MLT FSA Scope of ICT Risk Guidance


On Mar. 26, MLT FSA issued circular, ICT and security risks guidance.


  • MLT FSA issued circular in relation to update on the Guidance on Technology Arrangements, ICT and Security Risk Management, and Outsourcing Arrangements.
  • Follows MLT FSA Jun. 2020 issued consultation on technology guidance, see #80946.
  • Follows MLT FSA Jan. 2023 circular on implementation of EU DORA, see #162651.
  • Follows EU CNCL May 2022, EP reach provisional agreement on DORA, see #137568.
  • Overview
  • In Dec. 2020, MLT FSA issued principle-based cross-sectoral Guidance on technology arrangements, ICT and security risk management, and outsourcing arrangements.
  • Since then, MLT FSA says there have been important legislative developments, most noticeably the adoption of Regulation (EU) 2022/2554, known as the DORA Regulation.
  • DORA Regulation Impact on Guidance
  • DORA Regulation is cross-sectoral and its scope is provided under Article 2, and the Regulation will not apply to certain sectors, but certain financial entities excluded.
  • Specifically these financial entities excluded from scope pursuant to Article 2(3).
  • MLT FSA wish to simplify expectations in relation to ICT, security risk management, and outsourcing arrangements, and to provide required level of clarity at this stage.
  • Therefore, as of DORA Regulation applicability date, Jan. 17, 2025, MLT FSA's guidance will no longer apply to Authorized Persons in scope of the DORA Regulation.
  • MLT FSA's guidance will continue to apply to Authorized Persons not in scope of DORA Regulation, and provides list of such Authorized Persons in Annex 1 of this circular.
  • Guidance that was issued by MLT FSA and relevant rules currently cross-referencing it, will be amended at a later stage to reflect the update as per DORA Regulation.
  • If necessary, email MLT FSA's Supervisory ICT Risk and Cybersecurity function.
  • Effectiveness
  • From Jan 17, 2025 the MLT FSA guidance will only apply to: trustees/other fiduciaries; company service providers; professional investor funds (PIFs), including self-managed PIFs; investment service providers that are custodians and depositories.
  • Also applies to recognized fund administrators; managers of AIFs as referred to in Art 3(2) of AIFMD Dir 2011/61 (De Minimis alternative investment fund managers).
  • Insurance intermediaries, reinsurance intermediaries and ancillary insurance intermediaries which are microenterprises or small or medium-sized enterprises.
  • Institutions for occupational retirement provision which operate pension schemes which together do not have more than 15 members in total; insurance and reinsurance undertakings as referred to in Art 4 of Dir 2009/138; personal retirement schemes and administrators of personal retirement schemes; FIs that solely provide activities of the first schedule of the Financial Institutions Act (Cap. 376 of the Laws of Malta).
  • Authorised Credit Servicers in terms of the Credit Services and Credit Purchasers Act.
  • Editorial Update
  • On Mar. 29, 2024, Reg-Track added effectiveness heading/content to above summary.
  • In Mar. 2024, MLT FSA minimum expectations on upcoming DORA, see #206267.

Regulators MLT FSA
Entity Types B/D; Bank; Corp; Depo; Fiduciary; HF; IA; IB; Ins; Inv Co; OTC; Pension
Reference Cir, 3/26/2024; DORA Dir 2022/2556, Reg 2022/2554;
Functions Compliance; Cyber; Financial; Legal; Outsourcing; Reinsurance; Reporting; Risk; Technology
Countries Malta
Category
State
Products Banking; Cryptocurrency; Custody; Fund Mgt; Hedge Funds; Insurance; Mutual Funds; Pensions; Securities
Regions EMEA
Rule Type Final
Rule Date 3/26/2024
Effective Date 1/17/2025
Rule Id 206198
Linked to Rule :80946
Reg. Last Update 3/26/2024
Report Section EU

Last substantive update on 03/29/2024