CMORG Completes SIMEX26 Cloud Outage Simulation with 38 Major Banks

Key facts

• CMORG completed its biennial simulation exercise, SIMEX26, on 8 October 2026.
• The exercise focused on a global cloud services disruption.
• It was chaired by the Bank of England and UK Finance, with participation from HM Treasury, the Financial Conduct Authority, and the wider financial sector.
• The 38 largest and most systemically important banks and market infrastructure operators were involved.
• The exercise was opened by Economic Secretary to the Treasury Lucy Rigby and hosted by the London Stock Exchange Group.
• A live meeting of the Bank-chaired Cross Market Business Continuity Group was included.
• The Bank expects firms to take action to strengthen resilience against severe operational and cyber scenarios.
• Previous SIMEX exercises in 2022 and 2024 considered cyber-attacks against a major bank and critical infrastructure disruption outside the financial sector.