BITS addresses issues at the intersection of financial services, technology and public policy, where industry cooperation serves the public good, such as critical infrastructure protection, fraud prevention, and the safety of financial services. BITS is the technology policy division of The Financial Services Roundtable, which represents 100 of the largest integrated financial services companies providing banking, insurance, and investment products and services to the American consumer.

Highlights

  • BITS Mobile Technology - Layered Security Model

    The BITS Mobile Technology Layered Security Model supplements the previously published BITS Mobile Financial Services Threat Assessment. The model is a tool for financial services leaders to manage risks associated with mobile banking services, including understanding the risks, corresponding controls, and the dynamics of the mobile ecosystem. Read more Press release

    June 2013

  • CTO Corner: The Internet of Things (IOT)

    The Internet of Things (IoT) is emerging as one of the hottest trends for 2013. Although normally associated more with SCADA1 systems, IoT could impact the financial services sector. This column provides an overview of IoT and discusses how it may impact the financial services sector. Read more

    June 2013

  • BITS Social Media Risk Management Forum

    July 30-31, 2013, Washington, DC
    Social media use and the number of networks is growing rapidly and creating new opportunities for businesses. These opportunities also come with risk management challenges for financial institutions. The regulatory landscape is changing, how do institutions keep pace? Are there legislative changes coming down the pike? Privacy concerns? Mounting consumer issues – where does the CFPB fit in? What about the new workforce and generational changes and impacts? Innovation? Payments? The list can seem endless. The BITS Social Media Forum will explore the risk challenges by identifying the major issues and mitigation strategies, determining which issues can be successfully addressed at an industry level, and how to engage multiple stakeholders.

    Click here for agenda, registration, and sponsorhip information.

  • Fraud Advisory on Questionable Tax Refund Scenarios

    BITS created a fraud advisory on questionable income tax refunds, oulining suspect scenarios, details and characteristics of the scenarios, red flags, and detection and prevention strategies for financial institutions that process tax refund deposits. It is meant to help institutions recognize scenarios that are potentially fraudulent. The advisory was developed in collaboration with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the BITS Fraud Reduction Program.

    April 2013

  • BITS/Roundtable and Trade Associations Support Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act (CISPA)

    BITS and the Roundtable along with other trade associations support H.R. 624 Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act (CISPA) to increase cyber intelligence information sharing within the private and public sectors.

    April 2013

  • ITAC/BITS Comment Letter on SSA’s proposed policy on Assigning New Social Security Numbers for Children Age 13 and Under

    ITAC, the Identity Theft Assistance Center and BITS filed a letter in support of the Social Security Administration's (SSA) proposed amendment to its policy relating to the assignment of new Social Security Numbers (SSN). Specifically, SSA is proposing changes that will make it easier to address the unique issues associated with the misuse of the SSNs of children age 13 and under. ITAC/BITS support SSA’s proposal as an important step in the right direction and offers suggestions that will improve the proposed policy. The letter also included comments on the all-important topic of preventing SSN misuse, especially with respect to children.

    April 2013

  • Security for Bring Your Own (Mobile) Device

    Security for Bring Your Own (Mobile) Device recommends security practices for financial institutions to allow employees to use their personally-owned mobile devices to access corporate resources. The paper focuses on devices with mobile operating systems such as iOS, Android, Windows RT, or Blackberry. Threat categories, mitigation strategies, and policies are reviewed.

    March 2013

  • Social Media Guidance Comments to FFIEC

    On March 25, BITS filed comments to the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (FFIEC) on the proposed Social Media: Consumer Compliance Risk Management Guidance. The letter requests a more specific definition of social media, identifies implementation challenges as social media sites are defined by Terms of Use and not contracts, and asks for specific clarifications to the summaries on applicable consumer regulations. Read more

    March 2013

  • Top 7 Tips - DDos Cyber Attack Preparation and Response

    Since late September 2012, several large financial institutions have been the subject, or under threat, of attacks intended to disrupt the availability of their websites. All financial institutions should review their preparations for dealing with such an attack. Read more

    October 2012

  • Financial Top Level Domains (fTLDs)

    fTLD Registry Services, LLC (fTLD), a joint venture between The Financial Services Roundtable and the American Bankers Association, submitted applications to the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) to operate two generic Top Level Domains (gTLDs), .bank and .insurance, on behalf of the financial services industry. If awarded, consumers will be assured they are accessing legitimate financial companies and transacting through the most secure cyber environment available today. [Press Release] [BITS gTLD History] [fTLD wewbsite]

    May 2012