The Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (FFIEC) has officially announced the retirement of the Cybersecurity Assessment Tool (CAT),effective August 31, 2025. This move marks a significant shift in how financial institutions assess and manage cybersecurity risk.

Why is FFIEC CAT Being Retired?

Since its introduction in 2015, FFIEC CAT has helped financial institutions evaluate their cybersecurity preparedness by assessing inherent risks and cybersecurity maturity. However, as cyber threats have evolved, the tool has not kept pace with modern security frameworks, emerging technologies, and evolving regulatory expectations.

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To better support financial institutions, FFIEC now encourages organizations to transition to industry-aligned cybersecurity frameworks, such as:

• Cyber Risk Institute - (CRI) Profile 2.0 – A financial sector-specific framework that consolidates over 2,500 regulatory requirements into 300 actionable controls, simplifying compliance while strengthening cyber resilience.
• NIST Cybersecurity - Framework (CSF) 2.0 – A widely recognized, adaptable framework designed to improve risk management practices across industries.
• CIS Critical Security - Controls (CIS CSC) Version 8.1 – A prioritized set of security best     practices that provide a clear roadmap for reducing cybersecurity risk, helping organizations implement a risk-based approach to cybersecurity defense.

What This Means for Financial Institutions

With the retirement of FFIEC CAT, financial organizations must adopt a new cybersecurity assessment framework that meets regulatory expectations while ensuring effective cyber risk management.

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Next Steps for Financial Institutions

• Evaluate Your Current Cybersecurity Posture – Organizations should assess how their current   FFIEC CAT-based cybersecurity efforts align with modern frameworks like CRI Profile 2.0, NIST   CSF 2.0, or CIS CSC 8.1.

• ‍Map FFIEC CAT Assessments to a New Framework – Institutions should transition existing   FFIEC CAT assessments into a new structure without losing historical insights into risk posture.

• ‍Leverage Technology for Effective Risk Management – Platforms like X-Analytics harmonize   CRI Profile 2.0, NIST CSF 2.0, and CIS CSC 8.1 into pragmatic and tactical actions to improve   resilience against cyber threats.

• Stay Ahead of Regulatory Changes – With CRI Profile2.0 gaining recognition from regulators   such as the U.S. Treasury andFederal Reserve, and with wide adoption of CIS CSC 8.1   for operational cybersecurity improvements, adopting these frameworks early can help   financial institutions stay ahead of evolving compliance requirements.

Conclusion

The retirement of FFIEC CAT marks a pivotal moment for financial institutions to modernize their cybersecurity programs. By transitioning to frameworks like CRI Profile 2.0, NIST CSF 2.0, and CIS CSC 8.1, organization scan not only meet regulatory expectations but also enhance their resilience against cyber threats.

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Now is the time for financial institutions to act—align cybersecurity efforts with modern frameworks and strengthen risk management strategies for the future.

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