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:

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

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

KOBIL practical tip: A centralized identity and access management platform enables real-time monitoring of all critical accounts.

2.3. Managing third-party 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

5. Why companies should choose KOBIL

As a specialist in security and identity management, KOBIL helps companies achieve DORA compliance efficiently, practically, and sustainably:

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.