Effective Management of ICT Third-Party Risks under DORA
DORA Third-Party Risk Management
The DORA regulation sets comprehensive requirements for managing risks from critical ICT third-party providers. We support you in implementing a robust third-party risk management framework that meets regulatory requirements and minimizes operational risks.
- ✓Identification and classification of critical ICT service providers according to DORA criteria
- ✓Implementation of structured contract management according to DORA requirements
- ✓Development of strategy for exit plans and transition arrangements
- ✓Establishment of monitoring and audit processes for ICT third parties
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DORA Third-Party Risk Management
Our Strengths
- Deep expertise in regulatory requirements of the DORA regulation
- Experience in implementing third-party risk management frameworks in financial institutions
- Proven methodology for implementing DORA-compliant processes
- Holistic approach that combines regulatory requirements with operational effectiveness
⚠
Expert Tip
DORA requirements for third-party risk management go far beyond traditional supplier management processes. Early implementation of necessary structures and processes is crucial to meet compliance deadlines and minimize regulatory risks.
ADVISORI in Numbers
11+
Years of Experience
120+
Employees
520+
Projects
We support you in implementing a DORA-compliant third-party risk management framework through a structured and proven approach.
Our Approach:
Assessment of existing third-party risk management and identification of gaps
Development of DORA-compliant strategy and governance structure
Implementation of processes for identifying and classifying critical service providers
Establishment of monitoring and control mechanisms for critical ICT service providers
Integration into overall ICT risk management and incident management
"At ADVISORI, we anchor third-party risk management according to DORA throughout your entire supply chain. We rely on clear governance, end-to-end transparency, and exit-capable contracts so that financial institutions meet regulatory requirements, strengthen digital resilience, and proactively manage outsourcing risks - quickly, measurably, and audit-proof."
Sarah Richter
Head of Information Security, Cyber Security
Expertise & Experience:
10+ years of experience, CISA, CISM, Lead Auditor, DORA, NIS2, BCM, Cyber and Information Security
DORA Audit Packages
Our DORA audit packages offer a structured assessment of your ICT risk management – aligned with regulatory requirements according to DORA. Get an overview here:
View DORA Audit PackagesOur Services
We offer you tailored solutions for your digital transformation
DORA Third-Party Risk Assessment
Systematic identification and assessment of critical ICT service providers according to DORA criteria.
- Development of criticality model for ICT service providers
- Assessment and classification of existing ICT service providers
- Identification of concentration and dependency risks
- Development of risk management measures for critical service providers
DORA Contract Management
Development of DORA-compliant contract structures and clauses for ICT service providers.
- Gap analysis of existing contracts with critical ICT service providers
- Development of contract standards and clauses according to DORA requirements
- Establishment of processes for managing subcontractors
- Support in contract adjustment and renegotiation
Looking for a complete overview of all our services?
View Complete Service OverviewOur Areas of Expertise in Regulatory Compliance Management
Our expertise in managing regulatory compliance and transformation, including DORA.
DORA Digital Operational Resilience Act
Stärken Sie Ihre digitale operationelle Widerstandsfähigkeit gemäß DORA.
▼
Regulatory Transformation Projektmanagement
Wir steuern Ihre regulatorischen Transformationsprojekte erfolgreich – von der Konzeption bis zur nachhaltigen Implementierung.
▼
Frequently Asked Questions about DORA Third-Party Risk Management
What are the key DORA requirements for third-party risk management?
DORA establishes comprehensive requirements for managing risks from ICT third-party service providers.
🎯 **Core Requirements:**
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Identification and classification of critical ICT third parties
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Comprehensive due diligence before engagement
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Contractual requirements including audit rights and exit plans
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Continuous monitoring and oversight
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Register of all ICT third-party arrangements
📊 **Specific Obligations:**
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Risk assessment of concentration and dependencies
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Subcontracting oversight and approval
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Incident notification requirements
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Regular performance reviews
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Exit strategies and transition plans
💡 **Strategic Importance:**Third-party risk management is not just compliance; it's essential for operational resilience and business continuity in an increasingly outsourced environment.
