The Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA) came into force on 17 January 2025, setting a new standard for operational resilience across EU financial institutions. While the compliance deadline has passed, the real challenge is now unfolding: embedding DORA principles into sustainable, scalable operating models that can withstand evolving risks and supervisory scrutiny.
At F2B Partners, we help institutions move beyond compliance to build lasting resilience — turning regulatory obligation into strategic advantage.
Post-Deadline Reality: Where Firms Stand
– Frameworks are in place, but uneven. Many firms achieved minimum compliance, yet gaps remain in testing, governance, and third-party oversight.
– Supervisors are moving to validation. Regulators are preparing to audit real-world operational resilience — not just paper-based compliance.
– Boards are under sharper scrutiny. Senior management must now evidence active oversight, escalation pathways, and continuous improvement.
– Leaders are differentiating. Firms embedding resilience as a business capability are already pulling ahead of those stuck in reactive, compliance-only models.
The New Focus Areas for 2025 and Beyond
🔍 Integrated Resilience Governance: End-to-end ownership of ICT risk, cyber resilience, and business continuity under a unified framework.
🔍 Advanced Testing Maturity: Moving beyond tabletop exercises to threat-led penetration testing (TLPT) and advanced cross-scenario simulations.
🔍 Third-Party Oversight Evolution: Continuous monitoring, contractual resilience obligations, and exit strategies for critical service providers.
🔍 Real-Time Incident Response: Embedding early detection, escalation, and reporting mechanisms directly into operational workflows.
How F2B Partners Helps Firms Strengthen DORA Delivery
– Framework Enhancement: Strengthen resilience frameworks to align with evolving supervisory expectations and best practice.
– Testing Programme Build-Out: Design and execute progressive testing regimes tied to critical services and ICT assets.
– Third-Party Resilience Management: Implement oversight models, criticality assessments, and vendor resilience obligations.
– Governance & Board Reporting: Create dashboards and KPIs that enable Boards to demonstrate oversight and accountability.
– End-to-End Resilience Operations: Embed resilience principles across front, middle, and back-office functions.
“Resilience isn’t about ticking a box — it’s about building real-world capability to withstand disruption, strengthen trust, and accelerate recovery.”
Conclusion
DORA compliance was only the first step. The firms that invest in continuous resilience enhancement will not only satisfy regulators but also secure long-term operational and reputational strength.
At F2B Partners, we translate DORA into tangible, lasting operational resilience — ensuring firms are not just compliant, but future-ready.
Ready to move beyond compliance and build resilience that lasts?
Talk to F2B about elevating your DORA journey.
