Regulation guide

SAMA Cyber Security Framework

Operationalize the SAMA Cyber Security Framework requirements—from regulatory obligations and evidence collection to vendor assessments, continuous monitoring, governance, and remediation workflows.

Overview

SAMA's Cyber Security Framework sets cyber governance and control expectations for Saudi financial institutions. It covers strategy, governance, risk management, operations, technology, third-party cyber security, incident response, and continuous improvement.

It applies to financial institutions and other regulated organizations in the Kingdom and requires organizations to identify, assess, govern, monitor, and manage risks introduced by ICT providers, cloud vendors, and technology dependencies throughout the entire relationship lifecycle.

Rather than prescribing identical controls for every relationship, the regulation emphasizes a risk-based approach, requiring organizations to apply governance, oversight, controls, monitoring, and due diligence according to the criticality and risk of each relationship.

This implementation guide explains what the regulation requires, how those requirements translate into operational controls and evidence, and how Halbarad helps organizations operationalize compliance through assessments, continuous monitoring, governance workflows, and supply chain risk intelligence.

Official Sources

Operationalization Requirements

  • Map the framework to policies, controls, owners, systems, and providers.
  • Review identity, access, asset, vulnerability, change, monitoring, and incident controls.
  • Assess third-party cyber security before and during service delivery.
  • Track incidents, issues, remediation, metrics, and reporting.

Evidence Requirements

  • Cyber framework mapping and governance records.
  • System and provider inventories.
  • Control evidence, third-party cyber assessments, incidents, and remediation.
  • Metrics and management reporting.

Common Gaps

  • Third-party cyber evidence is not mapped to SAMA framework domains.
  • Provider incidents do not trigger control reassessment.
  • Cyber metrics do not show unresolved provider risk.

How Halbarad Helps

Halbarad helps connect providers to cyber controls, evidence, incidents, downstream parties, monitoring signals, issues, and remediation.

Disclaimer

This guide is for general information only and is not legal advice. Review the official regulation, guidance, and supervisory materials, and consult qualified counsel or compliance advisors for your organization's specific obligations.