How do we identify critical ICT third-party service providers?
Identifying critical third parties requires systematic assessment against defined criteria.
🎯 **Criticality Criteria:**
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Support for critical or important functions
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Difficulty of substitution or replacement
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Impact of failure on operations
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Concentration of services with single provider
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Access to sensitive data or systems
📊 **Assessment Process:**
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Inventory all ICT third-party arrangements
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Map services to business functions
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Assess criticality using defined criteria
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Consider dependencies and concentrations
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Document classification decisions
💡 **Dynamic Assessment:**Criticality can change over time. Regularly review classifications as business needs and dependencies evolve.
What contractual provisions are required under DORA?
DORA mandates specific contractual provisions for arrangements with critical ICT third parties.
🎯 **Mandatory Provisions:**
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Clear service level agreements and performance metrics
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Audit rights and access to information
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Subcontracting restrictions and approval requirements
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Data location and processing requirements
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Exit strategies and transition assistance
📊 **Additional Requirements:**
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Incident notification obligations
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Business continuity and disaster recovery
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Security requirements and controls
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Regulatory cooperation and inspection rights
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Liability and indemnification clauses
💡 **Negotiation Strategy:**Start renegotiating contracts early. Many providers will need time to adapt their standard terms to DORA requirements.
How do we conduct effective due diligence on ICT third parties?
Comprehensive due diligence is essential before engaging critical ICT third parties.
🎯 **Due Diligence Areas:**
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Financial stability and viability
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Technical capabilities and expertise
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Security controls and certifications
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Business continuity and disaster recovery
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Regulatory compliance and track record
📊 **Assessment Methods:**
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Questionnaires and self-assessments
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On-site visits and inspections
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Third-party audit reports and certifications
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Reference checks and market reputation
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Pilot projects and proof of concepts
💡 **Risk-Based Approach:**Scale due diligence depth to criticality. Critical providers warrant more extensive assessment than less critical ones.
What monitoring and oversight mechanisms should we establish?
Continuous monitoring ensures third parties maintain required standards and performance.
🎯 **Monitoring Mechanisms:**
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Performance metrics and SLA tracking
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Security incident monitoring and reporting
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Regular status meetings and reviews
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Periodic audits and assessments
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Continuous risk assessment updates
📊 **Oversight Activities:**
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Quarterly business reviews
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Annual comprehensive assessments
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Ad-hoc reviews triggered by incidents or changes
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Regulatory compliance monitoring
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Financial health monitoring
💡 **Proactive Management:**Don't wait for problems to surface. Proactive monitoring identifies issues early when they're easier to address.
How do we manage concentration risk in third-party arrangements?
Concentration risk arises when multiple critical services depend on single providers.
🎯 **Concentration Types:**
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Single provider for multiple critical services
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Multiple providers using same subcontractor
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Geographic concentration of data centers
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Technology stack dependencies
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Interconnected provider ecosystems
📊 **Management Strategies:**
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Diversification of critical services across providers
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Multi-sourcing strategies where feasible
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Enhanced monitoring of concentrated arrangements
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Robust contingency and exit plans
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Regular concentration risk assessments
💡 **Balanced Approach:**Balance concentration risk with efficiency and cost. Complete diversification may not be practical or cost-effective.
What are the requirements for managing subcontractors?
DORA requires oversight of subcontracting arrangements by critical ICT third parties.
🎯 **Subcontracting Requirements:**
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Prior notification and approval of subcontracting
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Assessment of subcontractor risks
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Flow-down of contractual requirements
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Visibility into subcontracting chains
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Right to audit subcontractors
📊 **Management Approach:**
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Define approval criteria and process
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Assess subcontractor criticality and risk
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Ensure contractual flow-down of requirements
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Monitor subcontractor performance
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Maintain subcontractor register
💡 **Supply Chain Visibility:**Understand your full supply chain. Hidden dependencies on subcontractors can create unexpected risks.
How do we develop effective exit strategies?
