What are the five pillars of DORA?
The five pillars are ICT risk management, ICT incident management, digital operational resilience testing, ICT third-party risk management, and information sharing.
DORA structures digital operational resilience around five interconnected pillars that together define how financial entities manage ICT-related risks.The first pillar is ICT risk management. Organizations must identify, assess, and manage risks related to information and communication technologies that support critical functions.The second pillar is ICT-related incident management and reporting. This includes detecting incidents, responding effectively, and reporting significant incidents to competent authorities.The third pillar is digital operational resilience testing. Entities are required to test their ability to withstand disruptions through defined testing activities.The fourth pillar is ICT third-party risk management. Organizations must manage risks arising from external ICT service providers, including oversight and contractual controls.The fifth pillar is information and intelligence sharing. This supports collective resilience by enabling organizations to share threat and incident information.
Related Information
- DORA is structured around five pillars.
- ICT risk and incident management are foundational.
- Resilience testing validates preparedness.
- Third-party risk addresses external dependencies.
- Information sharing supports sector-wide resilience.
Expert Insight
Organizations often focus heavily on incident response but underestimate testing and third-party risk management.Balanced attention across all pillars is essential for compliance.
“The pillars define a complete resilience lifecycle.”
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What is covered on Day 3 of the DORA Lead Manager course?
Day 3 covers resilience testing, ICT third-party risk management, oversight frameworks, and information sharing.
byChristophe MAZZOLA
What is DORA and who does it apply to?
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How is the DORA Lead Manager course delivered?
The course combines lectures with real-case examples, case-study-based exercises, review activities, and a practice test aligned with the certification exam.
What is DORA and who does it apply to?
DORA is an EU regulation focused on digital operational resilience in financial entities. It applies to financial institutions and certain ICT service providers.
What is covered on Day 3 of the DORA Lead Manager course?
Day 3 covers resilience testing, ICT third-party risk management, oversight frameworks, and information sharing.
How is the DORA Lead Manager exam structured?
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Further reading
NIS 2 Directive: The Complete Compliance Guide for European and UK-Connected Businesses (2026)
The NIS 2 directive (Directive (EU) 2022/2555) is the EU's flagship cybersecurity framework, applying to around 110,000-160,000 entities across 18 sectors.
DORA Regulation: The Complete Compliance Guide for Financial Institutions (2026)
DORA imposes a harmonized European framework for digital operational resilience on the financial sector since 17 January 2025. Complete guide: five pillars, FINMA, NIS 2, sanctions.
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