RBI CSITE Audit
RBI Cybersecurity & IT Framework Compliance Audit - Banks, NBFCs & PSOs
The Reserve Bank of India mandates comprehensive IT Governance and Cybersecurity audits for all scheduled banks, NBFCs, Payment Aggregators, and Payment System Operators under the entity-wise Cybersecurity, Technology Risk, Resilience and Assurance Framework Directions, 2026 (31 July 2026) and, for PSOs, the Master Direction on Cyber Resilience. Praxis-Q, CERT-In empanelled, conducts RBI CSITE audits, IT framework assessments, and delivers audit reports for regulatory submission.
RBI Audit
RBI CSITE Audit
RBI Cybersecurity & IT Framework Compliance Audit - Banks, NBFCs & PSOs
The Problem
RBI cyber-resilience directions demand evidence of IT governance and controls. Unprepared entities fail CSITE examination and face regulatory heat.
What We Do
- Scope & Planning
- Control Assessment
- Technical VAPT
- Gap Remediation Plan
- Audit Report Delivery
What You Get
- RBI IT auditors
- Covers RBI Master Direction on Cyber Resilience July 2024
- IT Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC) review
- Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA) readiness assessment
- Cybersecurity framework gap analysis
- Vendor and third-party risk management review
- Incident response and business continuity assessment
- RBI CSITE audit preparation and support
- Digital payment security controls (DPSC) review
- Board-level cybersecurity accountability review
Why weeks, not months
AI-assisted evidence review, one client portal
Every RBI Audit engagement runs on the Praxis-Q compliance platform. You upload evidence per control, AI scores it against the requirement, and your auditor reviews in the same workflow — from scoping through to the issued, publicly verifiable certificate.
AI evidence scoring
Every upload is scored against the control before an auditor sees it — gaps surface in minutes, not at the review meeting.
One client portal
Scoping, evidence, auditor queries and status live in one place. No email chains, no spreadsheet trackers.
Auditor sign-off
Praxis-Q auditors review inside the same workflow, so review rounds shrink and the certificate issues sooner.
RBI 2026 Directions: what changed on 31 July 2026
The RBI (Cybersecurity, Technology: Risk, Resilience and Assurance Framework) Directions, 2026 were issued entity-wise — separate Directions for commercial banks, UCBs, NBFCs, AIFIs and credit information companies — and came into force on issue, with no transition window. They consolidate and repeal the earlier cyber-security frameworks each class of entity was examined against. The practical changes CSITE examiners now test: vulnerability assessment at least every six months and penetration testing at least every twelve months for critical systems and anything in the DMZ with a customer interface (risk-based for the rest), re-testing after go-live or major upgrades, DR drills at least half-yearly for critical systems with major issues closed before the next cycle, cyber-incident reporting on the RBI DAKSH platform within six hours of detection alongside CERT-In, board-approved IT and information-security policies with a CISO reporting line, and tighter third-party technology arrangements. Payment aggregators and non-bank PSOs continue under the 2024 Master Direction on Cyber Resilience together with the 2026 Digital Payment Security Controls Directions. Praxis-Q maps your existing controls to the new Direction that applies to your entity class and closes the delta first.
What is a CSITE Audit? (CSITE Full Form)
CSITE stands for Cyber Security and Information Technology Examination — the Reserve Bank of India's supervisory examination of banks, NBFCs, payment aggregators, and PSOs, run by the CSITE Cell of the RBI Department of Supervision. A CSITE audit verifies your IT governance, cybersecurity controls, digital payment security, and cyber resilience against the entity-wise RBI Cybersecurity, Technology Risk, Resilience and Assurance Framework Directions, 2026 (and, for PSOs, the 2024 Master Direction on Cyber Resilience). Regulated entities are expected to submit a System Audit Report (SAR) prepared by an independent auditor and remediate gaps before examiners arrive. Praxis-Q prepares you end to end: pre-examination gap assessment, VAPT, RBI-format SAR, and remediation roadmaps — delivered in 15-20 business days.
RBI IT Audit & Cyber Resilience Assessment
Praxis-Q conducts end-to-end RBI IT audits covering governance, risk, and compliance (GRC) frameworks mandated by the Reserve Bank of India. Our assessment evaluates your organization's alignment with the RBI Cybersecurity, Technology Risk, Resilience and Assurance Framework Directions, 2026 for your entity class, the Digital Payment Security Controls Directions, and sector-specific guidelines. We identify control gaps across IT governance, cybersecurity architecture, digital payment security controls (DPSC), third-party risk management, and business continuity planning. Deliverables include detailed gap analysis, remediation roadmaps with regulatory timelines, and board-level accountability reviews. Whether you're a scheduled bank, NBFC, payment aggregator, or PSO, our audits prepare you for RBI supervisory examinations and regulatory submission.
CSITE Audit Preparation & System Audit Report (SAR)
The RBI Cyber Security and IT Examination (CSITE) demands rigorous pre-examination readiness. Praxis-Q prepares your organization through comprehensive IT audits that produce RBI-compliant System Audit Reports (SAR) accepted by the Reserve Bank. We assess controls against RBI expectations, identify weaknesses before supervisory examiners arrive, and deliver actionable remediation plans aligned to regulatory deadlines. Our audit reports are structured for direct regulatory submission, board presentations, and CSITE examination defense. Fast-track delivery (15-20 business days) ensures timely compliance closure and reduces examination risk.
Technical Vulnerability & Penetration Testing (VAPT)
RBI mandates VAPT for banking systems, payment APIs, core banking infrastructure, and third-party integrations. Praxis-Q integrates technical security testing within the audit scope, identifying exploitable vulnerabilities in production environments. Our assessments cover network infrastructure, web applications, mobile banking platforms, cloud deployments, and payment gateways. Testing results feed directly into remediation roadmaps, with severity ratings aligned to RBI supervisory priorities. Combined with IT governance assessment, technical VAPT provides holistic evidence of cybersecurity maturity for audit reports and regulatory submission.
Zero Trust Architecture & Vendor Risk Management
Praxis-Q evaluates your Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA) readiness and third-party risk governance—both critical under RBI 2024 directives. We assess identity and access management, network segmentation, endpoint security, and encryption controls. Vendor risk reviews cover onboarding processes, service level agreements, security assessments, and continuous monitoring. Our audits ensure third-party compliance with RBI cyber resilience standards, reducing regulatory exposure from supply chain vulnerabilities. Gap analysis and remediation guidance align vendor management practices with RBI expectations.
India-Based & Global Delivery Model
Headquartered in India with global delivery capability, Praxis-Q combines local RBI regulatory expertise with international compliance standards (ISO 27001, SOC 2, NIST). Our India-based audit teams understand RBI supervisory nuances, examination protocols, and submission requirements firsthand. Global presence enables multi-region assessments for international banks and payment processors. Fast-track delivery (15-20 business days) accelerates compliance timelines without compromising audit depth or regulatory acceptance.