DORA Assessment and Implementation

Our compliance consultants and InfoSec experts help you define people, processes, and technological interventions required to achieve DORA compliance and meet ICT risk management requirements across all regulatory pillars.

The Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA) was enacted in the EU to harmonize ICT security requirements and strengthen incident reporting mechanisms, which were previously fragmented across disparate national regulations. To be DORA-compliant, financial organizations must meet regulatory requirements across its five core pillars: ICT risk management, incident reporting, digital operational resilience testing, third-party risk management, and information sharing.

Though many requirements in DORA overlap with existing regulations like NIS2, organizations cannot assume compliance with it based on adherence to these other frameworks alone. Simform, using Azure's native security capabilities and Microsoft's integrated compliance tools, helps you assess the current maturity level of your ICT systems, develop a tailored DORA compliance framework, and implement required controls through Azure's security services.

Assessment and Implementation Plan

1. DORA compliance gap assessment

• Using tools like Microsoft Defender for Cloud and Microsoft Secure Score, we assess and document your organization’s DORA compliance readiness, covering both cybersecurity and regulatory alignment in ICT risk management, incident response, and third-party risk processes.

2. DORA compliance framework

• We outline necessary policies, procedures, and technical controls in a detailed roadmap with target compliance levels, actionable tasks, recommended Azure services, effort ratings, timeframes, and recommended task owners for effective implementation.

3. Implementation

• Our team operationalizes DORA requirements by establishing robust risk management, incident response, and compliance monitoring processes using Microsoft's integrated solutions like Azure Security Center and Purview. We provide hands-on configuration assistance, conduct penetration tests, and offer cybersecurity education and awareness programs for continued compliance.

Deliverables

1. DORA Readiness Assessment Report with detailed analysis of current compliance status and identified gaps

2. ICT Risk Management Framework document outlining risk identification, assessment, and mitigation strategies with recommended Azure services

3. Incident Classification and Reporting template for categorizing and reporting ICT-related incidents

4. Third-party ICT Provider Risk Register, a comprehensive list of ICT providers with associated risk levels and management strategies

5. Digital Operational Resilience testing schedule and methodology for vulnerability assessments and penetration testing

6. DORA Compliance Roadmap and Action Tracker outlining a prioritized list of tasks with timelines and responsible parties