According to the regulator of the euro area, banks across the zone have been told to strengthen their cyber defenses in light of the increased geopolitical tensions.

“We ask” [banks]”To strengthen their cyber-regime measures, and to look at a possible increase in attacks, and the danger of those attacks going forward,” Andrea Enria (chair of the European Central Bank Supervisory Board) said on Thursday. According to Reuters

“We’ll also raise the concern of the banks regarding the possible worsening global tensions, which could lead to further attacks.”

Later on Thursday Enria spoke to Annette Weisbach of CNBC. She said that the ECB is the central bank for the 19 EU countries which adopted the agreement. the euroThe government is paying “more attention to the security of banks.”

He said that it was a “difficult area” and added that more cyber-attack specialists are needed by the central bank. We are paying more attention to this area and expect banks to increase their security.

Reuters published a report Wednesday citing unnamed sources that claimed the ECB was preparing banks to be subject to Russian-sponsored attack. Enria spoke to CNBC and stated that while the ECB believes there is a greater concern about cyberattacks, but didn’t elaborate.

Enria raised concerns about Russia’s potential sanctions in the event of tensions at the Ukrainian border. However, Enria said that it was not a concern because the banks are usually relatively well-funded and contained.

Moscow denies that it intends to invade Ukraine’s neighboring country, but it has moved around 130,000 soldiers, tanks, missiles, and even fresh blood supplies to the border. According to the Kremlin, Ukraine must not be allowed to join NATO’s military alliance. It also wants NATO to withdraw its presence from Eastern Europe.

In late January, the New York Department of Financial Services sent an alert to financial institutions, warning them of possible retaliatory cyberattacks if Russia invades Ukraine. This would trigger U.S. sanctions. according to Thomson Reuters’ Regulatory Intelligence.

Many cyberattacks have been committed by hackers linked to Russia in the past. SolarWinds hack on the U.S. in 2020, but the country did not accept any responsibility.

— Additional reporting by CNBC’s Chloe Taylor.