Digital security and human factors in the financial sector

Financial institutions operate in a landscape governed by strict regulation, increasing digital threats and growing expectations for trustworthy and accessible services. NR supports organisations in meeting these challenges through independent, research-based expertise in digital security, privacy and usability. We provide institutions with the knowledge and tools needed to strengthen trust, reduce risk, and develop services that remain secure and resilient over time.

Protecting critical financial systems

Financial infrastructure is an attractive target for cyberattacks and digital fraud. We can help organisations to reduce risk and strengthen resilience. This includes vulnerability assessments, improved monitoring techniques, strategies for preparedness, and adaptive security measures that respond to changing threat conditions.

Such knowledge helps financial institutions strengthen critical systems so they can withstand digital and operational disruptions, supporting the continuous delivery of essential services.

Secure and responsible use of sensitive data

Banks and insurers handle large volumes of personal and financial data and are required to protect confidentiality, safeguard privacy and meet strict regulatory requirements. We provide guidance on secure and privacy-preserving data use, enabling institutions to gain insights from sensitive information without exposing or unnecessarily sharing their data.

We can help organisations achieve GDPR-compliant processing, integrate privacy by design into their systems and prepare for future requirements, including the transition to post-quantum cryptography. In practice, this allows institutions to analyse data safely while reducing both legal and operational risk.

Accessible and user-friendly financial services

Security only works when it works for everyone. As one of the country’s leading research environments in digital inclusion, we understand the importance of accessible and user-friendly financial services. Our extensive experience and documented results within usability, accessibility and secure authentication can help organisations design solutions that remain safe without placing unnecessary burdens on users. This includes insights into dynamic authentication approaches that balance strong protection with practical usability.

Improving accessibility is not only about compliance. It broadens market reach, enhances customer trust and positions organisations as forward-looking and socially responsible. With the European Accessibility Act (EAA) coming into force in the EU and expected to be adopted in Norway, accessible and user-friendly financial services are becoming both a legal requirement and a competitive advantage.

Resilience and long-term preparedness

Other EU regulations such as the Cyber Resilience Act (CRA) are placing greater emphasis on secure-by-design principles and systematic vulnerability management, making robust processes and well-organised security practices even more important. We can help assess the maturity of organisational processes and identify areas for improvement.

By strengthening preparedness, improving workflows and preparing for increasingly complex threats, organisations can build resilience that supports long-term stability and sustained operational performance.

Why choose NR

At NR, we offer independent, research-based expertise in cybersecurity, privacy, resilience and human factors. Rather than providing predefined products, we provide objective guidance and collaborate with organisations to develop solutions that increase understanding of emerging threats and support approaches that go beyond basic compliance.

Our experience from national and transnational research projects in security-critical sectors gives us a long-term perspective on complex risks and regulatory developments. This provides a strong foundation for supporting the financial sector where reliability and trust are essential.

 

If you would like to learn more about our work or how we may support your organisation, get in touch.

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