Risk & Resilience

The financial landscape in Europe is facing increased pressure, as a combination of geopolitical tensions and escalating cyber risks poses a significant threat to the stability of the EU's financial system. This warning comes from the European Supervisory Authorities (ESAs) in their Spring 2025 Joint Committee update, released today. The EBA, EIOPA, and ESMA are calling for heightened vigilance and a proactive approach to safeguard the future of Europe's financial institutions and markets.

In my previous articles, The Death of the CISO: A Eulogy & Reincarnation and Rise of the Digital Trust & Resilience Officer: Death of the CISO, Part 2, I introduced the evolving role of the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), a shift that’s quickly becoming necessary across the digital landscape. The overwhelming response to these pieces—over 100,000 views on LinkedIn alone—showed that this transformation isn’t just a topic of interest, but one that resonates deeply across industries. While many remain attached to the CISO title, few deny that the role has grown far beyond its original scope.

As the world continues to grapple with a rapidly changing geopolitical landscape and the persistent threat of cyber attacks, financial institutions in Denmark are facing a unique set of challenges. While these concerns are growing, one thing is clear—confidence in the stability of Denmark’s financial system remains remarkably high. A recent survey conducted by the Danish Financial Supervisory Authority (Finanstilsynet) shows that geopolitical issues and cyber risks are at the top of the list for what’s keeping Denmark’s financial firms awake at night.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has imposed a £9.2 million fine on the London Metal Exchange (LME) for failing to ensure its systems and controls were adequate to handle severe market stress, marking the first-ever enforcement action and fine against a UK-recognised investment exchange.

In a shocking new report from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), consumers in the U.S. reported losing over $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024. That’s a staggering 25% increase from the previous year, underscoring a rising tide of fraud that businesses, consumers, and regulators are struggling to keep up with.

In Singapore, the commodity financing (CF) sector plays a pivotal role in connecting global trade to the world’s financial systems. As one of the world’s key trading hubs, Singapore’s banks are responsible for financing the flow of commodities that power economies from oil and gas to metals and beyond. However, as the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) pointed out in its recent 2024 inspection report, the sheer scale and complexity of commodity trade financing means that banks are facing heightened risks that need more than just a cursory glance.

As 2025 unfolds, organizations are grappling with an unprecedented wave of risk. The world is changing rapidly, and so too are the risks businesses must navigate. Geopolitical tensions are escalating, economic forecasts are fluctuating, and technology—especially Artificial Intelligence (AI)—is completely reshaping entire industries while amplifying threats in ways we’ve never seen before. From AI-driven cyberattacks to increasingly complex global conflicts, the stakes have never been higher.