Typical Challenges in the Financial Industry
Projects in banks and insurance companies are particularly demanding: strict regulation, high security requirements, and 24/7 operations that must not be interrupted.
Strict Regulation (BaFin, ECB)
MaRisk, BAIT, DORA, PSD2, MiFID II – the financial industry is one of the most heavily regulated sectors. Every IT change, process modification, or system implementation must meet regulatory requirements. An overlooked compliance issue can have serious consequences.
Many Internal Control Functions
Compliance, risk management, internal audit, IT security, data protection, outsourcing management – financial institutions have numerous control functions that must be involved in projects. If one is forgotten, a critical approval is missing.
Fail-Safety and Availability
Banking systems must be highly available. System conversions and migrations must not interrupt payment processing, online banking, and transaction processing. Maintenance windows are extremely limited.
Audit Trail and Documentation Obligations
Every project decision must be documented and traceable. BaFin audits require complete audit trails, change histories, and approval documentation. Incomplete documentation leads to objections.
Legacy Systems and Interfaces
Core banking systems, payment processing platforms, and legacy systems form an evolved IT landscape with hundreds of interfaces. Every change impacts connected systems – a forgotten interface can disrupt payment processing.