Standards Comparison

    DORA

    Mandatory
    2023

    EU regulation for digital operational resilience in financial sector

    VS

    ISO 17025

    Voluntary
    2017

    International standard for testing and calibration laboratory competence.

    Quick Verdict

    DORA mandates ICT resilience for EU financial firms via risk management and testing, ensuring regulatory compliance. ISO 17025 accredits testing labs worldwide for technical competence and impartiality. Firms adopt DORA to avoid fines; ISO 17025 for market trust.

    Digital Operational Resilience

    DORA

    Regulation (EU) 2022/2554 Digital Operational Resilience Act

    Cost
    €€€€
    Complexity
    High
    Implementation Time
    18-24 months

    Key Features

    • Mandates comprehensive ICT risk management frameworks overseen by management body
    • Requires 4-hour initial notifications for major ICT incidents
    • Mandates risk-based resilience testing including triennial TLPT
    • Establishes oversight of critical third-party ICT providers
    • Harmonizes rules across 27 EU member states
    Laboratory Quality

    ISO 17025

    ISO/IEC 17025:2017 General requirements for competence

    Cost
    €€€€
    Complexity
    High
    Implementation Time
    12-18 months

    Key Features

    • Ensures competence, impartiality, and consistent laboratory operation
    • Requires metrological traceability and measurement uncertainty evaluation
    • Mandates risk-based thinking across processes and management
    • Supports accreditation for global result acceptance via ILAC
    • Offers flexible management system options A or B

    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), formally Regulation (EU) 2022/2554, is an EU regulation enhancing financial sector resilience against ICT disruptions like cyberattacks and third-party failures. Applicable from January 17, 2025, it covers 20 financial entity types and critical third-party providers (CTPPs). It uses a proportionality-based, risk-centric methodology.

    Key Components

    • **ICT Risk Management FrameworksStrategies for risk identification, mitigation, and annual reviews.
    • **Incident Reporting4-hour initial alerts, 72-hour updates, 1-month analyses.
    • **Resilience TestingAnnual basic tests, triennial threat-led penetration testing (TLPT).
    • **Third-Party OversightDue diligence, monitoring, and ESAs supervision of CTPPs. Built on harmonized standards with ESAs enforcement.

    Why Organizations Use It

    Mandatory for EU financial entities to avoid 2% turnover fines. It counters cyber threats (74% ransomware hit rate), harmonizes national rules, boosts resilience, and builds regulator/stakeholder trust. Enables proactive risk management and cybersecurity innovation.

    Implementation Overview

    Involves gap analyses, framework development, testing rollout, vendor mapping. Scaled by size/complexity for EU financial organizations. Key steps: training, tools adoption, reporting setup; guided by 2024 RTS/ITS.

    ISO 17025 Details

    What It Is

    ISO/IEC 17025:2017 is the international standard specifying general requirements for the competence, impartiality, and consistent operation of testing and calibration laboratories. It applies a risk-based, performance-oriented approach to ensure technically valid results, emphasizing metrological traceability and measurement uncertainty.

    Key Components

    • Eight core elements: general (impartiality/confidentiality), structural, resource, process, and management system requirements.
    • Focuses on personnel competence, facilities, equipment, method validation, sampling, reporting, and audits.
    • Built on risk-based thinking; offers Option A (standalone) or B (ISO 9001-integrated) management systems.
    • Leads to accreditation by bodies like ILAC signatories, not certification.

    Why Organizations Use It

    • Enables market access, regulatory acceptance, and international result recognition.
    • Mitigates risks from invalid results in safety-critical sectors.
    • Builds stakeholder trust via demonstrated competence and impartiality.
    • Provides competitive edge through efficiency and credibility.

    Implementation Overview

    • Phased PDCA: gap analysis, documentation, training, validation, audits.
    • Suited for labs in manufacturing, environment, food; all sizes, global.
    • Requires accreditation body assessments with witnessed testing. (178 words)

    Key Differences

    Scope

    DORA
    Digital operational resilience for ICT risks
    ISO 17025
    Competence of testing/calibration labs

    Industry

    DORA
    EU financial sector entities
    ISO 17025
    Testing/calibration labs globally

    Nature

    DORA
    Mandatory EU regulation
    ISO 17025
    Voluntary accreditation standard

    Testing

    DORA
    Annual basic, triennial TLPT
    ISO 17025
    Proficiency testing, internal audits

    Penalties

    DORA
    Up to 2% global turnover fines
    ISO 17025
    Loss of accreditation

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Common questions about DORA and ISO 17025

    DORA FAQ

    ISO 17025 FAQ

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