Thursday 10 / July / 2025
Muscat: In a move that underscores its commitment to adopting the latest cybersecurity standards and investing in advanced protection technologies, Bank Muscat, the leading financial services provider in the Sultanate of Oman, announced it has obtained the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) Version 4.0 certification, the latest and most robust global standard for protecting payment card data. This certification was awarded following a rigorous and comprehensive assessment conducted by Panacea InfoSec, the authorized entity for assessing compliance with the PCI DSS. The assessment covered the Bank's infrastructure, systems, and information security policies. Ajay Kaushik, CEO of Panacea InfoSec, handed over the certification to Ahmed Faqir Al Bulushi, Deputy CEO of Banking at Bank Muscat, during a ceremony held recently at Bank Muscat's Head Office, in the presence of several officials and members of the bank's executive management.
On this occasion, Ahmed Faqir Al Bulushi, Deputy CEO of Banking at Bank Muscat, said: “We take pride in being granted the PCI DSS certification, a milestone that reaffirms our steadfast commitment to the highest global standards of data security and customer trust. This recognition reinforces our vision to lead with integrity, innovate responsibly, and safeguard every transaction with excellence. The Bank always strives to be a leader by implementing the latest innovations to ensure speed and security when customers conduct their various banking transactions. Bank Muscat’s systems also rely on data analysis to detect suspicious activities in a timely manner, supported by the efforts of the information security and information technology teams who continue to work to protect customer data, manage risks, and respond to various potential events. This contributes to strengthening a strong security environment. The Bank will continue its commitment to adopting the latest technologies and advanced systems to contribute to the development of the banking sector.”
From his part, Ajay Kaushik, CEO of Panacea Infosec, said: “We are pleased that Bank Muscat has obtained the PCI DSS certification. The Bank, as the leading financial services provider in the Sultanate, is continuously committed to its plan to enhance information security. This recognition is an important step in an ongoing process to raise protection levels and continuously update security systems to address emerging threats.”
Bank Muscat places great importance on information technology due to its pivotal role in enhancing the banking services provided by Bank Muscat. It contributes to improving operational efficiency by automating banking processes, reducing transaction processing time and increasing operational efficiency. Modern technologies ensure the protection of data and financial transactions from cyber threats, enhancing customer confidence. The Bank has established robust policies and procedures, supported by regular security audits and proactive risk assessments, to identify and address security vulnerabilities within its systems and infrastructure. By adopting the latest security technologies and applying advanced encryption techniques, customer data is secured during transmission and storage. The Bank also strives to raise employee awareness through ongoing training programmes, ensuring the adoption of best security practices across all levels of the business. It also has clear incident response plans aimed at quickly and effectively addressing any potential threats. Through these integrated initiatives, Bank Muscat continues to lead the way in adhering to the highest standards of data protection and privacy.
