FFIEC CAT Tool Is Going Away – What’s Next for Financial Institutions?

The Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (FFIEC) recently announced that the Cybersecurity Assessment Tool (CAT) will be retired. Since the introduction, CAT has been widely used by banks and financial service providers to measure their cybersecurity maturity.

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With its sunset approaching, institutions must now shift toward a dynamic, risk-based compliance approach.

Why Is the FFIEC CAT Tool Being Retired?

The cybersecurity environment has evolved dramatically since the CAT’s launch. The tool's static, checklist-driven model no longer reflects the threat-adaptive nature of modern cyber risks. FFIEC now encourages institutions to:

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• Use frameworks like NIST CSF.
• Focus on continuous improvement and resilience.
• Customize cybersecurity controls to their risk profile.

What Should Financial Institutions Do Now?

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1. Transition to a Risk-Based Cybersecurity Framework

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Adopt frameworks such as:

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• ISO/IEC 27001.
• MITRE ATT&CK for threat modeling.
• NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF).

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2. Enhance Governance and Risk Management

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Establish or mature your risk management programs with clear:

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• Policy documentation.
• Regular board reporting.
• Roles and responsibilities.

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3. Conduct Advanced Testing

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Move beyond checklists with:

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• Third-party risk assessments.
• Penetration testing and red teaming.
• Business continuity and incident response testing.

How ioSENTRIX Can Help

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ioSENTRIX provides the technical expertise and strategic guidance necessary to help you go beyond CAT.

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• Secure SDLC and AppSec integration.
• Red team campaigns and adversarial simulations.
• End-to-end risk management program development.
• Continuous vulnerability assessments and remediation planning.

Conclusion

While the CAT tool may be going away, cybersecurity risks are not. Financial institutions need to evolve their compliance programs now to stay ahead. ioSENTRIX is your trusted partner for navigating this transition securely and efficiently.

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Contact us today to learn how we can support your transition.

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