Regulation guide

Saudi NCA Data Cybersecurity Controls

Operationalize the Saudi NCA Data Cybersecurity Controls requirements—from regulatory obligations and evidence collection to vendor assessments, continuous monitoring, governance, and remediation workflows.

Overview

NCA data cybersecurity controls should be presented through data classification, protection, access, retention, transfer, logging, incident response, and third-party handling.

It applies to financial institutions and other regulated organizations in the Kingdom and requires organizations to identify, assess, govern, monitor, and manage risks introduced by ICT providers, cloud vendors, and technology dependencies throughout the entire relationship lifecycle.

Rather than prescribing identical controls for every relationship, the regulation emphasizes a risk-based approach, requiring organizations to apply governance, oversight, controls, monitoring, and due diligence according to the criticality and risk of each relationship.

This implementation guide explains what the regulation requires, how those requirements translate into operational controls and evidence, and how Halbarad helps organizations operationalize compliance through assessments, continuous monitoring, governance workflows, and supply chain risk intelligence.

Official Sources

Operationalization Requirements

  • Identify applicable NCA data control source and entity scope.
  • Map data categories, owners, systems, providers, locations, and access.
  • Maintain protection controls such as access restriction, encryption, monitoring, retention, and

incident response.

  • Review third parties that store, process, transmit, or support protected data.

Evidence Requirements

  • Data classification and inventory.
  • Provider data handling records.
  • Access, encryption, retention, logging, incident, and remediation evidence.
  • Contract and subcontractor evidence.

Common Gaps

  • Data classification does not connect to provider access.
  • Provider location and retention evidence is incomplete.
  • Incidents are handled without data-owner involvement.

How Halbarad Helps

Halbarad helps teams connect data categories to providers, systems, contracts, controls, incidents, and remediation.

Disclaimer

This guide is for general information only and is not legal advice. Review the official regulation, guidance, and supervisory materials, and consult qualified counsel or compliance advisors for your organization's specific obligations.