SBP revises its policy on outsourcing cloud based services for financial institution

To help broaden up the landscape of cloud technology in Pakistan, State Bank of Pakistan has allowed outsourcing to Cloud Service Providers for Banks/DFIs/Microfinance Banks.

Financial Institutions can avail all types of cloud service models including Software as a Service, Platform as a Service and Infrastructure as a Service, etc. from domestic and off-shore Cloud Service Providers.

Financial Institutions can use cloud services for non-core operations and business support processes such as HR Modules, Procurement Functions, Non-Production Environment, Sandboxing, Inventory Management, Supply Chain Management, Office Productivity, Customer Relationship Management Tools, Communication Tools, Security Tools, Computation and Processing Services, Data Analytics and Risk Modeling, Middleware and Payments Processing Services.

All other banking applications and allied infrastructure, which are used to store and process customers’ information relating to deposits, loans and credits and details of balances and transactions in ledger accounts of customers or borrowers, shall not be placed under cloud-based outsourcing arrangements.

Financial Institutions shall ensure that their internal/ external auditors and SBP have the right to conduct an audit and on-site inspection of the CSP or its subcontractor. Further, there should be no restriction or prohibition on visits by audit or SBP staff or such visits are otherwise not impractical.

In case, where audit cannot be conducted for a valid reason(s), Financial Institutions may rely on internationally recognized third party certifications and reports made available by CSP.  However, reliance on these third party certifications and reports shall be supported by adequate understanding and review of the scope, the methodology applied therein and the ability of third party and CSP to clarify matters relating to the audit. These reports shall be shared with SBP as and when required.

Internal Controls in Cloud Outsourcing Arrangements

While entering into outsourcing arrangement with CSPs, FI(s) shall ensure that:

1. All cloud based outsourcing arrangements are undertaken through legally binding Service Level Agreements (SLAs);
2. FI(s)’ data is encrypted at database level, storage level and during network transmission and shall be logically segregated from other data held by the CSPs;
3. The arrangement does not contain a lock-in clause. In case of exit from cloud services, FI(s) shall have contractual rights to continue with the arrangement until such time, an FI is able to switch to a substitute arrangement;
4. Data transferability and portability from one CSP to another and its purging/ deletion in case of exit;
5. CSP complies with SBP’s requirement for provision of data/ information relating to FI(s)’ operations;
6. Disclosure of FI(s)’ data to any third-party by CSP is prohibited without approval of FI(s).
7. Notwithstanding the instruction contained in section IX (h) of ‘Framework for Risk Management in Outsourcing Arrangements by Financial Institutions’, subcontracting is allowed in outsourcing arrangements with CSPs provided they shall comply with all relevant laws and SBP’s regulations.