Unencrypted Data. Password-Based SSH. A Clear Roadmap to Fix a Bank’s Encryption.

[cs_hero title_colored = "Unencrypted Data. Password-Based SSH." title_after = "A Clear Roadmap to Fix a Bank's Encryption." industry = "Financial Services, Retail Banking" engagement_type = "Encryption Assessment & Cryptographic Remediation Strategy" download_url = "https://preview.encryptionconsulting.com/wp-content/downloads/case-studies/A-Clear-Roadmap-to-Fix-a-Bank-Encryption.pdf" ] [cs_excerpt] How Encryption Consulting assessed a Fortune 500 US bank's cryptographic infrastructure across on-premises and multi-cloud, uncovered critical gaps in encryption, key management, and SSH security, and delivered a remediation strategy aligned with FIPS, NIST, NIS-2, and DORA. [/cs_excerpt] [cs_profile_desc] A leading US financial institution with multiple banks and ATMs nationwide. Specializes in credit cards, auto loans, banking, and savings accounts. Founded decades ago, the institution's rapid growth outpaced its security infrastructure and left gaps across its cryptographic framework. [/cs_profile_desc] [cs_at_a_glance stat1="Assessed" label1="Encryption evaluated across on-prem and multi-cloud" stat2="TLS 1.2+" label2="Standardized across all data-in-transit communications" stat3="FIPS · NIST" label3="NIS-2 and DORA compliance alignment achieved" stat4="Adaptable" label4="Framework built for evolving cryptographic standards" ] [/cs_hero] [cs_challenges desc=”Rapid growth over decades had created security gaps across the bank’s cryptographic framework. Sensitive data was unprotected, key management was fragmented across vendor-specific tools, SSH authentication relied on passwords, and cloud encryption practices were inconsistent across platforms.”] [cs_challenge icon=”0″ title=”Sensitive data unencrypted and exposed to MITM attacks” tag=”Encryption”] Data across storage, file, database, and internal communications was unencrypted. This exposed sensitive PII and PCI data to man-in-the-middle attacks and allowed unauthorized parties to read or alter information in transit. [/cs_challenge] [cs_challenge icon=”1″ title=”No centralized key management” tag=”Key Management”] Key management relied on native, vendor-specific capabilities across storage and backup appliances with no centralized approach. Rotation and generation practices were limited, and encryption keys were inconsistently managed across the infrastructure. [/cs_challenge] [cs_challenge icon=”2″ title=”Password-based SSH with no key rotation” tag=”SSH Security”] Passwords were used instead of key-based SSH authentication, with private keys stored without least privilege controls. No rotation policy existed for SSH keys, which exposed systems to risks from outdated or compromised keys. [/cs_challenge] [/cs_challenges]

[cs_quote author=”Encryption Consulting” role=”Engagement Summary · Encryption Consulting · Encryption Advisory Services”] The institution’s cryptographic framework had grown alongside the business but without a structured security strategy. Every new location and platform introduced gaps that compounded over time. [/cs_quote]

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[cs_solutions desc=”The assessment evaluated the institution’s entire cryptographic framework, including certificate and key lifecycle management across on-premises and multi-cloud. Workshops, policy reviews, gap analysis, and use case definition informed a remediation strategy that covered encryption standardization, access hardening, compliance alignment, and scalability.”] [cs_solution title=”Assessment, Workshops & Gap Analysis” image_url=”https://ecwebsitedata.blob.core.windows.net/encryption-consulting-website-data/2026/07/A-Clear-Roadmap-to-Fix-a-Bank-Encryption-solution-banner-1.jpg”] Reviewed cryptographic policies, processes, and standards through workshops to map all encryption capabilities. Established use cases including database and big data encryption (Hadoop, Cassandra) and TLS 1.2+ for data in transit, and identified gaps across all applied practices. [/cs_solution] [cs_solution title=”Centralized Lifecycle Management & Encryption Standardization” image_url=”https://ecwebsitedata.blob.core.windows.net/encryption-consulting-website-data/2026/07/A-Clear-Roadmap-to-Fix-a-Bank-Encryption-solution-banner-2.jpg”] Recommended centralizing and automating certificate and key lifecycle management to resolve inefficiencies, ensure timely renewals, and minimize outage risk. Standardized encryption across application, database, file, and folder layers with TLS 1.2+ enforced for all data in transit and least privilege access applied. [/cs_solution] [cs_solution title=”SSH Hardening & Cloud Encryption Alignment” image_url=”https://ecwebsitedata.blob.core.windows.net/encryption-consulting-website-data/2026/07/A-Clear-Roadmap-to-Fix-a-Bank-Encryption-solution-banner-3.jpg”] Recommended key-based SSH authentication over password access, with least privilege controls for private key storage and defined rotation policies. For cloud, recommended BYOK across AWS and Azure to restore organizational control over encryption keys and ensure consistent data protection. [/cs_solution] [cs_solution title=”Compliance Alignment & Crypto-Agility Readiness” image_url=”https://ecwebsitedata.blob.core.windows.net/encryption-consulting-website-data/2026/07/A-Clear-Roadmap-to-Fix-a-Bank-Encryption-solution-banner-4.jpg”] Reviewed and updated cryptographic controls and standards to meet FIPS 140-2/3, NIST 2.0, NIS-2, and DORA requirements. Designed the framework for crypto-agility, so the organization can adopt quantum-safe algorithms and adapt as cryptographic standards change. [/cs_solution] [/cs_solutions]

[cs_quote direction=”rtl” author=”Encryption Consulting” role=”Engagement Summary · Encryption Consulting · Encryption Advisory Services”] The result was a remediation strategy that transformed encryption from a safety net into a strategic asset, with centralized key management, standardized controls, and a framework built to scale securely across on-premises and multi-cloud. [/cs_quote]

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[cs_outcomes desc=”The encryption assessment bridged the gap between the institution’s current environment and its long-term security goals. The remediation plan strengthened access control, enhanced risk management, and embedded best practices into daily operations.”] [cs_outcome title=”Reduced unauthorized access and human error”] IAM and RBAC reduced unauthorized access to sensitive data and cryptographic assets. Automated certificate and key management eliminated manual interventions and human error. [/cs_outcome] [cs_outcome title=”Updated standards and compliance alignment”] Cryptographic policies and standards were updated to align with FIPS 140-2/3, NIST 2.0, NIS-2, and DORA. Certificate and key lifecycle management was aligned with industry best practices for ongoing compliance. [/cs_outcome] [cs_outcome title=”Scalable and crypto-agile framework”] A scalable framework now supports on-premises and multi-cloud (AWS, Azure) with standardized TLS 1.2+ across all platforms. Built-in crypto-agility enables quantum-safe algorithm adoption and future cryptographic adaptability. [/cs_outcome] [/cs_outcomes]

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