Exit strategies ensure business continuity if third-party arrangements must be terminated.
🎯 **Exit Strategy Components:**
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Transition assistance obligations
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Data extraction and portability
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Knowledge transfer requirements
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Minimum notice periods
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Continued service during transition
📊 **Planning Elements:**
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Identification of alternative providers
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Transition timelines and milestones
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Resource requirements and costs
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Testing and validation of exit plans
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Regular review and updates
💡 **Proactive Planning:**Develop exit strategies before you need them. Waiting until problems arise makes orderly transitions much harder.
What information must be maintained in the third-party register?
DORA requires maintaining a comprehensive register of ICT third-party arrangements.
🎯 **Required Information:**
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Provider identification and contact details
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Services provided and criticality classification
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Contract dates and renewal terms
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Data processing and location information
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Subcontracting arrangements
📊 **Additional Details:**
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Risk assessments and ratings
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Performance metrics and issues
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Audit results and findings
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Incident history
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Exit plan status
💡 **Living Register:**Treat the register as a living document that's regularly updated. Stale information undermines its value for risk management and regulatory reporting.
How do we handle third-party incidents under DORA?
Third-party incidents require coordinated response and may trigger reporting obligations.
🎯 **Incident Management:**
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Clear notification requirements in contracts
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Defined escalation procedures
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Coordinated incident response
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Root cause analysis and remediation
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Lessons learned and improvement actions
📊 **Reporting Considerations:**
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Assessment of incident reportability under DORA
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Coordination of regulatory notifications
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Communication with affected stakeholders
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Documentation for regulatory inquiries
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Post-incident reviews and improvements
💡 **Preparedness:**Test incident response procedures with critical providers. Tabletop exercises identify gaps before real incidents occur.
What audit rights should we include in contracts?
Comprehensive audit rights are essential for oversight and DORA compliance.
🎯 **Audit Rights:**
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Right to conduct on-site audits
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Access to relevant documentation and records
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Ability to use third-party auditors
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Audit of subcontractors
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Regulatory authority audit rights
📊 **Audit Scope:**
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Security controls and practices
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Business continuity capabilities
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Compliance with contractual obligations
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Data handling and protection
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Incident management processes
💡 **Practical Implementation:**Balance audit rights with provider concerns. Consider pooled audits or reliance on independent certifications to reduce burden.
How do we assess and manage data location risks?
Data location is a critical consideration for DORA compliance and operational resilience.
🎯 **Data Location Considerations:**
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Regulatory requirements for data residency
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Jurisdictional risks and legal frameworks
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Data sovereignty and access laws
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Latency and performance implications
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Disaster recovery and backup locations
📊 **Management Approach:**
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Clear contractual specifications of data locations
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Restrictions on data transfers
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Notification requirements for location changes
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Regular verification and audits
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Contingency plans for jurisdictional issues
💡 **Transparency:**Ensure complete transparency on data locations, including backups and disaster recovery sites. Hidden data locations create compliance and operational risks.
What are the challenges in implementing DORA third-party requirements?
Understanding challenges helps organizations prepare and develop mitigation strategies.
🎯 **Common Challenges:**
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Resistance from providers to new requirements
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Legacy contracts without DORA provisions
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Limited leverage with large providers
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Resource constraints for oversight
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Complexity of supply chains
📊 **Mitigation Strategies:**
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Early engagement with providers
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Phased contract renegotiation approach
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Industry collaboration on standards
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Risk-based prioritization of efforts
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Use of technology for efficiency
💡 **Persistence:**Contract renegotiation takes time. Start early and be persistent. Providers are facing similar requests from many clients.
How do we manage third-party risks for cloud services?
Cloud services present unique third-party risk management challenges.
🎯 **Cloud-Specific Risks:**
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Shared responsibility model complexities
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Multi-tenancy security concerns
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Data location and sovereignty
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Vendor lock-in and portability
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Rapid service changes and updates
📊 **Management Approach:**
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Clear definition of responsibilities
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Enhanced due diligence of cloud providers
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Cloud security posture management
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Regular security assessments
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Exit and migration planning
💡 **Shared Responsibility:**Understand the shared responsibility model. You remain responsible for risks even when using cloud services.
