6 min read
In today’s digital-first economy, the resilience and security of information systems are essential to business continuity, customer trust, and regulatory compliance. For high-value software providers, particularly those serving critical sectors such as finance, healthcare, and government, meeting global standards and regulatory expectations is more than a best practice; it is a necessity.
Two frameworks stand out in this context: ISO/IEC 27001:2022, the international standard for information security management, and the EU’s Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA), a regulation tailored for the financial sector and its third-party Information and Communications Technology providers. Aligning with both is crucial for software companies aiming to build robust, scalable, and trusted services. This article explores why ISO 27001:2022 and DORA compliance matter, how they intersect, and the benefits of integrating both into organisation’s operations.
ISO 27001 is a globally recognised standard that provides a framework for establishing, implementing, maintaining, and continuously improving an Information Security Management System (ISMS). The 2022 revision introduces updates that more accurately reflect today’s evolving threat landscape, encompassing risks associated with cloud computing and supply chain attacks.
Some notable changes include a stronger emphasis on risk-based thinking, more structured controls aligned with ISO/IEC 27002:2022, and new requirements in areas such as secure software development, threat intelligence, and cloud service governance. These are particularly relevant for software providers delivering SaaS, platform infrastructure, or embedded technologies into client systems.
For high-value software companies, ISO 27001:2022 does more than meet compliance expectations. It helps embed security as a business strategy. By adopting the standard, organisations commit to systematic risk assessment, implementation of controls, continuous monitoring, and top-level accountability. The certification is also widely recognised in procurement processes and tenders, especially in regulated industries, offering a competitive edge when proving cybersecurity maturity to potential clients or investors.
The Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA), introduced by the European Union and enforceable from January 2025, aims to ensure that financial entities can withstand, respond to, and recover from ICT-related disruptions. Notably, DORA extends its scope beyond financial institutions to encompass ICT third-party service providers, many of whom are software vendors offering critical systems or services.
Unlike data protection laws such as the GDPR, DORA focuses specifically on digital operational resilience. This includes requirements for:
ICT risk management frameworks
Incident reporting and classification
Advanced digital resilience testing (e.g. TLPT – Threat-Led Penetration Testing)
Oversight of third-party risk and supply chain security
Under DORA, software providers who are deemed critical to the financial ecosystem,
for example, those offering core banking platforms, payment systems, or authentication services, may be subject to direct regulatory oversight by European Supervisory Authorities.
This marks a significant shift. The onus is no longer only on financial firms to protect their operations; it now extends to the vendors they rely on. For software companies, this means compliance with DORA becomes a business enabler. Without it, maintaining contracts or onboarding new financial clients in the EU may become increasingly complex.
Although ISO 27001:2022 and DORA originate from different contexts, one a voluntary standard, the other a legal requirement, they are complementary. Both demand rigorous information security controls, governance mechanisms, and incident response capabilities.
Organisations already aligned with ISO 27001:2022 will find they have a solid foundation for many of DORA’s obligations. For example:
Risk assessments, a core part of ISO 27001, align closely with DORA’s ICT risk management expectations.
Security policies and procedures, central to ISO, support DORA’s operational resilience framework.
Business continuity planning and incident response, addressed in both, are key to mitigating digital disruption.
However, ISO 27001 certification alone is not sufficient for full DORA compliance. Additional DORA-specific tasks, such as incident classification reporting, digital operational resilience testing, and maintaining the third-party register, require focused implementation and cross-functional coordination.
The advantage for ISO 27001-certified software providers is that they’ve already built a culture of structured risk management, documented controls, and continuous improvement. Expanding from this base to meet DORA requirements is a strategic evolution rather than a start-from-scratch exercise.
Strategic Benefits for Software Providers
Embracing ISO 27001:2022 and DORA delivers more than compliance; it unlocks strategic value. For high-value software providers, this includes:
Regulated clients, particularly those in finance, are under increasing scrutiny. They want assurance that their vendors meet the same high standards they are held to. Demonstrating alignment with ISO 27001 and readiness for DORA builds confidence and credibility, often serving as a differentiator in competitive RFPs or audits.
Compliance with these frameworks requires top-down leadership, cross-departmental collaboration, and continuous improvement. This leads to more resilient operations, better risk visibility, and improved response capabilities to cyber incidents or service disruptions.
With regulations tightening globally, investing in robust frameworks now makes it easier to adapt to future legislation. ISO and DORA also overlap with numerous other standards, including NIS2, the UK’s Operational Resilience Framework, and global cloud security benchmarks.
As cyberattacks increasingly target vendors and partners, demonstrating governance and security across the software supply chain builds trust not only with clients but also with insurers, partners, and investors.
In an era where digital infrastructure underpins every critical service, the stakes for software providers have never been higher. ISO 27001:2022 and DORA represent two pillars of a future-proof, secure, and resilient software business.
ISO 27001 provides the discipline, structure, and best practices to manage information security risks at scale. DORA brings regulatory clarity and an operational resilience lens to the equation, especially for those operating in or serving the EU financial sector.
For high-value software providers, the message is clear: begin aligning now. These frameworks are not just about avoiding fines or passing audits, they are about building the kind of trusted, secure foundation that clients and regulators now demand. In doing so, an organisation positions itself not only to comply but to lead in a future defined by trust, continuity, and digital resilience.
Since inception, Spixii worked solely on the automation of high-value requests and being certified ISO 27 001 was a natural aspirations for us. Being certified since 2020 means that now this standards is a core part of our modus operandi. With the recent inception of DORA, due the nature of the added value our platform adds on operations, we were not surprised being classified as a CIF (Critical or Important Functions). Learning from both frameworks, our operations went to the next level cementing our competitive advantage in working with finance, healthcare, and government institutions for their high-value processes. Feel free to reach out to us here if you would like to learn more.