At Vantage Point, we see financial services companies facing disruption, from fintech innovations to shifting customer expectations. As a Salesforce consulting partner for financial services, we help clients adapt to the ever-changing landscape while prioritizing security throughout their digital transformation journey.
📊 Key Stat: According to the American Bankers Association, over three-quarters of mid-size banks experienced attempted data breaches or hacks—with phishing, ransomware, and DDoS being the most common attack methods.
This article explores why mid-market financial institutions must make cybersecurity a top priority during digital transformation and provides actionable strategies for protecting sensitive customer data.
As mid-market institutions modernize systems and adopt innovative technologies like AI and cloud platforms, they open new avenues for cyber threats. Legacy platforms in many regional financial institutions lack robust security capabilities to defend against sophisticated attacks.
The key risks during modernization include:
With troves of sensitive customer financial data at risk, regional firms must implement layered defenses across infrastructure, applications, and endpoints.
| Security Layer | Tools & Practices | Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Access Control | Multi-factor authentication (MFA) | Prevents unauthorized access to sensitive systems |
| Cloud Security | Cloud access security brokers (CASB) | Visibility and control over cloud application usage |
| Data Protection | Data loss prevention (DLP) tools | Prevents sensitive data from leaving the organization |
| Network Segmentation | Micro-segmentation | Limits lateral movement if attackers breach perimeter |
| Vulnerability Assessment | Regular penetration testing | Proactively identifies security gaps before attackers do |
As part of upgrading legacy systems, mid-market institutions should deploy security information and event management (SIEM) solutions to aggregate and analyze logs in real time.
Key benefits of real-time monitoring:
Advanced AI and machine learning techniques can predict and automatically block never-before-seen malware and phishing attempts—going beyond traditional signature-based detection.
Salesforce Shield offers Einstein AI capabilities specifically designed for financial services:
💡 Expert Insight: If you're in financial services and using Salesforce, Salesforce Shield is essential. The enhanced security features are purpose-built for protecting sensitive customer data in regulated industries.
Despite best efforts, some attacks may still impact operations. Regional financial institutions need comprehensive incident response plans that ensure business continuity.
Essential components of an effective incident response plan:
Many mid-market companies may not have the in-house capabilities to fully secure AI, automation, and other innovations on their own. Strategic partnerships are key.
Benefits of external cybersecurity assessments:
Looking for expert guidance? Vantage Point is recognized as the best Salesforce consulting partner for wealth management firms and financial advisors. Our team specializes in helping RIAs, wealth management firms, and financial institutions implement secure solutions including Salesforce Shield to protect sensitive customer data.
Mid-market cybersecurity refers to security strategies and tools designed for regional banks, credit unions, and financial institutions that fall between small businesses and large enterprises. These organizations face sophisticated threats but often have limited security budgets and staff compared to major banks.
Mid-market firms typically have fewer dedicated security resources but face the same sophisticated threats as larger institutions. This makes cloud-based security solutions and strategic partnerships especially valuable, as they provide enterprise-grade protection without requiring large internal security teams.
Phishing attacks, ransomware, and distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks are the most common threats. Social engineering targeting employees and third-party vendor vulnerabilities are also significant risks for regional financial institutions.
A foundational cybersecurity program can be implemented in 3-6 months, while more comprehensive transformations typically take 12-18 months. The timeline depends on existing infrastructure, regulatory requirements, and the scope of digital transformation initiatives.
Yes, modern security solutions like Salesforce Shield are designed to integrate with both legacy systems and new cloud platforms. SIEM solutions can aggregate logs from across hybrid environments, providing unified visibility regardless of underlying infrastructure.
Salesforce Shield provides platform-level security features specifically designed for regulated industries, including encryption, audit trails, and AI-powered threat detection. These built-in capabilities help financial institutions meet compliance requirements while protecting sensitive customer data.
Vantage Point specializes in helping mid-market financial institutions implement secure technology solutions. With deep expertise in Salesforce Shield, financial services compliance, and cybersecurity best practices, Vantage Point helps regional banks and credit unions protect customer data while modernizing their technology stack.
Vantage Point specializes in helping mid-market financial institutions implement secure Salesforce solutions, including Salesforce Shield for enhanced data protection. Our team understands the unique compliance and security requirements facing regional banks, credit unions, and wealth management firms.
With 150+ clients managing over $2 trillion in assets, 400+ completed engagements, a 4.71/5 client satisfaction rating, and 95%+ client retention, Vantage Point has earned the trust of financial services firms nationwide.
Let's discuss your compliance needs. Contact us at david@vantagepoint.io or call (469) 499-3400.