In nearly every industry, cybersecurity has become a standing topic on the board of directors’ agenda, and credit unions are no exception. According to the NCUA’s 2025 Supervisory Priorities, credit unions and their third-party vendors are facing more frequent and sophisticated cyberattacks than ever.
As credit unions increasingly rely on digital infrastructure to serve their members, risk exposure is growing. Today, cybersecurity is no longer just an IT concern—it’s a strategic risk management issue, and a board-level responsibility. Boards are expected to play an active role in safeguarding sensitive information and overseeing the institution’s cyber posture.
Incorporate Cybersecurity as a Governance Responsibility
With cybersecurity at the top of the NCUA’s 2025 Supervisory Priorities, board members and executives are directly accountable for their institution’s cyber resilience. The NCUA now requires active board oversight of planning, investment, and risk management in this domain.
Credit unions must demonstrate not only that cybersecurity controls are in place, but also that board members are engaged, informed, and trained to fulfill this role. Examiners will expect board members to ask the right questions, evaluate risk, and review regular reporting on threat activity, posture, and remediation progress.
Systems Engineering supports this shift by equipping leadership teams with the audit-ready metrics, risk insights, and documentation needed to meet board governance expectations. We help credit unions proactively prepare so they’re not reacting to audit pressure, but anticipating it.
Allocate Cybersecurity Resources Strategically
Cybersecurity investments now carry board-level visibility and accountability. Boards must demonstrate that cyber risk is being proactively managed, with proper oversight and controls in place—even if technical expertise isn’t their strength.
That’s where a third-party partner, such as Systems Engineering, adds value. We deliver managed cybersecurity services engineered for regulatory alignment, including continuous vulnerability scanning, timely patching, endpoint protection, and 24/7 SOC monitoring. These services are critical to reducing risk, meeting NCUA expectations, and improving exam outcomes.
Because vulnerability management, patch compliance, and third-party risk tools often require significant investment, board engagement in budgeting and oversight is essential. Our platform-based approach simplifies this process, providing credit unions with full-spectrum protection in a single, managed solution that supports audit readiness and aligns with CAMELS performance metrics.
Align Your Audit Prep with Cyber Strategy for Better Results
When audits are on the horizon, preparation is essential—and proactive alignment between cybersecurity and compliance strategy leads to better outcomes.Systems Engineering works with credit unions throughout the audit lifecycle.
We support:
- Pre-exam questionnaire completion
- Mid-audit interviews
- Post-exam findings review and remediation
As the FFIEC sunsets its Cybersecurity Assessment Tool (CAT) after August 31, 2025, credit unions must transition quickly to a modern, NCUA-recognized framework. NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF) is emerging as the new standard, and Systems Engineering is already helping clients make the shift through our Adaptive Cybersecurity Framework (aCSF).
Why NIST CSF?
- Regulatory Alignment: Recognized by NCUA as a preferred standard
- Comprehensive Coverage: Addresses all areas of cyber risk
- Scalability: Fits your size and complexity
- Future-Ready: Evolves with emerging threats and audit criteria
Our proven audit support process, aligned with the NIST CSF, helps credit unions enter exams with fewer surprises and a more confident, exam-ready posture.
Create a Culture of Cyber-Awareness
The NCUA expects cybersecurity to be embedded across the institution, not just the IT department. This means that executives and employees must work together to maintain sound cyber hygiene and minimize human risk.
At Systems Engineering, we help credit unions build this culture from the ground up through:
- Multifactor authentication (MFA) implementation
- Phishing simulations and user training
- Policy development and enforcement
Security is only as strong as the least prepared user. That’s why our programs integrate awareness, accountability, and testing, helping you demonstrate cyber readiness and engagement at every level of the organization.
Turn Compliance into a Strategic Strength by Operationalizing NIST CSF
By building a robust cybersecurity program grounded in NIST CSF, credit unions can meet regulatory requirements today—and be ready for what’s next. Systems Engineering’s Adaptive Cybersecurity Framework (aCSF) makes this possible with a structured, proactive, 200+ point assessment tool designed to:
- Identify gaps before audits
- Reduce findings and last-minute remediation
- Establish long-term security and compliance maturity
aCSF is how we turn cybersecurity oversight into a competitive advantage. It’s not just a framework—it’s a fully managed, exam-aligned program that helps credit unions stay prepared, secure, and focused on their mission.
If your credit union is preparing to move beyond the FFIEC CAT, we would like to invite you to work with our team for a readiness review or board-level consultation.
Learn more about Systems Engineering’s aCSF and how we help credit unions operationalize cybersecurity.
