Deutsche Bank has conducted an exercise to assess the
impact of a potential avian flu pandemic on its business during a
continuity planning exercise in Hong Kong.
Last month the bank assessed the impact of two potential
scenarios on business operations. The first was designed to
simulate the disease breaking out slowly, and the second assessed a
sudden break-out in several locations simultaneously.
The exercise, the latest in a series of simulations designed to
test the bank's response to incidents, aimed to give an insight
into the impact of an avian flu outbreak on its operations.
Scenario-based exercises help the bank to "see around corners"
by identifying risks that might not otherwise be obvious, said
Victor Meyer, Deutsche Bank's business continuity manager.
Last year the bank carried out an exercise involving a simulated
attack on its networks from insiders and external hackers.
"It validated our approach to IT security. No system is
foolproof and it is very difficult to deal with the insider. We
have to assume our systems will be compromised at some point. At
this point, how they are escalated is critical," said Meyer.
In March last year, Deutsche Bank worked with the Corporation of
London, Scotland Yard, the City of London police and regulators to
simulate the impact of a bomb attack on the London Underground
during rush hour.
The exercise allowed the firm to be better prepared for the 7
July bombings, said Meyer.