during the assessment, implementing the recommended remediation measures.

• Continuous Monitoring and Improvement of Cybersecurity Measures:

Continuous monitoring is established to track the effectiveness of implemented measures, and ongoing improvements are made to enhance the organization’s overall cybersecurity resilience.

• Coordination with the National Authority for Compliance Verification:

The organization coordinates with the National Authority to verify compliance with cybersecurity standards and to ensure that the remediation efforts align with regulatory requirements. 

Conclusion

Adopting the TIBER-EU framework signals a commitment to enhancing cybersecurity resilience in the face of evolving threats. Through collaborative efforts and simulated attacks, TIBER-EU provides a comprehensive understanding of an organization’s vulnerabilities, guiding targeted remediation efforts. This framework not only ensures immediate cybersecurity improvements but also serves as a catalyst for continuous enhancement, elevating the overall cyber resilience of European financial institutions. TIBER-EU acts like a guiding light for being proactive in defense, making the financial world stronger against the increasing challenges of the digital age.