Cybersecurity hazards and financial system vulnerability: a synthesis of literature

In this paper, we provide a systematic review of the growing body of literature exploring the issues related to pervasive effects of cybersecurity risk on the financial system. As the cybersecurity risk has appeared as a significant threat to the financial sector, researchers and analysts are trying to understand this problem from different perspectives. There are plenty of documents providing conceptual discussions, technical analysis, and survey results, but empirical studies based on real data are yet limited. Besides, the international and national regulatory bodies suggest guidelines to help banks and financial institutions managing cyber risk exposure. In this paper, we synthesize relevant articles and policy documents on cybersecurity risk, focusing on the dimensions detrimental to the banking system’s vulnerability. Finally, we propose five new research avenues for consideration that may enhance our knowledge of cybersecurity risk and help practitioners develop a better cyber risk management framework.