Analysis of cyber threats as a risk factor in the banking sector

Abstract

The banking industry faces increased risks based on cyber threats, mostly through mobile applications and web portals, and to a lesser extent through other communication channels. Cyberattacks continue to increase, and the banking sector can be particularly vulnerable, especially in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic. The subject of the paper is to analyze the views of respondents of users of banking services in the Republic of Serbia on the problem of cyber threats as a risk factor in the banking sector. The main conclusion is that the largest number of respondents, as much as 70% of them, are not concerned or not very concerned about security in the banking services' sector. This indicates the existence of a high degree of trust in the security of banking services and the activities that banks undertake to protect data and deposited financial assets. In addition, banks should still emphasize preventive activities to reduce the risks based on cyber threats to an acceptably low level. Some of the preventive activities can be engaging in the education of internal auditors and increasing the effectiveness of information security audits.