Why the FCA Expects Regular Cyber Resilience Testing and How Maple Helps
13 January 2026
Cyber attacks are no longer a “what if” for financial services firms. They are an operational reality. That is why the FCA expects firms to regularly test their cyber resilience, not just invest in security tools and policies.
The focus has shifted from prevention alone to preparedness. Regulators want confidence that when something goes wrong, firms can detect it quickly, respond effectively, and continue delivering important services.
What the FCA is really looking for
The FCA is not asking firms to run box-ticking exercises or annual penetration tests that sit on a shelf. Instead, they expect ongoing, realistic testing that reflects how cyber incidents actually unfold.
This includes scenarios such as ransomware attacks, compromised user accounts, supplier outages, or data integrity issues. Testing should involve both technology and people, covering decision-making, communications, and recovery as well as systems.
Crucially, firms need to be able to evidence this work. That means clear documentation showing what was tested, what happened, what gaps were identified, and what was done to improve resilience afterwards.
Common challenges we see
Many financial services firms understand the expectation but struggle with where to start. Common issues include:
- Testing that is too technical and misses business impact
- Scenarios that are unrealistic or outdated
- Limited involvement from senior stakeholders
- Inconsistent or incomplete documentation
- Results that are identified but not tracked through to improvement
This is where cyber resilience testing often loses its value and its regulatory credibility.
How Maple supports cyber resilience testing
Maple works with financial services clients to design testing that is both meaningful and proportionate. We start by understanding your business services, regulatory obligations, and existing controls, then build scenarios that reflect real threats to your organisation.
Our approach focuses on:
- Realistic scenarios aligned to FCA expectations and your risk profile
- Collaborative testing that involves IT, security, compliance, and leadership
- Clear documentation that shows regulators what was tested and why
- Action-focused outcomes, with practical recommendations not just findings
We also help clients turn test results into an ongoing improvement plan, so each exercise strengthens resilience rather than becoming a one-off event.
Turning testing into confidence
When done well, cyber resilience testing is not just about meeting FCA expectations. It gives firms confidence that they can withstand disruption, protect clients, and keep operating under pressure.
Maple helps financial services organisations move from uncertainty to clarity by making cyber resilience testing structured, realistic, and regulator-ready.
If you would like to understand how your current testing approach compares to FCA expectations, Maple can help you assess, design, and evidence cyber resilience testing that actually works.
