London, 15 October 2012, IT security specialists CNS and Metro Bank, the revolutionary High Street Bank, have been shortlisted for the Banking Technology Security Initiative Award.
The Anti-Phishing Security Initiative established by CNS for Metro Bank, supports the bank’s aim to offer a better user experience in retail banking. CNS set out to create discreet, but effective online security, which eliminates all reported phishing scams within as little as 15 minutes and takes down offending sites as quickly as possible, helping to protect the bank’s business and personal customers.
CNS Commercial Director, Shannon Simpson, commented “We’re delighted that the Banking Technology judges have recognised this initiative by including it in the shortlist for this year’s awards.” he continued, “Not only have phishing attacks become more sophisticated in recent years, but increased automation means they’re much easier to deploy and no longer need advanced technical skills. However, rather than respond to this with an automated, but ineffective, process we put our team of cyber security professionals on it to. They not only work with Metro Bank to monitor and respond to any phishing attacks, but address the root of the problem by ensuring ISPs take down the sites quickly”.
In its Q2 2012 global phishing activity report, released in August, the Anti-Phishing Working Group reinforced the importance of addressing phishing issues, reporting that the number of phishing sites detected in a single month hit an all-time high of 56,859 in February 2012. And over the first three months of 2012, more than six million unique malware samples were identified.
CNS and Metro Bank have been working to combat the rise in phishing by removing any fake sites as they appear, to prevent fraud from occurring and to protect, not only the new bank’s customers, but also the wider online community.
About CNS
CNS is a specialist IT security and networking consultancy;
established in the City of London in 1999 it is wholly owned by its employees and directors. Its customers vary in size, from FTSE 100 and large public sector organisations to SMEs, but are united in the understanding the importance of digital information to their business, in their desire for pragmatic, knowledgeable help in securing their systems & data and in meeting their connectivity requirements.
CNS is a PCI DSS Qualified Security Assessor (QSA), CESG CHECK & CLAS Consultancy & ISO27001 Lead Auditor providing advisory, project and managed information assurance and compliance services. www.cnsuk.co.uk www.compliancengine.com
About Metro Bank
Metro Bank launched in July 2010 as the UK’s first new High Street Bank in over 100 years, focused on providing exceptional customer service. Metro Bank is a full service, fully authorised bank, offering retail and commercial banking services to customers, direct and through brokers. The bank is based in London and the South East.
Metro Bank operates retail hours, not banking hours. It is open seven days a week (8am- 8pm Monday to Friday, 8am - 6pm Saturday, 11am - 5pm Sunday and bank holidays), every day of the year apart from Good Friday, Easter Sunday, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.
Metro Bank PLC. Registered in England and Wales. Company number: 6419578. Registered office: One Southampton Row, London, WC1B 5HA. ‘Metrobank’ is the registered trade mark of Metro Bank PLC.
Metro Bank PLC is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA) in relation to our acceptance of deposits and provision of investment and insurance services. In relation to our consumer credit business, Metro Bank PLC is licensed and regulated by the Office of Fair Trading and not by the FSA. Most relevant deposits are protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme. For further information about the Scheme refer to the FSCS website www.fscs.org.uk.
All Metro Bank products are subject to status and approval. Free Everyday Banking is available for start ups, switchers and clubs, societies and charities who have an annual or estimated annual turnover of less than £2m per year.
Metro Bank PLC is an independent UK bank - it is not affiliated with any other bank or organisation (including the METRO newspaper or its publishers) anywhere in the world. Please refer to Metro Bank using the full name.