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CySEC Adopts New European Guidelines For Cloud Outsourcing And Updates Stress Test Protocols

The Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) has taken a significant stride toward strengthening regulatory frameworks in the financial sector by implementing the latest European guidelines on cloud outsourcing. In tandem, the commission has issued an advisory regarding enhanced stress test rules for money market funds, signifying a commitment to bolstering both digital operational resilience and market stability.

Cloud Outsourcing Within Regulatory Framework

CySEC has adopted the latest European standards for outsourcing to cloud service providers, targeting select depositaries responsible for safeguarding alternative investment funds and collective investment schemes (UCITS). These guidelines are pivotal for entities that do not fall under the purview of the Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA), ensuring that supervisory practices remain robust across the board.

Refined Scope Under Digital Operational Resilience

The evolution of the DORA regulation, which now governs digital operational resilience for the majority of financial entities within the European Union, prompted CySEC to revise the scope of its cloud outsourcing guidelines. The updated rules ensure that only the remaining depositaries not covered by DORA adhere to these specific standards, thereby maintaining regulatory relevance without duplicating oversight.

Guidelines To Navigate Cloud Outsourcing Risks

Developed under the auspices of the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), the framework comprises nine detailed guidelines. These directives are designed to assist both regulators and financial entities in identifying, managing, and mitigating risks associated with cloud outsourcing. Key focus areas include the decision to migrate services to the cloud, provider selection, ongoing monitoring, and the establishment of robust exit strategies.

Enhanced Stress Test Protocols For Greater Market Stability

In a parallel move, CySEC has reaffirmed updated European guidelines concerning stress test scenarios for money market funds. Addressed primarily to managers of alternative investment funds and management companies under CySEC’s supervision, these guidelines establish common reference points for assessing the ability of funds to withstand market shocks. This uniform approach is intended to enhance risk assessment practices and fortify the resilience of the sector against potential market disruptions.

Compliance And Future Outlook

The revised cloud outsourcing guidelines and updated stress test parameters underscore a broader regulatory initiative to adapt to rapid digital innovation while maintaining rigorous supervisory standards. As these guidelines are now fully operative following their publication in all European Union languages, CySEC urges all relevant entities to ensure full compliance. The measures not only streamline the supervisory process but also provide a clear roadmap for the financial sector to navigate both technological advancements and market challenges effectively.

Cyprus’ Poverty And Social Exclusion Risk Stands At 17.1%

Cyprus recorded a poverty or social exclusion risk rate of 17.1% in 2025, below the European Union average of 20.9%, according to new Eurostat figures. Across the bloc, however, more than 92 million people continued to face the risk, highlighting persistent social and economic inequalities.

More Than 92 Million People At Risk Across The EU

A total of 92.7 million people across the EU were at risk of poverty or social exclusion in 2025, equivalent to just over one in five residents.

Cyprus is treated as a single statistical region because of its size, unlike many member states divided into multiple regions for comparison. Its national figure therefore provides an overall picture but does not capture differences between districts or communities.

Regional Gaps Remain Stark Across Europe

The risk varied considerably across the EU, with the highest rates concentrated largely in southern, eastern and outermost regions. In 24 of the 243 regions with available data, at least 31.5% of the population faced poverty or social exclusion.

These regions were located in Spain, Bulgaria, Greece, Italy, France and Romania, as well as Brussels in Belgium and Bremen in north-western Germany.

French Guiana recorded the highest rate, at 54.8%, followed by Calabria in southern Italy at 45.3% and Sicily at 44%. Melilla, a Spanish autonomous city, recorded 43.7%, while Réunion, another French outermost region, stood at 42.3%.

Central Europe Records The Lowest Rates

At the other end of the scale, 24 regions reported poverty or social exclusion risk rates below 13% in 2025. These included five eastern EU capital regions: Bratislava in Slovakia, Warsaw in Poland, Prague in the Czech Republic, Budapest in Hungary and Zagreb in Croatia.

Other regions with low rates were concentrated in northern Italy, the Czech Republic, northern Belgium, Hungary, Poland and Austria, illustrating the uneven distribution of economic security across Europe.

Cyprus Remains Below The EU Average

Cyprus’ rate of 17.1% places it below the EU average, although it remains higher than the levels recorded in the bloc’s lowest-risk regions.

The figures suggest that Cyprus performs relatively well compared with the wider EU, but poverty and social exclusion remain significant challenges across the bloc, affecting more than 92 million people.

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