DORA (Digital Operational Resilience Act) is an EU regulation that mandates financial institutions to strengthen their digital resilience. Coming into effect on 17 January 2025, DORA applies to banks, insurers, pension funds, stock exchanges, ICT providers, and other financial entities. It sets requirements for risk management, incident response, IT security, and third-party oversight — aiming to build a safer, more stable digital financial ecosystem across Europe.
What does DORA cover?
DORA is part of the European Commission’s broader Digital Finance Package. It revolves around five main pillars:
- ICT risk management – Organizations must continuously assess, monitor, and mitigate IT-related risks.
- Incident reporting – Major digital incidents must be reported to regulators within strict timeframes.
- Operational resilience testing – Regular testing (e.g., penetration testing) is required to ensure system robustness.
- Third-party risk management – Contracts with ICT vendors must include clear responsibilities, safeguards, and exit plans.
- Oversight of critical ICT providers – Major tech suppliers will be supervised by EU authorities.
DORA emphasizes digital continuity, going beyond prevention to include recovery and coordinated response.
Why is DORA important?
The financial sector depends heavily on digital systems and external IT providers. DORA brings clarity, consistency, and accountability to how digital risks are managed — both internally and across the supply chain.
Key benefits include:
- Improved cyber resilience in the financial ecosystem;
- Level playing field across EU financial institutions;
- Stronger protection for customers and markets.
DORA is not just a compliance requirement — it’s an opportunity to strengthen the digital foundation of financial operations.
DORA and RiskStudio
RiskStudio supports financial institutions and their vendors in meeting DORA requirements. Our platform provides visibility into supplier cyber resilience, flags incidents and vulnerabilities, and helps document controls, responsibilities, and remediation actions. From real-time alerts on CVEs or data breaches to structured impact assessments and audit-ready reporting, RiskStudio makes DORA compliance actionable — efficient, transparent, and chain-aware.
