Frequently asked questions and answers about DORA

How can we help you with DORA?

DORA

• What is DORA?

  DORA (Digital Operational Resilience Act) is an EU regulation that aims to strengthen the digital operational resilience of the financial sector. Unlike a directive, it applies directly in the Member States without national implementation. The aim is to ensure that financial organisations can withstand, manage and recover from IT incidents, have control over their ICT risks and maintain stable financial services even in the event of disruptions. DORA is therefore not just a security framework – but a regulatory framework for operational resilience in a digital economy.  

• What does DORA mean for the financial sector? 

  DORA represents a clear shift from traditional IT‑security to operational resilience. Organizations must be able to identify and manage IT‑risks systematically, maintain operations in the event of incidents, quickly restore operations and ensure that dependencies work. 

  This means a shift from protecting systems to ensuring that operations function despite disruptions. 

• Which companies are covered by DORA?

  DORA covers in principle the entire financial sector within the EU, including banks, insurance companies, securities companies, payment institutions and fintech‑company. 

  In addition, critical third-party suppliers are also covered, such as cloud services, IT‑hosting providers and SaaS‑platforms, which means that external actors are also indirectly affected. 

• How do I know if my company is covered by DORA?

  You are directly covered if you are a financial operator as defined by the EU. You may be indirectly covered if you supply IT‑services or supports critical functions for financial players. 

  In practice, a regulatory analysis and mapping of business relationships is often required to determine this. 

• What requirements does DORA place on IT security?

  DORA requires organizations to establish an ICT‑risk management framework, ensures incident management, implements continuity and recovery, conducts testing and manages third-party risks. 

  It's not just about technology, but about governance, processes and continuity throughout the organization. 

• What is ICT risk management according to DORA?

  ICT risk management is the core of DORA and means that the organization should have a documented and comprehensive risk framework. 

  It covers the entire life cycle: 

  • identification 

  • protection 

  • discovered 

  • response 

  • recovery 

  The framework should be integrated into governance and monitored continuously.  

• What does DORA mean for banks and insurance companies?

  For banks and insurance companies, DORA means stricter requirements for governance, IT‑risk management, operational resilience and supplier control. 

  IT‑Risk becomes a business-critical issue where management has a clear responsibility, often driving larger transformation programs. 

• How does DORA affect third-party providers?

  Organizations must map, classify, and track all suppliers that impact critical functions. 

  This means that: 

  • responsibility cannot be outsourced 

  • the entire supply chain must be managed and controlled 

  • continuous follow-up is required 
• What happens if you do not comply with DORA?

  Because DORA is a regulation, legally binding requirements apply. 

  Lack of compliance can lead to: 

  • penalty fees 

  • supervisory measures 

  • requirements for action 

  • impact on business and licenses 

   

  Supervision takes place on an ongoing basis, not just in the event of incidents. 

• How to prepare for DORA?

  A structured approach is crucial: 

  • analyze whether the organization is covered 

  • implement GAP‑analysis 

  • establish frameworks (often based on ISO 27001/22301) 

  • implement processes and controls 

  • test and follow up 

  The most important thing is to build a coherent system, not isolated measures.

• What skills are needed to meet DORA?

  DORA requires a combination of skills in: 

  • information security 

  • ICT risk management 

  • continuity and recovery 

  • compliance 

  • IT‑architecture 

  As well as change management and governance to have an impact in the organization. 

• How to conduct a DORA gap analysis?

  A DORA‑GAP analyzes the current situation against the requirements within: 

  • ICT risk management 

  • incident management 

  • resilience 

  • supplier management 

  • governance 

   

  The result is a clear list of gaps, priorities and a roadmap forward. 

• How can a consulting company help with DORA?

  Consultants help with: 

  • interpretation of the regulations 

  • GAP‑analysis 

  • establishment of framework 

  • implementation of processes 

  • program management 

   

  It reduces risk, increases pace and ensures auditable quality. 

• How much does a DORA project cost?

  The cost varies depending on: 

  • size of the organization 

  • maturity level 

  • existing frameworks 

  • complexity in IT‑environment and suppliers 

   

  It should be seen as a transformation program rather than a single project – where the investment reflects both compliance and long-term resilience.

More from Omegapoint