DORA compliance: what you need to know

DORA stands for the Digital Operational Resilience Act. It is a European regulation designed to make financial institutions more resistant to digital threats such as cyberattacks and system outages.

As the sector depends more and more on digital infrastructure, risks are increasing. DORA ensures that institutions are better equipped to manage these risks and continue services when incidents occur.

The regulation applies to a wide range of organisations, including banks, insurers, investment firms, pension funds, payment providers and any external IT partner delivering critical services to them.

DORA sets out rules across several core areas. The first is ICT risk management. Every organisation must have a detailed programme that includes risk identification, continuity planning and crisis response.

“You need a clear view of what your systems are exposed to and how you plan to respond when something goes wrong,” explains Dirk Jan.

Incident reporting is another key part. Serious ICT incidents must be reported to the relevant authority, such as De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB), without delay. Customers should also be informed promptly if an incident may impact them.

“That makes structured incident response a must. You need processes ready and tested,” he adds.

Digital resilience must also be tested regularly. Organisations are expected to run vulnerability scans, penetration tests, physical security checks and simulations of recovery procedures. These exercises make weak spots visible early and help teams act fast under pressure.

DORA also addresses third-party risk. Financial institutions must keep a clear overview of their suppliers and subcontractors. Contracts must be standardised and include details on security, availability and recovery.

Finally, DORA promotes information sharing. Organisations are encouraged to share cyber threat intelligence with others in the sector to prevent large-scale incidents.

While DORA sets out strict legal requirements, it brings valuable improvements as well.

One major benefit is transparency. With better risk management and clearer standards for suppliers, organisations gain insight into their full IT supply chain.
“This helps you make better-informed decisions when selecting or assessing vendors,” Dirk Jan explains.

DORA
also opens the door to automation. Clear rules make it easier to structure documentation, streamline audits and reduce manual workloads.

“The process becomes more efficient, especially when compliance is built into your platform,” he adds.

Security also improves. With standardised ICT agreements and real-time supplier overviews, disruptions are picked up earlier.
This leads to faster response times and better collaboration when incidents occur.

Finally, the overall level of governance and administration becomes more professional.
“Clear documentation, well-tested continuity plans and a centralised audit trail all contribute to improved control. And that benefits your organisation in more ways than just compliance,” Dirk Jan confirms.

For organisations already using Vendor Management and Contract Management on the ISPnext platform, adding DORA support is a logical step.

“This functionality helps you record, structure and report all relevant DORA data in the correct format,” explains Dirk Jan. “It includes legal entities, supplier information and contracts, all aligned with EU expectations.”

All existing data is automatically organised and kept up to date. Prebuilt templates make it easy to meet reporting obligations.
“When regulators request information, you’re ready. You save time, avoid manual errors and reduce stress around audits,” he adds.

With this functionality, ISPnext becomes your central hub for DORA-related tasks.

1. Inventory and assess risks
Start with mapping all suppliers, contracts and IT processes. Identify which ones are critical and where the main risks lie.

2. Define and implement processes
Establish policies for incident reporting, continuity management, crisis communication and supplier controls.

3. Digitise and automate
Use smart solutions to centralise contract data, maintain supplier registers and automate reports.

4. Test and improve
Run simulations, conduct resilience tests, train employees and refine processes based on results.

This phased approach helps organisations stay in control and make compliance manageable.

DORA sets a new standard for operational resilience across the financial sector. While the scope of the regulation is wide, it also provides an opportunity to review and strengthen internal processes.

With ISPnext, you gain the tools to structure your compliance efforts and simplify reporting when it matters.
“A clear structure and the right support allow you to focus on real resilience instead of just ticking boxes,” Dirk Jan concludes.