DORA
EU regulation for digital operational resilience in financial sector
CAA
U.S. federal law for air pollution control and standards
Quick Verdict
DORA mandates ICT resilience for EU finance against cyber threats, while CAA enforces emission standards for US industries via permits and monitoring. Financial firms adopt DORA for compliance; manufacturers use CAA to avoid penalties and meet air quality goals.
DORA
Regulation (EU) 2022/2554 Digital Operational Resilience Act
Key Features
- Mandates comprehensive ICT risk management frameworks
- Enforces 4-hour major incident notifications
- Requires triennial threat-led penetration testing
- Establishes oversight of critical ICT providers
- Harmonizes resilience across EU financial sector
CAA
Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. §7401 et seq.)
Key Features
- National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for criteria pollutants
- State Implementation Plans (SIPs) and nonattainment planning
- Title V operating permits consolidating requirements
- New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) for stationary sources
- NESHAPs/MACT for hazardous air pollutants
Detailed Analysis
A comprehensive look at the specific requirements, scope, and impact of each standard.
DORA Details
What It Is
DORA, formally Regulation (EU) 2022/2554, is an EU-wide regulation bolstering digital operational resilience in the financial sector against ICT disruptions like cyberattacks and third-party failures. Applicable from January 17, 2025, it covers 20 financial entity types and critical ICT third-party providers (CTPPs), using a risk-based, proportional approach to harmonize rules across 27 member states.
Key Components
- **ICT Risk Management FrameworksStrategies for identifying, assessing, mitigating risks with annual reviews.
- **Incident ReportingLog, classify, notify within 4 hours for major incidents impacting >5% users or €100k losses.
- **Resilience TestingAnnual basic tests, triennial threat-led penetration testing (TLPT) for critical entities.
- **Third-Party OversightDue diligence, contractual rights, ESAs supervision of CTPPs via Joint Examination Teams. Compliance enforced through RTS/ITS, no formal certification but audits and fines up to 2% turnover.
Why Organizations Use It
Mandated for ~22,000 entities to avoid penalties, mitigate cyber risks (74% firms affected), enhance systemic resilience post-incidents like CrowdStrike outage. Builds trust, drives cybersecurity investments (€10-15B EU-wide).
Implementation Overview
Conduct gap analyses, develop frameworks, implement testing/monitoring. Tailored by size/complexity; key activities include vendor mapping, automated tools. Applies EU-wide to financials; ongoing reviews ensure adherence.
CAA Details
What It Is
The Clean Air Act (CAA), codified at 42 U.S.C. §7401 et seq., is a comprehensive U.S. federal statute establishing the national framework for air quality protection. Its primary purpose is safeguarding public health and welfare from outdoor air pollution through ambient standards and source controls. The cooperative federalism approach sets EPA national floors with state implementation.
Key Components
- NAAQS for six criteria pollutants (ozone, PM, CO, Pb, SO2, NO2) with primary/secondary standards.
- SIPs, NSPS, NESHAPs/MACT, Title V permits, NSR/PSD.
- Built on technology-based and ambient outcome standards; no fixed control count, but layered programs.
- Federally enforceable via permits; states handle SIPs/permitting.
Why Organizations Use It
Mandatory for emitters; drives compliance to avoid penalties, sanctions. Mitigates enforcement risk, supports ESG, enables permitting for expansions. Builds stakeholder trust via monitoring/reporting.
Implementation Overview
Phased: gap analysis (0-6 months), permitting/design (6-18), deployment/monitoring (ongoing). Applies to stationary/mobile sources nationwide; major facilities require Title V. No certification, but audits/enforcement ongoing. (178 words)
Key Differences
| Aspect | DORA | CAA |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | Digital operational resilience in finance | Air quality and emission controls nationwide |
| Industry | EU financial entities and ICT providers | All industries with stationary/mobile sources |
| Nature | Mandatory EU regulation with ESAs oversight | Mandatory US federal statute with state SIPs |
| Testing | Annual basic tests, triennial TLPT | CEMS, stack tests, Title V monitoring |
| Penalties | Up to 2% global turnover fines | Civil penalties, sanctions, citizen suits |
Scope
Industry
Nature
Testing
Penalties
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about DORA and CAA
DORA FAQ
CAA FAQ
You Might also be Interested in These Articles...

NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5.1 Private Sector Tailoring Blueprint: First 5 Steps to Overlay-Driven Compliance with Infographic
Step-by-step blueprint for private sector NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5.1 tailoring using overlays for AI & supply chain risks. Infographic + first 5 steps for ROI-drive

CIS Controls v8.1 Metrics That Matter: KPIs, KRIs, and Dashboards for Board-Ready Cyber Reporting
Quantify CIS Controls v8.1 success with KPIs, KRIs & dashboards. Learn what to measure, calculations, and executive presentations linking security to business r

Proving CIS Controls v8.1 Works: A KPI & Evidence Framework for Board Reporting, Audits, and Continuous Assurance
Prove CIS Controls v8.1 effectiveness with KPI catalog, evidence checklist & reporting cadence. Ideal for board reports, audits & cyber-insurance. Measure outco
Run Maturity Assessments with GRADUM
Transform your compliance journey with our AI-powered assessment platform
Assess your organization's maturity across multiple standards and regulations including ISO 27001, DORA, NIS2, NIST, GDPR, and hundreds more. Get actionable insights and track your progress with collaborative, AI-powered evaluations.
Check out these other Gradum.io Standards Comparison Pages
CSL (Cyber Security Law of China) vs ISO 28000
Discover CSL (Cyber Security Law of China) vs ISO 28000: Data localization vs supply chain resilience. Unlock compliance strategies for China market success now!
ISO 27001 vs U.S. SEC Cybersecurity Rules
Compare ISO 27001 vs U.S. SEC Cybersecurity Rules: Global ISMS framework meets U.S. regs for resilient compliance. Key differences, benefits & strategies—boost security now! (152 chars)
BRC vs ISO/IEC 42001:2023
Discover BRC vs ISO/IEC 42001:2023: Food safety rigor meets AI governance excellence. Compare clauses, audits, risks & benefits to select the optimal standard now.