Cyber Security Challenges in Aden's Commercial Banks: Current Reality and Future Prospects

Abstract— This study examines the cybersecurity challenges facing commercial banks in the city of Aden in light of rapid digital transformation. This is because these institutions experience an increase in vulnerability to cyberattacks, even when they deploy modern technologies, such as online banking and cloud systems, due to outdated infrastructure [1], [2], [7], human error [8], [18], poor regulatory frameworks [1], [2], and low resources [1], [3]. Based on mixed-methods analysis [1], including surveys of three Aden banks [1] and a review of global trends [4], [5], the research identifies critical gaps being overreliance on reactive blue teams, inconsistent compliance with international standards (e.g., ISO 27001 [9]), and a lack of proactive red-team exercises [12] or mandatory employee training [6], [8]. Banks express confidence in threat detection, but a lack of incidents over 24 months may mean under-detection, not resilience [11]. With respect to governance, suggestions were made for individual and collective actions, e.g., imposing regular phishing tests [8], AI-based threat-detection tools [5], [16], partnerships to prototype a red team [12], [13], and regulatory reform including ISMS certification [9] and a national cybersecurity authority [14], [15]. The results highlight the need to identify and mitigate systemic vulnerabilities in order to protect financial stability and public confidence in Aden’s precarious socio-political environment [2], [3]. (Abstract)