The Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA) of the EU is one of the most significant regulatory developments for financial institutions and companies in the financial sector. Its purpose is to ensure that companies are resilient to digital risks, that their systems remain robust, and that critical IT services remain available even in crisis situations. For companies that process customer and financial data, DORA introduces a range of new obligations—particularly regarding security and identity management.
As experts in security and identity solutions, we at KOBIL want to provide you with a detailed guide to successfully implement DORA and sustainably strengthen your digital resilience.
1. Overview: What DORA mans for companies
DORA applies to all financial market participants, including banks, insurance companies, payment service providers, as well as FinTechs and companies that provide critical IT services for these financial actors.
The main objectives of DORA are:
- Operational continuity: Systems must remain functional even in the event of cyberattacks or technical disruptions.
- Cyber resilience: Protection against cyberattacks, data loss, or system failures.
- Third-party risk management: Companies must actively monitor risks posed by IT service providers.
- Transparency and reporting: Relevant incidents must be reported and documented in a timely manner.
For security and identity management, this means that every company must ensure that only authorized individuals have access to critical systems and data, that identities are reliably verified, and that access rights are continuously monitored.
2. DORA and identity management – core requirements
The requirements for Identity & Access Management (IAM) under DORA can be divided into three key areas:
2.1. Strong authentication and access controls
- Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Required for all critical systems; simple passwords are no longer sufficient.
- Role-Based Access Control (RBAC): Access is granted only on a “need-to-know” basis, meaning only those who genuinely need it.
- Privileged Account Management: Highly privileged accounts (admin rights) must be closely monitored and regularly reviewed.
KOBIL practical tip: Hardware tokens, secure mobile authentication, or certificate-based solutions provide maximum security and comply with DORA requirements.
2.2. Continuous monitoring and reporting
- Audit Logs: Every login and every change to access rights must be documented.
- Anomaly Detection: Unusual access attempts or logins should be automatically detected and reported.
- Regulatory Reporting: In case of security incidents, companies must document the nature and extent of the events.
KOBIL practical tip: A centralized identity and access management platform enables real-time monitoring of all critical accounts.
2.3. Managing third-party access
- DORA requires companies to monitor the risks posed by external IT service providers.
- Every interface with third parties must be secure and monitored.
- Access should only be granted to necessary users, and MFA must be applied for all external access.
KOBIL practical tip: Digital identities for external partners can be managed via secure certificates and tokens, minimizing potential attack surfaces.
3. DORA-compliant security measures
Beyond identity management, DORA requires a comprehensive security strategy that includes technical, organizational, and procedural measures.
First, data encryption is essential—both at rest and in transit. Certificate-based end-to-end encryption and digital signatures reliably protect sensitive information.
Equally important is secure patch management. Systems must be regularly updated to close known vulnerabilities. Automated system version monitoring helps ensure compliance requirements are consistently met.
Another central element is incident response: companies must be capable of responding quickly to cyber incidents. Integrated tools for incident management and reporting help maintain oversight and fulfill regulatory reporting obligations.
To minimize system downtime, redundancy and backup solutions are indispensable. This includes secure key management, regular backups, and tested recovery plans.
Finally, employee training and awareness must not be neglected. Humans remain the greatest security vulnerability. Targeted training, phishing simulations, and multi-factor authentication raise employee awareness of risks and strengthen the company’s security culture.
4. DORA-compliant identity management strategy: Step by step
- Conduct a current-state analysis:
- Which systems, data, and third-party accesses are critical?
- Where are the weaknesses in the current IAM architecture?
- Create a risk profile:
- Evaluate user roles, access rights, and privileged accounts.
- Identify potential points of attack.
- Implement identity and access management:
- Introduce MFA, RBAC, and secure certificates.
- Integrate all systems into a centralized IAM platform.
- Activate monitoring and reporting:
- Real-time monitoring of accesses.
- Automatic reporting of anomalies.
- Include third-party providers:
- Determine which external providers have access to critical systems.
- Implement secure digital identities for partners and service providers.
- Conduct regular tests and training:
- Penetration tests, security audits, Red Team exercises.
- Raise employee awareness of cyber risks and secure identity handling.
5. Why companies should choose KOBIL
As a specialist in security and identity management, KOBIL helps companies achieve DORA compliance efficiently, practically, and sustainably:
- Certificate- and token-based solutions for secure authentication.
- Centralized IAM platforms that integrate monitoring, reporting, and access control.
- Consulting and implementation in line with regulatory requirements, including third-party management.
- Practical security solutions that raise employee awareness while simultaneously increasing digital resilience.
6. Conclusion
DORA presents companies with new challenges, especially in the area of security and identity management. Only those who consistently implement secure identities, access controls, and monitoring can meet regulatory requirements, secure customer and partner trust, and strengthen digital resilience.
With KOBIL, companies can navigate this path safely, efficiently, and future-proof – from analysis through implementation to continuous optimization.