As digital transformation sweeps across the financial services sector, cybersecurity and operational resilience have become central priorities for a firm’s success. Today, resilience has to be built into everything from the start. As Neha Singh, Head of Post-Trade Transformation and Strategic Products at Broadridge, puts it: “You cannot transform without being resilient.”
The perfect storm putting cyber risk on top
Cyber threats are rising fast. Financial firms now face a perfect storm of higher volatility, shorter settlement cycles like T+1, and increasingly sophisticated bad actors. That makes cybersecurity and resilience more than priorities—they are must-haves.
According to the Broadridge 2025 Digital Transformation & Next-Gen Technology Study, nearly 90% of firms are planning to make significant cybersecurity investments this year. As Neha puts it: “It’s no longer a conversation about if a cyber event will happen, but how prepared firms will be when it does.”
Embedding cybersecurity and resilience at the heart of change
In the past, cybersecurity and resilience were often added after digital projects were underway. That’s no longer good enough. In today’s environment, digital transformation and resilience need to happen together.
“Think of cybersecurity and resilience as the brakes on your transformation car,” says Neha. “You need them to have the confidence to go fast.” In other words, a robust cybersecurity and resilience framework doesn’t hold back innovation—it’s what empowers you to confidently drive progress.
As institutions adopt cloud technologies, automation, and smarter workflows, embedding trust and security from the beginning becomes even more important. The goal is no longer just keeping systems running—it’s enabling firms to transform safely and at speed.
Legacy tech: a silent cyber liability
While new tech is moving quickly, legacy infrastructure continues to be a major vulnerability. The Broadridge study found that more than a third of firms still haven’t embedded cybersecurity into their core platforms.
“Outdated systems are still holding firms back,” says Neha. “They make it harder to protect data, detect threats, and respond quickly.”
Fixing this starts with making sure older platforms are secured, cybersecurity and resilience are regularly tested, and recovery plans are solid. But firms also need to look ahead—mapping where they want to go, what’s standing in the way, and how to close those gaps step by step.
“Replacing legacy tech isn’t easy, but it’s essential,” Neha adds. “Without tackling this head on, transformation will always fall short.”
AI and DLT: the future of defense
Firms aren’t standing still—they’re investing in smarter ways to protect themselves. Emerging technologies like artificial intelligence and distributed ledger technology (DLT) are playing a big role.
AI is helping firms spot risks faster with better analytics and real-time monitoring. DLT is adding trust by improving how data is stored, shared, and secured. According to the Broadridge study, 80% of firms are investing in AI and 71% in DLT this year.
“These technologies are game changers,” says Neha. “AI strengthens how we see and respond to threats. DLT makes our data more secure and transparent. And that’s exactly what financial firms need right now.”
This isn’t just about protection—it’s about building the confidence to grow. Smarter, integrated systems help firms meet regulations, satisfy clients, and take on new opportunities with fewer worries about what could go wrong.
The way forward
The bottom line is that cybersecurity and digital transformation are now one and the same. As Neha puts it, “The more conviction you have in your cybersecurity and resilience posture, the faster you can experiment and transform.”
In an industry that’s always moving faster, security can’t be an afterthought. It must be built into every strategy. Real transformation starts with real resilience.