At the Operational & Organisational Resilience Conference this year, we challenged the way firms think about resilience. Too often, resilience is treated as a compliance exercise. Real value emerges when it empowers leaders to make faster, clearer decisions under pressure. Achieving this requires more than just policies; leaders need data that accurately defines the full scope of risk.

Dependency mapping is essential to this approach. Critical services rely on intricate networks of systems, suppliers, and partners, often stretching far beyond the boundaries of a single organisation. When these dependencies are hidden, decision-making is left to chance. With full visibility and understanding, leadership can identify where disruptions will strike hardest, determine priorities, and contain the impact quickly.

This is not a theoretical challenge. During our presentation, we shared an image that immediately captured attention,  a screenshot from a dark-web forum advertising Domain Admin access to a central bank’s network for sale.

 A screenshot of a computer AI-generated content may be incorrect.

This situation was real. The post referenced Flexcube, a widely adopted core banking platform. With this level of unauthorised access, attackers could manipulate accounts, expose confidential data, or disrupt cross-border payments through the SWIFT network.

The seller’s goal was clear: exploit, extract, and damage.

This example makes a critical point. Cyber criminals often do not need to hack in the traditional sense; they simply log in. Once inside, they behave like legitimate users. For financial services, these incidents go beyond technical faults,  they threaten business continuity, customer trust, and reputation.

Recovery is another significant challenge. Too many firms believe traditional backups will protect them. In reality, studies show that up to 58% of backup attempts fail during recovery due to outdated technology, insufficient testing, or malware (InvenioIT, 2025). Without constant, rigorous testing, recovery outcomes remain unpredictable, with systems potentially remaining offline for extended periods and causing substantial financial losses.

The good news is that automation, AI, and continuous testing are changing the game. They take resilience out of theory and into practice, proving that systems will come back when needed. That assurance transforms resilience from a cost centre into a strategic advantage, giving leaders confidence to act decisively under pressure.

Meaningful resilience requires more than binders of policies. Leaders need:

  • Clear maps of critical dependencies, including third parties

  • Insight into cascading failures and where disruption will hit hardest

  • Confidence that recovery plans are proven and reliable

At Celerity, we work with clients to make resilience measurable, visible, and trusted. Resilience is not about plans on paper; it is about knowing you can recover when it matters most. The threats are not on the horizon; they are already inside the door. The difference is whether your business can keep moving.

Book a meeting with me today to discover how Celerity's Cyber Recovery as a Service ensures rapid, verified recovery from cyber incidents. Learn why resilience is a strategic imperative.