🔐 Fintech App Security: 🕒 Best Practices for Inactivity Timeouts ⏳ (ISO, PCI-DSS & NIST Guidelines) 🚀
The standard time for logging out a user from a fintech app due to inactivity is not universally fixed by cybersecurity frameworks, but there are general guidelines and best practices provided by major standards like ISO/IEC 27001, PCI-DSS, and other cybersecurity and regulatory frameworks. 1. ISO/IEC 27001 (Information Security Management) ISO/IEC 27001 does not explicitly mandate a specific logout timeout period, but it does require organizations to implement security controls that protect against unauthorized access. The standard calls for organizations to establish proper access control measures, which may include session timeouts after a defined period of inactivity. 2. PCI-DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) PCI-DSS provides specific requirements for logging out users after inactivity, especially for systems that handle payment card information. According to PCI-DSS v4.0 (Section 8.1.10): 3. NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) NIST guidelines, particularly from NIST SP 800-53 (Security and Privacy Controls for Federal Information Systems), also recommend automatic session termination after inactivity. 4. Other Regulations (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA) For financial apps or fintech apps operating in regulated environments, like those governed by GDPR or HIPAA, inactivity timeout is often treated as a risk management decision rather than a prescriptive rule. However, the principle remains that systems should implement sufficient controls to protect sensitive data from unauthorized access. Best Practices Summary For fintech apps, it’s essential to balance security with user experience, adjusting the timeout period according to the app’s risk profile and the type of data involved.
