ICT Risk Management
The process of identifying, assessing, and mitigating risks associated with information and communication technology systems. Under DORA, financial entities must maintain a comprehensive ICT risk management framework covering identification, protection, detection, response, and recovery.
ICT Risk Management is a cornerstone of digital operational resilience, forming the first and most extensive pillar of DORA (Articles 5-16). It requires financial entities to establish and maintain a sound, comprehensive, and well-documented ICT risk management framework that is reviewed at least annually.
The framework must include identification and classification of all ICT assets and their dependencies, continuous monitoring of ICT risks, implementation of protection and prevention measures, detection mechanisms for anomalous activities, and comprehensive response and recovery plans. Organizations must also designate an ICT risk management function with clear responsibilities.
Effective ICT risk management goes beyond traditional IT security by encompassing operational resilience aspects — ensuring not just that systems are secure, but that the organization can continue critical business functions even when disruptions occur. This holistic approach is what distinguishes DORA from previous cybersecurity regulations.
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View framework pageRelated Terms
DORA (Digital Operational Resilience Act)
An EU regulation that establishes uniform requirements for the security of network and information systems in the financial sector. DORA became mandatory on January 17, 2025, and applies to banks, insurance companies, investment firms, and their critical ICT service providers.
Operational Resilience
The ability of an organization to deliver critical operations through disruption. In the context of DORA, it specifically refers to digital operational resilience — the capacity of financial entities to build, assure, and review their technological operational integrity.
Risk Assessment
A systematic process of identifying potential threats, evaluating vulnerabilities, and determining the likelihood and impact of risks to an organization's information assets and operations. Risk assessments are foundational to ISO 27001, DORA, and virtually every compliance framework.
Continuous Monitoring
An ongoing process of observing, evaluating, and maintaining awareness of information security controls, vulnerabilities, and threats. Continuous monitoring ensures that compliance status is maintained between formal audits and enables rapid detection of control failures.
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