How CFOs Can Ensure Secure Financial Transactions in 2026
In 2026, payment fraud losses are estimated to reach over $40 billion globally.
As financial transactions and services get digitized, monitoring them has only gotten more complicated. Since CFOs hold a unique role of financial stewardship and ensuring operational efficiency, protecting transactions in and out of the organization is an important priority.
If you are a CFO of a growing organization, it is now more important than ever to learn about modern cyber threats and the measures you can take to prevent them.
Understanding the Modern Threat Landscape in Financial Transactions
With the evolving threat landscape and sophisticated cyberattacks putting organizations and financial transactions at risk, CFOs must be prepared.
Some of the most common attacks threatening financial transactions include:
- Deepfake payment requests and invoices
- Targeted malware and ransomware
- AI-powered email phishing
- Supply-chain infiltration
Most international payment regulations require organizations to verify transactions using multi-factor authentication (MFA) and include real-time monitoring. By making risk-based reviews and audits the norm for digital transactions, CFOs and their organizations can even prioritize strategic and financial compliance.
7 Ways CFOs Can Boost Security of Financial Transactions in 2026
1. Create a Holistic Defense Strategy Combining IT & Legal Teams
CFOs technically serve as the pillar of your financial and risk management, so it only makes sense that they design and implement defense strategies that combine multiple aspects of the business. Consider setting up a cross-functional security council that brings together resources from finance, legal, IT, and compliance teams.
Together, this council must work on designing and revamping security policies, response protocols, and risk assessments. From securing your balance sheets and profit and loss templates to ensuring that every data exchange is encrypted, the council can consider implementing myriad measures to safeguard finances and transactions.
You must also consider leading tabletop exercises that entail rehearsing emergency procedures and liquidity sourcing within simulated incident scenarios.
2. Implement Zero-Trust Frameworks
A zero-trust framework is one that, true to its name, does not trust any user, device, or transaction and requires validation for each one of them. Considering CFOs must lead and implement risk management practices in any business, investing in least-privilege models and zero-trust frameworks is not optional.
Start by understanding ZTNA and how it can enhance security, and implement multiple checkpoints for every user or device that wants access to your network. You can reduce the likelihood of breaches, thus protecting funds and sensitive financial data.
Consider assigning unique access profiles to finance systems and implementing multi-level approvals for high-value payments and major changes in vendors. To centralize the whole process even further, you can integrate zero-trust architecture with financial audit trails and relevant regulations.
3. Set Up Transaction Monitoring and Anomaly Detection
Implementing an AI-powered transaction monitoring tool can be highly beneficial for CFOs, as it can help them flag suspicious activity across a plethora of daily transactions. Integrating anomaly detection in ERP/payment platforms can help you identify and flag any outlier events so that immediate and timely action can be taken.
You can also consider deploying real-time analytics to automate alerts for behavioral and geographical deviations in transactions. Moreover, you can opt for interactive dashboards that can proactively spot and act on potential risks.
4. Use Blockchain for Audit Trails
Blockchain technology is very useful for CFOs who are looking to increase the auditability and compliance of their transactions. Not only is the very foundation of blockchain technology rooted in transparency, but it also enables the creation of a tamper-proof ledger. CFOs can also automate their audit trails and make every transaction verifiable by integrating blockchain into the process.
What’s more, you can even strengthen your internal controls to empower your external reporting and financial transactions. Start by piloting the blockchain technology in selected payment flows or asset registrations. Once you find the right use cases and start generating ROI, you can present it for a board review and implement the technology in all transactions in your organization.
5. Deploy AI and Machine Learning Tools for Predictive Fraud Detection
While generative AI is proving to be a boon in many ways for many organizations, for others, it is posing a significant cyber threat. To ensure that the transactions are secure against such threats, CFOs must invest in advanced AI/ML-powered tools for fraud detection. By doing so, they can also improve interception rates and minimize review overheads.
Most AI-driven security systems are equipped to scan thousands of transactions in seconds and detect any abnormal patterns in real-time, preventing deepfake invoices and velocity attacks. To get this program right, you must budget for a trusted AI tool and talent. For continuity, conduct regular training and awareness programs for your staff, and periodic review of the AI tool.
6. Adopt Multi-Factor Authentication and Biometric Verification
It is a norm for global transaction regulators to implement MFAs for high-value or sensitive transactions. As a CFO, consider pushing for an enterprise-wide implementation to block most targeted and automated attacks. Most MFA workflows involve a biometric verification, a one-time passcode, and device-unique codes or passwords.
Conduct red team exercises to simulate ransomware or phishing attacks and regularly test your MFA protocols, assessing the readiness and effectiveness of your team in preventing such attacks.
7. Conduct Regular Security Training and Drills
Even in the age of automation and AI, most cyber breaches are caused by human error.
Encourage your staff to be cyber-aware, and better yet, get certified to identify and prevent phishing, social engineering, and invoice diversion attacks. Certified employees can become your first line of defense against the most sophisticated attacks and prevent losses.
Curate tailored training programs by promoting collaboration between your HR and IT teams. Encourage employees to get trained on finance-specific scenarios, and document these exercises to review and improve your security readiness.
Concluding Remarks
Modern CFOs must know how to safeguard their financial processes and transactions against sophisticated cyberattacks, especially considering the increase in AI-based cyber threats. When properly planned, CFOs can successfully design and implement security measures that include accountability, resilience, and transparency. Doing so can help CFOs improve their overall security process, especially transaction security.
This article originally appeared on IntelligentHQ and was syndicated by IntelligentHQ and Newstex. It was legally licensed through the Industry Dive publisher network. Please direct all licensing questions to legal@industrydive.com.
