Key MAS Advisory Updates (April 2026)

Overview

Cyber criminals and advanced persistent threats (APTs) continue to target financial services and in several recent breaches, affected organizations had mistakenly deprioritized cyber security in favour of business performance or convenience, leaving critical systems vulnerable.

MAS outlines 4 key themes which would help better safeguard the financial industry and business landscape in Singapore, so that investors can invest with a greater peace of mind.

1. Strengthening Trust, Culture, and Customer Outcomes

· AML/CFT: Continue robust standards while facilitating legitimate business access. MAS will provide clarity on risk-proportionate practices.

· Fair Dealing: MAS will share findings from complaints management examinations to elevate industry standards.

· Culture: An information paper on essential culture capabilities will be published to address behavioural patterns that undermine controls.

· Seniors & Scams: MAS is working with industry task forces to improve financial services for seniors and estate administration. Anti-scam initiatives include AI-enabled fraud detection, enhanced PayNow protections, and controls against unauthorised trading in retail broking accounts.

2. Operational, Technology and Cyber Resilience

MAS has been working with entities across four pillars: operational risk, technology/cyber risk, third-party risk, and business continuity management.

· Upcoming guidelines: Updated Operational Risk Management Guidelines and new Third-Party Risk Management Guidelines (consulted in March 2026).

· Technology Risk Management Notices: To be updated to cover IT asset management and continuous system monitoring.

· AI Risk Management: Final guidelines to be published in 2026. In the meantime, the MindForge consortium’s “AI Risk Management Operationalisation Handbook” provides practical guidance.

· Cyber defences: Entities must intensify efforts to identify and remediate vulnerabilities, maintain timely security patching, and practise good cyber hygiene.

3. Financial Resilience

· Economic uncertainty: Entities must proactively manage business and financial risks, including those arising from investment portfolios and market platforms.

· Liquidity risk (FMCs): Updated Guidelines on Liquidity Risk Management will be published to align redemption terms with asset liquidity, with emphasis on governance and disclosures.

· Environmental risk: Final Guidelines on Transition Planning for FMCs (published March 2026). FMCs should engage investee companies on climate-related risks and enhance data collection and scenario analysis.

4. Looking Ahead

MAS will continue to leverage technology for risk surveillance and targeted interventions. The Authority also emphasises the importance of reliable disclosures and informed investor decision-making, particularly following the Equities Market Review.

Conclusion

Besides instilling the importance of Data Protection as part of its staff culture, DHWM continues to monitor its cyber security posture on an ongoing basis and regularly engages reliable IT consultants/vendors in response to emerging threats and evolving regulatory expectations.  

At DH Wealth Management, we do not view compliance as a mere obligation — we embrace it as a cornerstone of trust and a catalyst for continuous improvement. Our approach goes beyond adherence; we actively seek out innovative solutions, emerging best practices, and forward-looking frameworks to stay ahead of regulatory developments and evolving market complexities. By integrating robust governance with a culture of proactive vigilance, we ensure that every decision is made with integrity, transparency, and foresight. It is this unwavering commitment that enables us to stand as a trusted partner in your financial journey — guiding you with confidence through both opportunity and uncertainty, and safeguarding the interests that matter most to you.