Navigating DORA: What International Businesses Need to Know

Cybersecurity threats are growing, and financial institutions face increasing pressure to comply with stricter regulations. The Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA) establishes new cybersecurity and risk management standards for financial entities and their ICT (Information and Communication Technology) service providers operating in the European Union (EU). If your business provides technology services to financial institutions or relies on Microsoft cloud solutions, you must prepare for these new compliance requirements. Here’s what you need to know to stay ahead.

Table of Contents:

1. What is DORA?
   
   • Under DORA, Organizations Must:
2. What This Means for Microsoft Customers?
3. How to Prepare for DORA
   

What is DORA?

DORA, which took effect on January 17, 2025, is designed to strengthen the financial sector’s ability to withstand cyber threats. It applies to banks, insurance companies, investment firms, and their third-party ICT providers, including cloud, cybersecurity, and software vendors.

Under DORA, Organizations Must:

• Implement robust risk management frameworks to monitor and mitigate cybersecurity threats.
• Establish real-time incident reporting to regulatory authorities.
• Conduct regular resilience testing to ensure IT systems can withstand cyber threats and disruptions.
• Strengthen third-party oversight, ensuring vendors (including Microsoft) comply with security standards.
• Adapt to new regulatory supervision, as certain ICT providers, like Microsoft, may be designated “critical” to financial operations and subject to additional scrutiny. 

What This Means for Microsoft Customers

As a key ICT provider, Microsoft is actively aligning its security and compliance solutions with DORA requirements. Businesses using Microsoft Defender, Microsoft Sentinel, and Microsoft Purview Compliance Manager can leverage these tools to strengthen their risk management, incident response, and resilience testing capabilities.

Microsoft’s cloud security and governance tools help organizations meet DORA’s compliance requirements while maintaining operational efficiency. With Microsoft expected to receive a “critical” ICT provider designation in late 2025, businesses relying on its services should prepare for increased regulatory oversight.

How to Prepare for DORA

If your organization operates in the EU financial sector or provides ICT services to financial firms, now is the time to assess your readiness. Steps to take include:

1. Reviewing security policies and risk management frameworks to ensure compliance with DORA.
2. Evaluating your ICT providers, including Microsoft, to confirm alignment with regulatory requirements.
3. Implementing incident reporting protocols and resilience testing to meet compliance expectations.
4. Training internal teams on how DORA impacts business operations and security strategies.

DORA introduces significant regulatory changes, and businesses must act now to stay compliant. At Synergy Technical, we help organizations assess security risks, implement best practices, and leverage Microsoft solutions to meet evolving compliance requirements. If you have questions about how DORA affects your business or need support in preparing, contact our team today!

At Synergy Technical, we don’t just provide IT solutions or services—we create lasting partnerships that drive innovation, security, and efficiency. Whether you’re looking to modernize your infrastructure, enhance security, or maximize the power of the cloud, we’re here to help.