Navigating DORA Compliance: A Roadmap to Operational Resilience with Trustwave

The Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA) is poised to reshape the European financial landscape, demanding a robust defense against cyber threats and operational disruptions and Trustwave is putting the pedal to the metal to prepare clients with our DORA Readiness Accelerator service.

The Trustwave DORA Readiness Accelerator, which joins Trustwave’s CMMC readiness and Microsoft Security accelerators, provides a structured approach to achieving compliance and bolstering operational resilience. This accelerator offers a roadmap tailored to each client's specific needs, ensuring a smooth transition and minimized disruption.

With an enforcement date of January 17, 2025, financial entities and their ICT third-party providers must prioritize compliance. This isn't merely a regulatory hurdle; it's an opportunity to fortify operations, enhance security, and build unwavering customer trust. Trustwave, a leading cybersecurity partner endorsed by Microsoft, offers a comprehensive DORA Readiness Accelerator to guide organizations through this complex regulatory landscape.

DORA’s core objective is to enhance the operational resilience of the financial sector. This encompasses a broad spectrum of entities, from traditional banks and payment processors to investment firms and their ICT third-party providers. The regulation establishes five key pillars: 1) ICT risk management, 2) ICT-related incident management, classification, and reporting, 3) digital operational resilience testing, 4) managing of ICT third-party risk, and 5) information sharing arrangements. Non-compliance carries significant financial penalties, including fines of up to 2% of annual global turnover for financial entities and up to €5 million for critical ICT third-party providers.

Trustwave’s Long History of Compliance

Trustwave understands the important role that compliance plays in a cybersecurity environment, as being in compliance helps keep an organization safe and protects it from regulatory fines and legal issues.

At Trustwave, our Cyber Advisory team has established methodologies for assessing compliance against a variety of regulations, including HIPAA, CMMC, DORA, GDPR, and CORIE.

How Trustwave Helps Achieve DORA Compliance

Trustwave's approach allows organizations to address specific DORA requirements effectively. The process involves several key stages:

1. Requirements Gathering: Trustwave collaborates with clients to thoroughly understand the DORA requirements and define the scope of the assessment. This involves a detailed review of the DORA articles and a clear demarcation of the assessment boundaries. This collaborative approach ensures clarity and sets a solid foundation for the subsequent stages.
2. Gap Analysis: Trustwave conducts a comprehensive gap analysis to identify weaknesses in existing cybersecurity and resilience programs relative to DORA requirements. This involves reviewing current policies, procedures, and controls, pinpointing areas requiring improvement. This critical step provides a clear picture of the client's current state and highlights the necessary adjustments.
3. Roadmap Development: Based on the gap analysis, Trustwave develops a prioritized roadmap tailored to the client's specific needs. This roadmap includes actionable recommendations for addressing identified gaps and implementing best-practice controls to meet DORA requirements. This structured approach provides a clear path forward, outlining the steps necessary to achieve compliance.
4. Implementation Support (Optional): While not included in the core DORA Readiness Accelerator, Trustwave offers implementation services to assist clients in implementing the necessary changes. This can include implementing corrective actions from the roadmap or any other activities to enhance operational resilience, such as providing Trustwave Managed Vendor Risk Assessment, Trustwave Penetration Testing, or Trustwave Scenario-Based Crisis Simulation. These services provide tangible support in translating the roadmap into action.

Leveraging Microsoft Security for DORA Compliance

Trustwave's strong partnership with Microsoft further enhances its DORA compliance capabilities. Microsoft offers a suite of tools that target DORA’s requirements, including Microsoft Defender for Cloud, Microsoft Purview, Microsoft 365 Service Health Dashboard, Microsoft Secure Score, and Azure Security Center. Trustwave can help clients leverage these tools effectively through its Accelerators for Microsoft Security service, providing a roadmap to maximize value and security outcomes from Microsoft Security products.

Trustwave’s Comprehensive Suite of Services

Trustwave offers a wide range of services to support DORA compliance and enhance overall security posture:

• Cyber Advisory Services: This includes Digital Forensics & Incident Response, Threat Detection & Response, Managed Vendor Risk Assessment, Scenario-Based Crisis Simulation, Data Protection, Governance, Risk, & Compliance, and Threat Intelligence as a Service. These services provide expert guidance and support across various aspects of cybersecurity.
• Security Testing Services: This includes Penetration Testing, Vulnerability Scanning, Red/Purple Teaming, and Database Security. These services proactively identify vulnerabilities and weaknesses in systems and applications.
• Managed Security Services: This includes Managed Threat Detection & Response, Co-Managed SIEM/SOC, Security Technology Management, Managed Web Application Firewall, and Proactive Threat Hunting. These services provide ongoing monitoring and management of security infrastructure.

DORA represents a significant shift in the regulatory landscape for the financial sector. The Trustwave DORA Readiness Accelerator offers a comprehensive and structured approach to prepare for compliance and build operational resilience. By leveraging its expertise, proven methodologies, and strong partnership with Microsoft, Trustwave empowers organizations to navigate the complexities of DORA, strengthen their security posture, and build a foundation for long-term success. Contact Trustwave today to begin your journey toward DORA compliance and a more resilient future.