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Understanding the Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA)

The Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA) is a groundbreaking EU regulation designed to fortify the financial sector’s ability to withstand and recover from operational disruptions. Coming into full effect on January 17, 2025, DORA introduces uniform requirements for financial entities and their ICT service providers, ensuring robust protection against ICT-related risks.

With its comprehensive approach to digital operational resilience, DORA complements other regulatory frameworks like MiCA (Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation), which addresses similar challenges for the crypto-asset market. This blog unpacks DORA’s core requirements, its impact on financial institutions, and how it interacts with MiCA for crypto businesses.


What is DORA?

DORA establishes a unified framework to ensure the financial sector’s operational integrity in the face of severe ICT disruptions. It applies to over 20 types of financial entities, from banks and payment institutions to crypto-asset service providers (CASPs) and their ICT third-party service providers.

Key Objectives of DORA:
  1. Strengthen ICT risk management across the financial sector.
  2. Standardize incident reporting for ICT-related disruptions.
  3. Enforce oversight of third-party ICT service providers.
  4. Ensure operational continuity and resilience through regular testing.

These measures aim to harmonize ICT security practices and promote resilience across Europe’s financial ecosystem.


Financial Entities Covered by DORA

The DORA Regulation applies to a wide range of financial entities and their ICT third-party service providers. Entities required to comply include:

  • Credit Institutions
  • Payment Institutions (including exempt ones under Directive (EU) 2015/2366)
  • Account Information Service Providers
  • Electronic Money Institutions (including exempt ones under Directive 2009/110/EC)
  • Investment Firms
  • Crypto-Asset Service Providers (CASPs) as authorized under MiCA
  • Central Securities Depositories
  • Central Counterparties
  • Trading Venues
  • Trade Repositories
  • Alternative Investment Fund Managers (AIFMs)
  • Management Companies
  • Data Reporting Service Providers
  • Insurance and Reinsurance Undertakings
  • Insurance and Reinsurance Intermediaries
  • Institutions for Occupational Retirement Provision
  • Credit Rating Agencies
  • Administrators of Critical Benchmarks
  • Crowdfunding Service Providers
  • Securitisation Repositories
  • ICT Third-Party Service Providers

This extensive list underscores the importance of DORA compliance across the financial ecosystem.


Core Components of DORA

DORA focuses on three main areas to enhance digital operational resilience:

1. ICT Risk Management

Financial entities must establish and maintain a documented ICT risk management framework that enables them to address risks quickly, efficiently, and comprehensively. This includes:

  • Regular assessments of ICT systems and processes.
  • Implementation of safeguards to protect sensitive data.
  • Ongoing monitoring and mitigation of emerging risks.
2. Incident Management

DORA mandates a standardized approach to handling ICT-related incidents. Financial entities must:

  • Detect, manage, and report ICT disruptions.
  • Establish consistent monitoring and follow-up procedures.
  • Notify authorities of major ICT incidents to mitigate broader impacts.
3. Third-Party Risk Oversight

Entities must manage ICT third-party risks as part of their risk framework. This includes:

  • Maintaining a comprehensive register of service providers.
  • Implementing robust contractual arrangements.
  • Reporting on third-party risks to authorities annually.

 

DORA vs. MiCA: How Do They Intersect?

While DORA applies broadly to the financial sector, MiCA targets crypto-asset service providers (CASPs) specifically. Both regulations emphasize operational resilience, risk management, and third-party oversight, but MiCA focuses on the unique risks in the crypto sector.

For example:

  • Operational Risk: Both DORA and MiCA require CASPs to implement ICT risk management frameworks, ensuring business continuity.
  • Incident Reporting: DORA sets the standard for reporting major ICT incidents, which aligns with MiCA’s requirements for notifying significant disruptions in crypto operations.
  • Third-Party Risks: MiCA mandates oversight of crypto-specific service providers, complementing DORA’s broader third-party risk management approach.

Together, DORA and MiCA form a robust framework to safeguard the financial ecosystem, including crypto businesses.

 

Preparing for DORA Compliance

Financial entities must take proactive steps to align with DORA’s requirements before the January 2025 deadline. Key preparation activities include:

  • Developing ICT Risk Management Plans: Document frameworks that address ICT risks comprehensively.
  • Incident Response Strategies: Implement processes to detect, manage, and report ICT disruptions.
  • Third-Party Risk Assessments: Maintain a register of service providers and enforce strong contractual controls.
  • Resilience Testing: Conduct regular operational testing to ensure continuity in crisis scenarios.

 

How Complium Can Help

Navigating the complexities of DORA compliance can be challenging. Complium specializes in helping financial entities, including CASPs, prepare for DORA while aligning with complementary regulations like MiCA.

Our services include:

  • ICT Risk Management Support: We design tailored frameworks to address your unique operational challenges.
  • Incident Reporting and Response: From detection to reporting, we streamline the entire process to meet DORA’s standards.
  • Third-Party Oversight: Our tools ensure compliance with third-party risk management and reporting obligations.
  • Resilience Testing: We guide your business through operational testing to meet regulatory requirements.

 

Why Act Now?

The deadline for DORA compliance is approaching fast, with significant preparation required to meet its stringent requirements. Early action ensures:

  • Seamless operational continuity in January 2025.
  • Protection from ICT disruptions and cyber threats.
  • Alignment with complementary regulations like MiCA.


Final Thoughts

DORA represents a critical shift in the EU’s approach to safeguarding the financial sector from ICT risks. Whether you’re a traditional financial institution or a crypto business navigating MiCA compliance, preparing for DORA is essential to ensure resilience and operational continuity.

At Complium, we simplify the compliance journey, offering expert guidance tailored to your needs. Book a call with us to ensure your business is ready to meet DORA’s requirements and thrive in Europe’s evolving regulatory landscape.

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