Digital resilience is becoming increasingly critical for businesses, particularly in the heavily regulated financial sector. With the EU Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA), which came into force on 16 January 2023 and has been legally binding since 17 January 2025, the requirements for IT security, risk management, and compliance have significantly increased. Companies must continuously monitor their IT systems, conduct cybersecurity tests, and establish contingency plans. But how can these stringent requirements be efficiently implemented? The answer lies in the right technology platform.

DORA and Its Core Requirements

DORA aims to improve the digital resilience of businesses across the EU by enforcing uniform IT security standards. Financial institutions, insurance companies, and other regulated organisations must focus on the following key areas:

GitLab as a Technology Partner for DORA Compliance

1. Security & Compliance: Proactive Vulnerability Identification

DORA requires businesses to detect and resolve IT security vulnerabilities early. GitLab offers extensive security and compliance features, which are seamlessly integrated into the development process:

• SAST & DAST: Automated security scans for both source code (SAST) and running applications (DAST) to detect vulnerabilities early.
• Dependency Scanning & SCA: Monitoring software dependencies to minimise known security risks.
• Secret Detection: Identifying and blocking sensitive data (e.g., API keys) in the code to prevent data leaks.
  
  

2. Governance & Audit: Ensuring Regulatory Compliance

A core component of DORA is the transparent and traceable governance of IT processes. GitLab supports businesses with:

• Compliance Frameworks: Defining company-wide security policies and ensuring adherence.
• Audit Logs: Comprehensive tracking of all changes in the codebase and infrastructure.
• Merge Request Approval Rules: Ensuring that only reviewed and compliant code reaches production environments.

3. Incident Management: Rapid Response to Security Incidents

DORA mandates a structured approach to handling IT security incidents. GitLab enables efficient incident management through:

• Incident Tracking: Documenting, prioritising, and addressing security incidents.
• Automated Alerts: Real-time notifications for security threats via integration with monitoring tools.
• Forensic Analysis: Utilising audit data to identify root causes and prevent future incidents.

4. Third-Party Risks & Supply Chain Security

Regulated businesses must enforce stricter controls over their external service providers. GitLab facilitates this oversight with:

• Third-Party Dependency Scans: Automatically checking external software libraries for security risks.
• API Security & Governance: Providing control and transparency over external system integrations.

5. Business Continuity: Contingency Planning and Resilience

GitLab supports businesses in ensuring DORA-compliant operational resilience by providing:

• Disaster Recovery & High Availability: Guaranteeing IT continuity during disruptions.
• Backup & Restore Features: Rapid recovery of critical systems after IT failures.
  
  

Conclusion: Preparing for DORA – with GitLab!

Implementing the DORA regulation is not a one-off project but an ongoing process that integrates security, governance, and compliance. Businesses should assess whether their IT systems meet the new requirements and explore technology solutions that support compliance.

GitLab, as a DevSecOps platform, provides the essential tools to meet regulatory requirements seamlessly and enhance digital resilience in the long term. Acting early mitigates risks and offers a competitive advantage in an increasingly regulated IT landscape.

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