Detection, prevention, response - staying ahead of cyber threats

Why cybersecurity matters 

Chatrine Höök, Head of Access Management at Nordea, notes, "Bank robberies are no longer confined to physical attacks; they now manifest as cyberattacks." 
 

As one of Europe’s top banks, Nordea's commitment to cybersecurity goes beyond protecting customers—it’s about safeguarding the integrity of the financial system, mentions Christoffer Söderholm, Area Lead for Cyber Problem Management and Remediation Capabilities at Nordea. 
 

Magdalena Piechocka, IT Security Specialist in data protection and encryption emphasizes, "Our cybersecurity efforts aren't just about securing data; they're about preserving trust for both customers and employees. We're key to maintaining Nordea's operational integrity." 

Working in unison 

At the heart of Nordea’s cybersecurity strategy is a team, composed of experts working together, forming a multi-layered barrier against cyber-attacks. We focus on five key areas: identity, protect, detect, respond and recover.  
 

Identity: In cybersecurity, we map out potential risks, "like an architect ensures a building’s foundation is solid. This helps us understand and manage cyber threats, allowing us to anticipate challenges before they become critical” adds Christoffer.  
 

Protect: “By rigorously testing our defences and scenarios, we assess our readiness against cyber threats,” says one of our Cybersecurity professionals. This proactive approach helps us identify and fix vulnerabilities before they're exploited. 
 

Detect: "Our teams serve as the vigilant eyes and ears of Nordea's cybersecurity function. We constantly scan the global threat landscape for any signs of potential breaches or anomalies” mentions Magdalena. This vigilance allows us to identify emerging risks before they can escalate successful attack. 
 

Respond: "We investigate and manage security alerts and stand ready to spring into action at a moment's notice”, says Christoffer Söderholm. Our team is constantly monitoring our systems, using advanced tools to contain threats and minimise any impact on our systems and data. Through continuous monitoring, we remain prepared to deploy rapid responses, mitigating the impact of incidents and safeguarding our customer’s data and banking services.  
 

Recover:  As recovery is all about resilience and being able to bounce back from any disruption, “our cybersecurity teams work together with all units of the bank to ensure that together we can withstand any challenge and keep the bank’s services running for our customers” mentions Christoffer.  
 

While each team operates within its specific domain, fostering collaboration remains essential for ensuring a cohesive and comprehensive cybersecurity strategy. At Nordea, professionals working with Access Management are part of cybersecurity’s foundations. Chatrine sheds light on the team's crucial role, emphasising, "Access Management is not just a support function; it's the backbone of our security capabilities." Their careful attention to detail and adherence to best practices ensure that Nordea’ cybersecurity remains robust and resilient against evolving threats. Read more about Identity Management at Nordea.

The cat and mouse chase: Staying ahead of the trends  

In the ongoing battle against cyber threats, Nordea adopts a proactive approach, "It's not a question of if, but when it happens." Christoffer sheds light on this approach: "We don't wait for threats to come to us; we actively seek them out. By identifying vulnerabilities before they're exploited, we strengthen our defences and mitigate risks effectively. This forward-thinking mentality underscores Nordea’s commitment to outmanoeuvring cyber adversaries in the ongoing cat-and-mouse game of cybersecurity.”  

Moreover, fostering a culture of continuous learning further strengthens Nordea’s defence expertise. Magdalena highlights the company's investment in employee development through structured learning programs, and rotation to expose employees to diverse cybersecurity domains.  
 

Additionally, Nordea’s-wide Graduate Programme also provides aspiring cybersecurity professionals with great opportunities. "Graduates have the chance to rotate through various cybersecurity teams within Nordea," explains Christoffer. "This exposure allows them to gain a broad understanding of cybersecurity practices and find their niche within the field." Chatrine adds, "We've seen the success of this programme first-hand, with graduates seamlessly integrating into our teams and making significant contributions to our cybersecurity efforts.” 

 

Building a cohesive culture and embracing exciting challenges at Nordea  
 

Cybersecurity professionals at Nordea shared sentiment of working alongside highly skilled colleagues in an international environment that continually challenges and inspires. Chatrine highlights, "Nordea has already attracted a lot of great people. It's a highly skilled environment that keeps you on your toes, everyone you meet is good at what they do”.  
 

Magdalena pitched-in, "One of the most thrilling aspects is knowing that our work contributes to keeping not only our customers' data safe but also our colleagues' data safe across the globe is incredibly rewarding.”