New cyber checklist for administrators

The Pensions Administration Standards Association (PASA) has published a practical checklist to help administrators protect themselves against cybercrime.

Building on guidance issued by PASA in November 2021, the checklist suggests practical steps administrators could take to improve their cyber defences. The many examples include:

• Appointing individuals with cyber skills and experience.

• Documenting a clear and accessible process, known by all employees, for raising any suspicion of a security incident.

• Having a documented and tested plan for responding to a cyber attack.

• Training for relevant individuals.

• Having specialist services engaged and on call to supplement in-house teams in the event of an attack.

PASA notes that cybercrime was growing rapidly before the pandemic but has since surged with the Office for National Statistics recording a 113% increase in incidents.