Security Strategies
How EASM Aligns With DORA Compliance
Robin Hill
January 27, 2025
Summary
Aligning with DORA doesn’t have to be a headache. With EASM, financial institutions can confidently support DORA’s requirements, from ICT risk management to third-party oversight and incident reporting. By continuously monitoring your digital footprint and reducing vulnerabilities, EASM isn’t just a compliance tool – it’s your ally in building resilience.

How EASM Can Align with DORA and Drive Compliance

If you’ve been keeping an eye on regulatory changes, you’ll know that the Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA) is making waves across financial services in the EU. Designed to ensure firms can withstand and recover from operational disruptions, DORA introduces robust requirements for cybersecurity, ICT risk management, and incident reporting.

At first glance, compliance might seem daunting. But External Attack Surface Management (EASM) could play a role in aligning with DORA. Let’s explore how EASM complements DORA’s specific clauses and helps firms stay ahead.

Understanding DORA’s Core Principles

Before diving into the EASM connection, let’s recap some essentials of DORA. It’s all about strengthening the resilience of financial institutions in the face of growing cyber threats. Among its key clauses are:

  1. Article 11 – ICT Risk Management: Firms are required to have comprehensive frameworks to identify, protect, and mitigate ICT risks.
  2. Article 28 – ICT Third-Party Risk: DORA mandates strong oversight of third-party providers, including supply chain risks.
  3. Annex XI – Threat-Led Penetration Testing (TLPT): Financial entities must conduct advanced testing to validate their resilience.
  4. Article 19 – Incident Reporting: Timely and structured reporting of significant ICT incidents is non-negotiable.

Now, let’s unpack how EASM fits into this puzzle.

Bridging EASM with DORA’s Clauses

EASM, at its core, is about discovering, monitoring, and managing your organisation’s digital footprint – even the parts you didn’t know existed. In a world where your attack surface extends far beyond your internal network, EASM acts as an ever-vigilant watchdog.

Article 11: Proactive ICT Risk Management

DORA’s emphasis on robust risk management aligns beautifully with EASM’s capabilities. By continuously scanning for exposed assets, misconfigurations, and shadow IT, EASM provides a dynamic inventory of risks in real-time. Whether it’s an unpatched server or a misconfigured cloud bucket, EASM helps financial institutions uncover vulnerabilities before attackers do.

Imagine the edge this gives you: instead of waiting for audits or manual checks, EASM ensures you’re always in the know. That’s not just compliance – it’s peace of mind.

Article 28: Third-Party Risk Management

One of the most challenging aspects of DORA is managing the risks posed by third-party providers. Your organisation’s security is only as strong as its weakest link, and EASM shines here.

EASM tools extend beyond your internal perimeter to monitor your vendors’ attack surfaces. If a supplier has exposed credentials or a public-facing vulnerability, EASM can alert you, enabling swift action. This proactive approach supports DORA’s requirement for continuous monitoring and oversight of third-party risks.

Annex XI: Threat-Led Penetration Testing

Penetration testing under DORA isn’t just a box-ticking exercise; it needs to reflect real-world threats. EASM doesn’t replace penetration testing, but it amplifies its effectiveness. By providing a comprehensive inventory of potential vulnerabilities, EASM ensures that penetration tests target the most critical areas, aligning with DORA’s standards.

Article 19: Incident Reporting

DORA Article 19 requires prompt reporting of significant ICT-related incidents. While EASM doesn’t directly trace attacks, it helps by identifying vulnerabilities, misconfigurations, and exposure that could be exploited. This proactive monitoring provides early warnings, allowing for quicker responses and ensuring timely incident reporting in line with DORA’s requirements.

Why EASM is a Game-Changer

Regulations like DORA can feel overwhelming, especially given the pace of change in cyber threats. But tools like EASM transform compliance from a reactive chore into a proactive strategy. Instead of scrambling to meet regulatory demands, you’re equipped to exceed them.

The beauty of EASM is that it doesn’t just tick compliance boxes. It enhances your organisation’s security posture, builds trust with customers, and strengthens relationships with regulators. That’s a win-win-win.

Robin Hill

Robin Hill, a co-founder of DarkInvader, brings over 20 years of success in corporate sales, primarily within the enterprise sector. He previously co-founded RandomStorm, a cybersecurity company that was successfully acquired by Accumuli PLC in 2014. Throughout his career, Robin has demonstrated a strong sales focus, driving growth and building lasting client relationships. His deep expertise in sales and his experience leading innovative security firms have positioned him as a key figure in both the business and cybersecurity landscapes.

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