Rahoitusalan Pooli and Insta jointly delivered a year-long FATO exercise program designed to strengthen the financial sector's preparedness for major disruptions. Structured around three thematic modules, the program improved shared situational awareness while fostering closer collaboration across the sector.
Interdependencies Require Close Cooperation
The financial sector is one of the most critical sectors in society, and its operational resilience is a key element of national security of supply. Preparing for disruptions has long been an integral part of day-to-day operations, but the evolving geopolitical environment has further highlighted the importance of systematic exercising.
"In the financial sector, very few things can be done in isolation. That is why joint exercises play a key role in strengthening preparedness," says Juha Nieminen, Head of Preparedness at Finanssiala ry.
FATO (Financial Sector Operational Exercises) are crisis management and preparedness exercises organised for the financial and insurance sectors. They are designed to test and develop the ability of organisations and authorities to work together during exceptional circumstances while maintaining a shared operational picture.
Following a competitive tendering process, Insta was selected as the partner for the 2025 exercise programme. The deciding factors were Insta's extensive domain expertise and long-standing experience in planning and delivering preparedness exercises.
A New Modular Structure Enabled More In-Depth Exercises
The exercise programme coordinated by Insta involved more than 200 participants representing nearly 30 organisations that are members of Rahoitusalan Pooli.
Rahoitusalan Pooli is part of Finland's National Emergency Supply Organisation. It brings together representatives from the banking sector, other financial institutions, securities trading, custody and settlement services, payment services, cash supply operations and the relevant public authorities.
Unlike previous years, the 2025 exercise programme was not delivered as a single exercise. Instead, it was divided into three thematic modules covering preparedness level adjustments, implementation of the Emergency Powers Act and contingency arrangements for everyday payment services.
"The modular structure allowed us to explore each topic in much greater depth while engaging a broader group of participants than before."
Insta Trasim Supported the Comprehensive Exercise Program
The year-long FATO exercise program combined organization-specific preparation with joint exercise days involving the entire sector.
"We spread the intensive exercise phases over several days, giving organizations more time to discuss the topics internally and in greater depth. Participants also completed preparatory assignments that supported their readiness and enhanced the overall learning experience."
The exercises used the browser-based Insta Trasim platform, which enables organizations to conduct tailored preparedness exercises related to cyber incidents, crisis communications, hybrid threats, and operational decision-making.
The platform provided a secure environment for distributing preparatory materials, presenting exercise scenarios, and collecting participants' responses.
Preparedness Must Be Strengthened Across the Entire Value Chain
The program focused on developing a shared operational picture during emergency conditions and improving participants' understanding of the implications of Finland's Emergency Powers Act. Participants highlighted the growing importance of information sharing and collaboration across organizations.
"We've received excellent feedback on the program. According to participants, the exercises helped them better understand how to respond to major disruptions and clarified the practical roles and responsibilities of different stakeholders."
According to Juha Nieminen, collaboration with Insta's experts was seamless and adaptable throughout the program. Insta's team ensured that the program progressed systematically, responded effectively to changing requirements, and remained on schedule.
"Together with Insta, we built a program where exercises and capability development went hand in hand throughout the entire process."
As the financial sector becomes increasingly complex and interconnected with other critical sectors, preparedness must also evolve. According to Nieminen, future preparedness efforts should increasingly focus on strengthening resilience across the entire value chain, ensuring organizations can work together effectively to maintain the continuity of society's critical financial services during major disruptions.