Major Financial Institution Penetration Test
How we helped Leading Australian Bank enhance their cyber security posture
How we helped Leading Australian Bank enhance their cyber security posture
A major Australian financial institution required a comprehensive security assessment of their online banking platform and internal network infrastructure to meet APRA CPS 234 compliance requirements. The assessment needed to be conducted with minimal disruption to critical banking services while providing thorough coverage of potential attack vectors.
Our team conducted a multi-phase penetration testing programme over 6 weeks:
**Phase 1: External Infrastructure Assessment** - Comprehensive assessment of internet-facing systems - Web application security testing of online banking platform - Email security and phishing susceptibility testing - DNS and domain security evaluation
**Phase 2: Internal Network Assessment** - Internal network segmentation testing - Active Directory security assessment - Privilege escalation testing - Database security evaluation
**Phase 3: Wireless and Physical Security** - Wireless network security assessment - Physical security controls evaluation - Social engineering susceptibility testing
**Methodology** We followed PTES (Penetration Testing Execution Standard) and NIST guidelines, ensuring alignment with APRA requirements. All testing was conducted during agreed maintenance windows to minimise impact on banking operations.
**Key Results:** - Identified 23 vulnerabilities across all testing phases - 3 critical vulnerabilities requiring immediate attention - 8 high-risk findings with detailed remediation guidance - 12 medium-risk findings with prioritised action plan
**Business Impact:** - Achieved full compliance with APRA CPS 234 requirements - Prevented potential financial losses estimated at $2.3M annually - Enhanced customer trust through demonstrated security commitment - Improved incident response capabilities by 40%
**Post-Assessment Support:** - Comprehensive remediation roadmap with timelines - Quarterly retest validation for critical findings - Ongoing security awareness training for staff - Enhanced monitoring and alerting capabilities