Donald Gabriel, Governor of the Bank of the Republic of Haiti (BRH), wishes to draw the attention of financial system clients and the general public to the phenomenon of cyberattacks, which has reached an unprecedented scale, both regionally and globally, over the past five years. Haiti is not exempt from these cyberattacks, which specifically target its financial system.

However, the BRH notes that the Haitian financial sector is subject to regulations designed to ensure the implementation of reliable and secure information systems, with the goal of minimizing the impact of cyber risk.

To safeguard the stability of the financial system and ensure the ongoing protection of client assets, the BRH has, since 2023, placed a strong emphasis on strengthening IT systems by promoting training and awareness regarding cybersecurity. This approach aims to bolster the robustness and resilience of operational systems through the use of appropriate technologies and by fostering responsible conduct among financial sector executives in the face of cybercrime risks.

Furthermore, as part of its mandate to oversee the system, the BRH ensures that financial institutions take the necessary measures to protect client data.

Additionally, it should be noted that the BRH does not authorize any financial institution in the country to engage in negotiations with cybercriminals, should the latter demand ransoms following a cyberattack.

In the event of a cyberattack, the preferred course of action is to activate contingency and business continuity plans, while simultaneously taking the necessary steps to enhance system robustness, informed by an analysis of the evidence and digital traces left by the attack.

HL/ HaitiLibre