DORA
EU regulation for digital operational resilience in financial sector
CIS Controls
Prioritized cybersecurity framework for essential hygiene
Quick Verdict
DORA mandates ICT resilience for EU finance via risk frameworks and TLPT, while CIS Controls offer voluntary, prioritized cybersecurity hygiene for all organizations. EU firms adopt DORA for compliance; others use CIS for scalable defense.
DORA
Regulation (EU) 2022/2554, Digital Operational Resilience Act
Key Features
- Mandates comprehensive ICT risk management frameworks overseen by management
- Requires 4-hour notifications for major ICT-related incidents
- Enforces risk-based resilience testing including triennial TLPT
- Directly oversees critical third-party ICT service providers
- Harmonizes ICT resilience rules across 20 financial entity types
CIS Controls
CIS Critical Security Controls v8.1
Key Features
- 18 prioritized controls with 153 actionable safeguards
- Scalable Implementation Groups IG1-IG3 by maturity
- Mappings to NIST, PCI DSS, HIPAA frameworks
- Focus on asset inventory and vulnerability management
- Free Benchmarks and tools for automation
Detailed Analysis
A comprehensive look at the specific requirements, scope, and impact of each standard.
DORA Details
What It Is
Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA), Regulation (EU) 2022/2554, is an EU regulation bolstering ICT resilience in finance against disruptions like cyberattacks. It applies a risk-based, proportional approach to 20 financial entity types (~22,000 firms) and critical third-party providers (CTPPs), entering full force January 17, 2025.
Key Components
- **ICT Risk ManagementComprehensive frameworks for identification, protection, detection, response, recovery, and learning.
- **Incident ReportingLog, classify, notify within 4/72 hours for major incidents (>5% users or €100k+ losses).
- **Resilience TestingAnnual vulnerability scans; triennial threat-led penetration testing (TLPT).
- **Third-Party OversightContractual clauses, monitoring, ESAs supervision of CTPPs. Overseen via management body; supported by RTS/ITS.
Why Organizations Use It
Legally mandated to avoid 2% turnover fines; enhances systemic resilience amid rising threats (74% ransomware hit); builds trust, integrates with Solvency II/NIS2; drives cybersecurity investments (€10-15B EU-wide).
Implementation Overview
Gap analysis against RTS, develop policies, testing programs, vendor due diligence. Tailored by size/complexity; key for EU financials; ongoing reporting/audits by authorities, no formal certification.
CIS Controls Details
What It Is
CIS Critical Security Controls v8.1 is a community-driven, prescriptive cybersecurity framework of prioritized best practices to reduce cyber risk and enhance resilience. It targets common attack vectors through actionable safeguards, using a risk-based, phased Implementation Groups (IG1–IG3) approach scalable by organization maturity.
Key Components
- 18 Controls across asset management, data protection, vulnerability management, incident response, and penetration testing.
- 153 Safeguards decomposed into testable actions.
- Built on real-world attack data; IG1 (56 safeguards) for basic hygiene, IG2/IG3 for advanced needs.
- No formal certification; self-assessed compliance with mappings to NIST, PCI DSS, HIPAA.
Why Organizations Use It
- Mitigates 85% of common attacks, cuts breach costs, accelerates compliance.
- Builds trust with insurers, partners; enables Safe Harbor in some U.S. states.
- Delivers ROI via efficiency, reduced dwell time, competitive edge.
Implementation Overview
Phased roadmap: governance, gap analysis (1–3 months), IG1 execution (3–9 months), expansion (6–18 months). Applies to all sizes/industries; uses free Benchmarks, tools like CIS-CAT. Focuses on automation, metrics for continuous improvement. (178 words)
Key Differences
| Aspect | DORA | CIS Controls |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | ICT risk mgmt, resilience testing, third-party oversight in finance | 18 prioritized cybersecurity safeguards across all assets |
| Industry | EU financial entities & critical ICT providers | All industries, global applicability |
| Nature | Mandatory EU regulation, enforced by ESAs | Voluntary best practices framework |
| Testing | Annual basic tests, triennial TLPT for critical entities | Risk-based, IG-scaled vulnerability scans & pen testing |
| Penalties | Up to 2% global turnover fines | No legal penalties, operational risk only |
Scope
Industry
Nature
Testing
Penalties
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about DORA and CIS Controls
DORA FAQ
CIS Controls FAQ
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