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Whitesec AU

APRA Prudential Regulation

CPS 234 Alignment

Independent compliance alignment for APRA-regulated entities and third-party service providers across Australian banking, insurance, and superannuation sectors.

Recommended For

  • Third-party vendors, SaaS platforms, and IT service providers supporting APRA-regulated financial institutions (ADI, General Insurance, Superannuation)
  • APRA-regulated entities requiring independent assurance over information security capability and control effectiveness
  • Chief Risk Officers and CISOs preparing for APRA tripartite reviews or prudential assessments

Service Overview

Maintain Audit-Ready Security for APRA-Regulated Supply Chains

APRA Prudential Standard CPS 234 aims to ensure regulated entities (banks, insurers, superannuation funds) maintain security capabilities commensurate with information security threats. Crucially, CPS 234 requires regulated entities to evaluate the security controls of all third-party service providers managing information assets.

Whitesec AU conducts independent CPS 234 alignment audits. We evaluate your security governance, technical controls, testing regimes, and 72-hour incident notification workflows against APRA CPG 234 guidance — delivering defensible attestation packages that satisfy bank risk committees and APRA prudential reviews.

72 Hours

Mandatory notification window under CPS 234 to inform APRA of material information security incidents.

Regulatory & Standards Alignment

APRA Prudential Standard CPS 234

Mandatory information security standard requiring APRA-regulated entities to maintain resilient security capabilities.

APRA Prudential Guidance CPG 234

Prudential practice guide detailing expected baseline controls, board oversight, and incident notifications.

APRA CPS 230 Operational Risk Management

Complementary standard governing operational risk, material service provider management, and business continuity.

Executive Business Value & Outcomes

Financial Supply Chain Retention

Protect lucrative supplier contracts with major Australian banks, insurers, and super funds by proving CPS 234 compliance.

Defensible Board Compliance

Provide directors with independent assurance required for annual board declarations on information security capability.

Tripartite Review Readiness

Prepare your organization to pass independent APRA tripartite reviews without adverse findings or regulatory conditions.

Third-Party Risk Management

Establish structured evaluation processes for Fourth-Party service providers aligned to APRA CPS 230/234 requirements.

72-Hour Incident Escalation

Deploy robust detection and notification workflows ensuring mandatory incident reporting to APRA within 72 hours.

Systematic Testing Program

Establish an annual control testing schedule compliant with CPS 234 Paragraph 35 mandates.

The Problem

Challenges We Solve

The situations that bring organisations to this engagement in the first place.

Third parties are in scope, and unverified

CPS 234 requires regulated entities to evaluate the security controls of every third party managing information assets.

Incident notification exists only on paper

The 72-hour notification workflow has been written but never tested against APRA CPG 234 guidance.

Self-assessment does not survive review

Bank risk committees and APRA prudential reviews expect defensible evidence, not a completed questionnaire.

Scope of Service

Scope of Alignment Activities

Comprehensive assessment covering all core obligations of Prudential Standard CPS 234.

01

Security Governance & Board Oversight Review

Auditing information security roles, responsibilities, policy frameworks, and board reporting structures.

02

Information Asset Classification & Safeguards

Assessing asset registers, threat profiling, and technical controls protecting critical financial data.

03

Control Effectiveness Testing Audit

Evaluating independent testing cadences, vulnerability assessments, and penetration testing coverage.

04

APRA Incident Notification Playbook

Authoring rapid escalation playbooks to meet mandatory 72-hour notification requirements for material incidents.

Methodology

Engagement Roadmap

A structured 3 to 6-week prudential alignment engagement.

01

Scoping & Asset Mapping

We map information assets, third-party data flows, and regulatory boundaries linked to APRA-regulated entities.

02

CPG 234 Gap Assessment

Our auditors evaluate technical and governance controls against all 46 requirements of Prudential Standard CPS 234.

03

Control Remediation & Playbooks

We assist your team in updating incident response plans, third-party contract clauses, and control testing schedules.

04

Attestation & Board Reporting Pack

We issue a signed CPS 234 Compliance Attestation File and Executive Board Summary.

Deliverables

What You Receive

The artifacts that land in your hands at the end of the engagement.

01

CPS 234 Compliance Attestation Report

Formal technical audit file documenting alignment against APRA Prudential Standard CPS 234 requirements.

02

Board Information Security Governance Briefing

Executive presentation prepared for directors and risk committees supporting annual CPS 234 declarations.

03

APRA 72-Hour Incident Response Playbook

Escalation documentation and notification templates designed specifically for APRA reporting compliance.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Secure Your APRA Supply Chain Status

Schedule an independent CPS 234 alignment review with our Perth specialists.