What governance structure is needed for third-party risk management?
Effective governance ensures consistent and comprehensive third-party risk management.
🎯 **Governance Elements:**
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Board-level oversight and accountability
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Dedicated third-party risk management function
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Clear policies and procedures
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Risk committee involvement
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Regular reporting and escalation
📊 **Organizational Structure:**
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Centralized oversight with distributed execution
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Clear roles and responsibilities
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Coordination across functions (procurement, legal, risk, IT)
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Escalation procedures for issues
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Performance metrics and KPIs
💡 **Integration:**Integrate third-party risk management with overall risk governance. Avoid creating siloed processes that don't connect to enterprise risk management.
How do we handle third-party arrangements that predate DORA?
Existing arrangements must be brought into compliance with DORA requirements.
🎯 **Remediation Approach:**
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Inventory and assess all existing arrangements
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Prioritize based on criticality and risk
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Develop remediation plans for each arrangement
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Negotiate contract amendments or addendums
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Document interim risk mitigation measures
📊 **Transition Strategy:**
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Phased approach based on contract renewal dates
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Risk-based prioritization of renegotiations
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Alternative providers for non-compliant arrangements
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Interim controls while renegotiating
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Regular progress tracking and reporting
💡 **Pragmatic Approach:**Be pragmatic about timelines. Complete compliance may take years for some arrangements. Focus on critical providers first.
What tools and technologies support third-party risk management?
Appropriate tools enhance efficiency and effectiveness of third-party risk management.
🎯 **Core Technologies:**
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Third-party risk management platforms
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Contract lifecycle management systems
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Vendor performance monitoring tools
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Risk assessment and scoring systems
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Document and evidence repositories
📊 **Advanced Capabilities:**
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Automated risk assessments and scoring
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Continuous monitoring and alerting
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Workflow automation for approvals
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Analytics and reporting dashboards
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Integration with procurement and finance systems
💡 **Tool Selection:**Choose tools that scale with your third-party portfolio and integrate with existing systems. Avoid over-engineering for small portfolios.
How do we train staff on third-party risk management?
Comprehensive training ensures staff understand their roles and responsibilities.
🎯 **Training Programs:**
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DORA requirements and implications
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Third-party risk assessment methodologies
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Contract negotiation and management
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Monitoring and oversight procedures
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Incident response and escalation
📊 **Target Audiences:**
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Procurement and vendor management teams
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Risk and compliance professionals
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IT and security staff
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Business unit managers
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Legal and contract teams
💡 **Continuous Learning:**Third-party risk management evolves. Provide regular updates on regulatory changes, emerging risks, and lessons learned from incidents.
What are the cost implications of DORA third-party requirements?
Understanding costs helps with budgeting and resource planning.
🎯 **Cost Categories:**
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Contract renegotiation and legal costs
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Enhanced due diligence and assessments
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Monitoring and oversight activities
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Technology and tools
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Additional resources and expertise
📊 **Ongoing Costs:**
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Regular audits and assessments
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Performance monitoring
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Training and awareness
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Incident response and remediation
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Exit planning and testing
💡 **Investment Perspective:**View costs as investment in resilience and risk reduction. Effective third-party risk management prevents costly incidents and disruptions.
How do we demonstrate DORA compliance for third-party risk management?
Demonstrating compliance requires comprehensive documentation and evidence.
🎯 **Evidence Requirements:**
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Third-party register and classifications
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Due diligence documentation
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Contracts with DORA provisions
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Monitoring and oversight records
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Audit reports and findings
📊 **Compliance Activities:**
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Regular self-assessments
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Internal audits
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Management reporting
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Regulatory submissions
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Continuous improvement actions
💡 **Proactive Approach:**Maintain evidence continuously, not just before audits. Good documentation practices make regulatory reviews much smoother and demonstrate commitment to compliance.
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