BETTING and GAMBLING
Whether it’s gambling commission technical security audits, or wider in-depth cyber security services for the gambling industry – we have the skill-set depth to serve your security concerns.
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Cyber security in the gambling industry
The UK has the largest regulated online gambling market in the world. In 2018-19, online gambling sector yielded £5.3 Billion gross indicating the strong growth with increased mobile devices usage.
Increase in digital usage is directly linked to opportunities for cyber criminals. This market is an attractive target for threat actors to steal money or personally identifiable information (PII) from operators. It is important that betting and gambling operators make cyber risk a priority, and ensure a safe and secure platform for their users. GDPR has played an important role in ensuring data privacy of consumers is taken seriously by gambling and betting service providers.
Just like financial risk management, technical risk management plays an important role in securing the business. These risks range from Insider threat attacks, web applications and API security challenges to ransomware related problems. Is your organisation ready with a plan in case of a ransomware attack? Are your following casino security best practices?
Gambling with cyber security
Common tactics, techniques and procedures (TTPs) within the betting and gambling sector are linked to phishing and stealth malware. Malware (or malicious code) operates in various forms, either delivering on to Point of Sale (PoS) systems, terminals and internal networks of host organisations.
UK gambling commission has defined clear specifics for remote gambling operator licenses, requiring them to carry out annual security audits. This audit that is used as evidence, is performed by third party security companies such as Cyphere. This ensures that regular assessments are carried out to identify gaps and mitigate risks where security controls require improvements.
Cyphere is well versed with the security requirements defined by Remote Technical Standards (RTS) and we provide in-depth technical assessments based around the section ‘Security Requirements’.
What are the key security challenges ?
- Safeguarding publicly exposed assets such as terminals, kiosks, devices, applications
- Reducing growing risk with modern IT infrastructure
- Prevent identity thefts such as customer impersonation, strong KYC verifications
- Protecting communication channels and electronic systems in corporate areas
- Ensuring GDPR, ISO 27001 and PCI DSS compliance
- Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) Attacks
Gambling Commission Security Audit
Gambling Commission requires all remote operator licensees to complete an annual audit conducted by third party. This is scoped against certain clauses of ISO 27001 as set set out in Section 4.3 of Remote gambling and software standards document.
- electronic systems that record, store, process, share, transmit or retrieve sensitive customer information, eg credit/debit card details, authentication information, customer account balances
- electronic systems that generate, transmit, or process random numbers used to
- determine the outcome of games or virtual events
- electronic systems that store results or the current state of a customer’s gamble points of entry to and exit from the above systems (other systems that are able to communicate directly with core critical systems)
- communication networks that transmit sensitive customer information.
This report is then submitted as evidence to the commission.
Casinos or Cyber Security - All bets are off.
What are your key security questions?
- What controls are in place to mitigate Insider Threats?
- Are you doing 'tick in the box' or taking proactive approach to cyber security?
- Are you performing independent technical evaluation before deployment at scale?
- Have you deployed sufficient controls in securing your supply chain?
- Have you assessed internal systems and controls to handle insider threats?
- Is your business utilising defence in depth approach?
Betting and Gambling Sector Experience
This section refers to the specific projects based experience in this sector. Our experience stems from working for software providers in this sector to certifications and testing services providers.
Key Projects
- Merger & Acquisition projects in Betting sector
- Sports betting application security reviews (Major UK and Malta based sports and casino games providers)
- Professional Certification Requirement Regulatory Audits
- Application security assessments on gambling portals
- Product security reviews for a gambling software development company
An independent advice without any product pitches.
Our Cyber Security Assessment Services
Internal & External Networks
Network & Infrastructure Penetration Testing
- Protect your business against evolving network & infrastructure threats
- Check services, patching, passwords, configurations & hardening issues
- Internal, external, network segregation & device reviews
- PCI DSS, ISO 27001, GDPR Compliance support
- Helps shape IT strategy & investments
Web App & APIs
Web Application & API Pen Testing
- Assess real-world threats to web applications
- Validate secure design best practices against OWASP Top 10
- Timely check to avoid common pitfalls during development
- Ensure strong authentication, authorisation, encryption mechanisms
- Find loopholes to avoid data leakage or theft
Mobile Applications
Mobile Penetration Testing
- Assess real-world mobile app security vulnerabilities
- Validate secure design & configuration best practices
- Increased flexibility and productivity of users through secure mobile offerings
- Ensure strong mobile app authentication, authorisation, encryption mechanisms
- Find mobile app or device loopholes to avoid data leakage or theft
- PCI DSS, ISO 27001, Compliance Support
Cloud Infrastructure
Cloud Penetration Testing
- Better visibility on cloud process aligning
- Secure validation of internal and third party integrations
- Support ever changing regulatory/compliance requirements
- Ensure strong authentication, authorisation, encryption mechanisms
- Demonstrate data security commitment
- Less is more – reduced costs, servers and staff
Threat Intelligence
Digital Attack Surface Analysis
- Attack surface analysis to identify high risk areas and blind spots
- Improve your security team’s efficiency
- Streamline your IT spends
- Lower Risks and Likelihood of Data Breaches
