Comprehensive implementation guide for insurance companies to achieve digital operational resilience and protect policyholder data
Insurance companies handle vast amounts of sensitive policyholder data and rely on complex ICT systems for underwriting, claims processing, and customer services. This digital dependency creates exposure to cyber threats, system failures, and operational disruptions.
DORA establishes a harmonized regulatory framework ensuring insurers maintain robust operational resilience, protect policyholder information, and guarantee service continuity even during major ICT incidents.
Insurance companies must ensure DORA compliance frameworks address these sector-specific systems while maintaining focus on operational resilience, data protection, and service continuity.
Establish comprehensive ICT risk framework integrated with Solvency II requirements, covering risk identification, assessment, mitigation, and continuous monitoring of insurance systems.
Implement incident detection and classification systems with mandatory reporting to EIOPA and national supervisors for major ICT incidents affecting insurance operations.
Conduct regular testing of critical insurance systems including vulnerability assessments, penetration testing, and TLPT for high-impact insurers.
Manage ICT service providers through enhanced due diligence, focusing on claims processors, policy administration vendors, and cloud service providers.
Participate in insurance sector threat intelligence sharing to enhance collective defense against cyber threats targeting the industry.
Insurance-tailored framework documenting ICT risk processes, governance structures, integration with Solvency II risk management, and specific controls for policyholder data protection.
Formal procedures for incident detection, classification (including claims system impacts), escalation, and reporting to EIOPA with defined timelines and communication plans.
Documented results from testing of policy administration, claims processing, and underwriting systems with vulnerability remediation plans and validation evidence.
Comprehensive policy for managing insurance-specific ICT providers including claims administrators, policy system vendors, and actuarial calculation services.
Detailed plans ensuring critical insurance operations (claims processing, policy issuance, customer service) continue during ICT disruptions with defined RTOs for priority services.
Our specialized team understands insurance operations and helps insurers implement DORA efficiently
Map all critical insurance ICT systems including policy administration, claims, underwriting, and customer portals to assess DORA scope.
Evaluate current ICT risk practices against DORA requirements, identifying gaps in incident response, testing, and third-party oversight.
Establish DORA compliance team with representatives from IT, underwriting, claims, compliance, and actuarial functions.
Develop insurance-tailored ICT risk framework integrated with Solvency II requirements and existing risk management systems.
Review contracts with policy system vendors, claims processors, and cloud providers to ensure DORA compliance and establish oversight.
Conduct resilience testing of critical insurance systems, validate incident procedures, and document results for regulatory reporting.
DORA compliance represents a strategic opportunity for insurance companies to strengthen operational resilience while protecting policyholder data and maintaining service continuity. By implementing robust ICT risk frameworks tailored to insurance operations, insurers demonstrate commitment to operational excellence and customer protection.
The insurance sector faces unique challenges with complex legacy systems, extensive third-party dependencies, and critical customer-facing services. DORA provides a structured approach to address these challenges systematically, transforming compliance into competitive advantage through enhanced resilience, customer trust, and regulatory alignment.