Frameworks to replace FFIEC’s CAT

Here are the key takeaways:

• FFIEC CAT retirement by August 2025: With the Cybersecurity Assessment Tool being phased out, institutions should begin transitioning now to alternative frameworks that support long-term compliance and cybersecurity maturity.
• Regulator guidance: Examiners are advising financial institutions to move away from FFIEC CAT and ISE in favor of internally adopted frameworks like NIST CSF, CIS Controls, or ISO 27001, which align better with regulatory expectations.
• Recommended alternative frameworks: NIST CSF, CIS Controls, and ISO 27001 are strong alternatives, each offering flexibility, regulatory alignment, and actionable guidance for improving security posture.
• Streamlined security framework transitions with Rivial: Rivial's platform simplifies framework transitions by offering pre-mapped control frameworks, including NIST CSF, CIS Controls, ISO 27001, and others - eliminating the need for manual cross-reference or starting from scratch, saving time and resources.
  
  

Late last year, the FFIEC dropped a major announcement: the Cybersecurity Assessment Tool (CAT) will be officially retired by August 31, 2025. 

With this significant change on the horizon, now is the time to future-proof your cybersecurity strategy. To help you stay ahead, we’re breaking down a few alternative frameworks that not only keep your program aligned with regulatory best practices but also drive continuous improvement in your cybersecurity posture.

NCUA and FDIC Examiner Advice 

At Rivial, we stay on top of examiner insights as we help clients through their exams. Lately, we’ve seen credit union examiners advising against the new ISE tool, reminding them that ACET (CAT) is optional, and recommending they adopt an internal security framework instead. Banks are getting similar advice—CAT isn’t required while having a solid internal framework is key. From our experience, a few that we would recommend are CIS, NIST, and ISO27001 as they are well aligned with examiner expectations and regulatory standards.

Alternative Security Frameworks for FFIEC's CAT

NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF) 2.0

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Cybersecurity Framework is one of the most widely adopted security frameworks out there. It’s flexible, scalable, and especially useful for financial services organizations looking to build a strong cybersecurity foundation.

🔹 Why NIST?

• Comprehensive Guidance – The framework breaks cybersecurity into five key functions: Identify, Protect, Detect, Respond, and Recover—giving organizations a clear roadmap.
• Alignment with FFIEC CAT – Many of its principles align with the FFIEC Cyber Assessment Tool (CAT), making it easier to integrate both frameworks.
• Customizable – Whether you’re a small startup or a large enterprise, NIST CSF can be tailored to fit your needs.
• Regulatory Recognition – It’s widely respected by regulators and considered a gold standard for cybersecurity best practices.
  
  

CIS Critical Security Controls (CIS Controls)

The Center for Internet Security (CIS) Critical Security Controls is all about practicality. It provides a prioritized list of security measures to protect against the most common cyber threats—perfect for organizations looking for an actionable approach to cybersecurity.

🔹 Why CIS Controls?

• Prioritized Approach – Organized into three implementation groups (IGs), the framework helps organizations focus on the most critical security steps first.
• Proven Effectiveness – Built on real-world attack data, these controls are constantly updated to address emerging threats.
• Easy to Implement – The guidance is clear and actionable, making it simpler to roll out across an organization.

ISO/IEC 27001

ISO/IEC 27001 is an internationally recognized standard for Information Security Management Systems (ISMS). If your organization needs a structured, risk-based approach to managing sensitive data, this framework has you covered.

🔹 Why ISO 27001?

• Globally Recognized – It’s an international standard, making it useful for organizations that need to comply with global regulations.
• Risk-Based Approach – ISO 27001 focuses on identifying, assessing, and managing risks systematically.
• Certification Benefits – Getting ISO 27001 certified boosts credibility, reassuring customers, partners, and regulators.
  
  

Let Rivial’s Platform do the heavy lifting 

At Rivial, we’ve streamlined framework transitions by pre-mapping essential control frameworks—such as FFIEC CAT, NIST CSF 2.0, CIS Top 18, PCI, ACET, NCUA ISE, CRI Profile, and more—directly to the necessary evidence within our platform. 

With everything already aligned, switching frameworks is as simple as selecting the one you need, significantly reducing the time and effort required—by up to 80%.

Want to see it in action? Schedule a demo below to experience a seamless transition firsthand.