Operational Resilience and Governance

Business continuity planning, incident response, and governance

The rise in cyber-attacks has highlighted the importance of developing robust policies, plans, and procedures to better protect your company from data breaches and efficiently recover from a cyber incident or significant business disruption. We can help your company implement a comprehensive information security program that enables you to identify and manage risks, foster a culture of security, and prepare for the unforeseen, but inevitable, incident with business continuity and incident response planning.

CONNECT WITH US


CONNECT WITH US


Our solutions

Business Continuity Planning and Business Impact Analysis

In the event of a disaster such as a technological failure or cybersecurity attack, it’s critical to have a business continuity plan (BCP) that outlines the procedures your company must follow in order to continue operating and recover from the disruption. A business impact analysis (BIA) should also be part of your BCP, which evaluates the effects of a disruption on critical business functions.

How We Help

We provide incident response and business continuity planning development and implementation assistance which is designed to help your company address its operational and other risks in the event of a disruption, as well as meet upcoming regulatory obligations.

We can assist your company in developing its business continuity and transition plans. In addition, our advice and assistance can help you ensure that your company’s BCP meets the requirements of the SEC's proposed rule 206(4)-4, which proposes that SEC-registered investment advisers be required to adopt and implement written business continuity and transition plans.

Cyber Incident Response Planning

Is your company prepared for a cyber event? Incident response proficiency has become a necessary component of information security programs due to constant and evolving threats. In order to build and implement an effective incident response plan (IRP), a company must assess its overall risk posture and develop written policies and procedures to help protect its information technology environment. A properly designed IRP also provides guidance to employees and helps them understand their roles and responsibilities.
 

How We Help

We can help your company develop an IRP that is designed to mitigate losses in the event of a cybersecurity event. We will also provide guidance for your employees and help them understand their roles and responsibilities. Once your company has developed an IRP, we recommend testing its effectiveness through tabletop exercises.

Cybersecurity Tabletop Exercise

With data breaches on the rise and more privacy regulations going into effect, it’s more important than ever for companies to develop and test incident response and business continuity plans in preparation for cyber events.

How We Help

Our tabletop incident response exercise is a discussion-based walkthrough of your company’s incident response plan. It allows you to test your plan with members of your team and assign roles for each scenario. The exercise is designed to uncover gaps and identify areas that your company can improve. The test can help you determine if your plan is reasonably developed and will be effective when faced with a real event.

WISP Development Assistance

A written information security program (WISP) documents the policies and controls that protect your sensitive data and critical systems, including the protection of personally identifiable information your company collects and stores.

How We Help

We can assist your company with developing a written information security program. Our cybersecurity business continuity plan service includes:

  • Developing WISP in accordance with industry standards and the appropriate regulatory requirements
  • Guidance on best practices
  • Identification of potential deficiencies based on our review of your current information systems and security policies, manuals, and procedures
  • Preparation of new documents or enhancing your existing documentation
Business Continuity Planning Checklist

Is your firm prepared to deal with the potential business disruptions caused by pandemics and other risks? Revisit your business continuity and disaster recovery planning with this checklist.

Download checklist

1 of
Solution Spotlight

Aponix Protect™ comprehensive cybersecurity and technology risk solution

Aponix Protect helps firms address evolving cyber risks and threats to ensure that their cybersecurity needs are covered year-round. This solution is available in three tiers, each one designed to provide firms with a flexible, robust, responsive, and cost-effective cybersecurity program.

Latest insights

Light through blocks

Emerging Threats in the Cyber Landscape

Financial firms have good reason to be worried about cyber risk. Attacks are on the rise, average costs of a breach are increasing, and regulators are responding by launching new measures for greater oversight. What are the emerging threats, and how should firms respond to this ever evolving landscape.

Article
  • Cybersecurity
  • Cybersecurity Resources
  • Compliance
abstract image with a lock and shield

Budget Benchmarking Survey Series: Compare Your Cyber and Compliance Program Resources to Your Peers

Participate in our budget and staffing surveys to learn how your peers are allocating their program’s resources and prepare for the 2023 budgeting season.

Survey
  • Compliance
  • Cybersecurity
abstract image with a lock and shield

Operational Resilience in Focus, Part Two: Operational Resilience and Cyber

In part two of our Operational Resilience in Focus series, we will discuss the details of the cyber and information security resilience domain.

Article
  • Cybersecurity
  • Cybersecurity Resources
abstract image with a lock and shield

Firms Receive Phishing Attempts From False FINRA and SIPC Domains

ACA confirmed several firms received a wave of phishing emails from fake FINRA email domains.

Cyber Alert
  • Cybersecurity Resources
  • Cybersecurity
abstract image with a lock and shield

Microsoft Notifies of Two Critical, Potentially Exploitable Vulnerabilities

Immediate Action is Advised to address two critical, potentially exploitable vulnerabilities: CVE-2022-30136 and CVE-2022-30190.

Cyber Alert
  • Cybersecurity
  • Cybersecurity Resources
Globe image

Regulatory Horizon 2022 | Prepare for the Challenges of Tomorrow

Financial services firms face a bumpy ride in 2022, as the tectonic plates of regulatory change shift again within a rapidly evolving operating environment. Download our complimentary whitepaper to identify your GRC gaps before the regulator does.

Article
  • Compliance
  • ESG
  • AML and Financial Crime
  • ComplianceAlpha
  • eComms Surveillance
  • FCA
  • Managed Services
  • Mirabella
  • Privacy
  • Cybersecurity

News

Financial Services Firms Lag in AI Governance and Compliance Readiness, Survey Reveals

The 2024 AI Benchmarking Survey by ACA Aponix and NSCP reveals that, despite enthusiasm for AI, financial firms lack formal AI governance frameworks, testing protocols, and third-party oversight.

ACA Named Best ETF Distributor for Consecutive Year at 2024 ETF Express US Awards

ACA Foreside has been awarded Best ETF Distributor at the 2024 ETF Express US Awards in New York City.

Former SEC Leader Robert Baker Joins ACA Group's Tech-Enabled Mock Examination Team

We are pleased to announce that Robert Baker, JD, CFA has joined ACA Group, bringing nearly two decades of experience from the Examination and Enforcement Division at the SEC.

Upcoming events

Beyond the CCO: Firmwide Benefits of Outsourcing GRC

We'll explain how the decision to outsource GRC services is no longer just a win for the Chief Compliance Officer – it offers a solution that can deliver substantial value across the entire C-suite and enterprise.

Webcast