FISC The Center for Financial Industry Information Systems

About FISC

FISC Introduction

Outline of FISC

FISC (The Center for Financial Industry Information Systems) was established in November 1984 as an incorporated foundation under the approval of the then Minister of Finance. In April 2011, FISC was approved by the Prime Minister to become a public interest incorporated foundation.
The contributors are of a wide range, including financial institutions, insurance companies, securities firms, computer manufacturers and telecommunications companies.
FISC conducts research on diverse topics, such as technology, utilization, control, and threat/defense related to financial information systems, paying attention not only to the current situation at home and abroad but also to the issues it faces and the future prospects.
Research activities are carried out by the staff, most of whom are seconded from the member institutions. Collaboration with domestic and foreign financial institutions, manufacturers, settlement bodies, research institutions, academics and specialists enriches the content of the research. Knowledge and information gained from research activities, through the process of consolidation, analysis and valuation, develop into various guidelines, such as "Security Guidelines on Computer Systems for Banking and Related Financial Institutions" and various research papers. The results are presented to the public through publications and seminars.

Date of establishment November 20,1984
Fund
Original contribution : 1,725 million yen
Endowment : 1,640 million yen
Number of member institutions 675(As of August 8,2024)
Organization
President : Mitsutaka Inagaki
Board of Councillors : 18members
Board of Directors : 18members
Auditors : 2
Staff : 48
(As of November 1,2024)

Organization Chart

Establishing guidelines

In collaboration with its member institutions, the Financial Services Agency, and the Bank of Japan, FISC has established the following guidelines for the promotion of security measures for financial institutions' information systems. These guidelines have been voluntarily observed by most financial institutions in Japan.

  • 1FISC Security Guidelines

    In order to promote security measures for financial institutions, FISC established "FISC Security Guidelines on Computer Systems for Banking and Related Financial Institutions" in 1985.
    These guidelines were revised in 1991, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2006, 2011, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024 to reflect the changing environment.

  • 2FISC System Audit Guidelines for Financial Institutions

    FISC established "FISC Information System Audit Guidelines for Banking and Related Financial Institutions" in 1987.
    These guidelines were regarded as the basic standards for auditing the operation of computer systems and internal controls to keep computer systems secure, reliable, and efficient.
    The guidelines were amplified in volume in 2000, and revised in 2007, 2014, 2016, and 2019.

  • 3Manual for the Development of Contingency Plans

    Developing contingency plans is one of the most important security measures for financial institutions.
    FISC published "Manual for the Development of Contingency Plans" in 1994, which summarizes the development procedures for contingency plans.
    This manual was revised in 2001, 2006, and 2024.

  • 4FISC Guide for Developing Security Policy

    FISC published "Guide for Developing Security Policy for Financial Institutions" in 1999, which explains the organizations and procedures for developing security policies and standards.
    In 2008, this guide was revised to reflect the latest issues.

  • 5The Guide for Financial Institutions to Implementing TLPT

    In order to improve the cyber resilience of financial institutions, "The Guide for Financial Institutions to Implementing TLPT" was published in 2019.

Regarding the judgment of conformity to FISC guidelines

  1. FISC will not judge whether systems, operations, or other related aspects, relating to specific companies, organizations, or institutions conform to FISC guidelines.
  2. FISC is not responsible for the results of any third party making such judgments, nor will it express an evaluation, opinion, or judgment on the methods, content, and results of such judgments.

For details, please contact the General Affairs Department Division.

E-mail: infofisc * fisc.or.jp
Please replace the asterisk "*" in the mail address with an at sign @.

Research

FISC conducts research on diverse topics related to financial information systems. Research results are presented to the public mainly through the "White Paper on Financial Information Systems" (annual) and the "Financial Information Systems" (semiannual).

Publications in English

The following are published in English.

    • 1Free Copy

      1. API Connection Checklist for Financial Institutions and API Connection Partners

        English translation based on the Japanese original published on September 27, 2019.

        API Connection Checklist Manual <October 2018 edition> September 27, 2019 Partial revision
        API Connection Checklist (Format) <October 2018 edition> September 27, 2019 Partial revision

      2. Report of the Council of Experts on FinTech in Financial Institutions

        This is the English version of the original report which was released in June 2017.

        Report of the Council of Experts on FinTech in Financial Institutions

      3. Report of the Council of Experts on Outsourcing in Financial Institutions

        This is the English version of the original report which was released in June 2016.

        Report of the Council of Experts on Outsourcing in Financial Institutions

      4. Report of the Council of Experts on the Usage of Cloud Computing by Financial Institutions

        This is the English version of the original report which was released in November 2014.

        Report of the Council of Experts on the Usage of Cloud Computing by Financial Institutions

      5. Report of the Council of Experts on Countermeasures Against Cyber Attacks on Financial Institutions

        This is the English version of the original report which was released in February 2014.

        Report of the Council of Experts on Countermeasures Against Cyber Attacks on Financial Institutions

    • 2Paid Distribution

    • Booklets can only be delivered within Japan. "PDFs" can be provided outside of Japan.

      1. FINANCIAL INFORMATION SYSTEMS IN JAPAN 2014（Booklet only）

        Price : JPY 3,000
        This report explains the latest trends regarding financial information systems; current conditions of computer systems and delivery channels utilized by financial institutions; the outlines of mutual networks amongst financial institutions; the outlines of FISC Security Guidelines and FISC Information System Audit Guidelines; and more.

      2. FISC Security Guidelines on Computer Systems for Financial Institutions (Twelfth Edition)（PDF）

        Price : JPY 1,900
        This is the English version of the Twelfth Edition which was published in November 2024.

      3. Manual for the Development of Contingency Plans in Financial Institutions (Plans for Measures in the Event of Emergencies)（Booklet only）

        Price : JPY 13,000
        This is the English version of the Third Edition which was published in March 2006.

      4. Manual for the Development of Contingency Plans in Financial Institutions (Plans for Measures in the Event of Emergencies)(Third Edition Supplement 3)（Booklet only）

        Price : JPY 9,000
        This is the English version of the revised supplements version 3 to the Third Edition which was published in May 2017.

      5. The Guide for Financial Institutions to Implementing TLPT (First Edition)（PDF）

        Price : JPY 4,800
        This is the English version of the First Edition which was published in June 2020.

      6. FISC System Audit Guidelines for Financial Institutions (First Edition)（PDF）

        Price:JPY 4,300
        This is the English version which was published in November 2021.

To purchase the English publications above, please follow the procedures below.

Reprinting or processing FISC's work constitutes an infringement of its copyright.
If you would like to reprint FISC's work, please contact FISC beforehand.
Please note that we do not approve of the use of the FISC logo by third parties in principle.
For details, please contact the General Affairs Department Division.

E-mail: infofisc*fisc.or.jp
Please replace the asterisk "*" in the mail address with an at sign @.

Access

Address 4th Floor, Sumitomo Irifune Bldg. , 2-1-1 Irifune, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, JAPAN
Tel +81-3-5542-6060
Fax +81-3-5566-1052
E-mail infofisc*fisc.or.jp
Please replace the asterisk "*" in the mail address with an at sign @.