Almost one in 10 cyber incidents now target financial services organisations. That statistic alone should focus minds in any management team. But it's not just the frequency of attacks that has changed. Today's threats are faster, harder to contain and more damaging than ever before.
 

According to CrowdStrike's 2025 Global Threat Report, attackers can move from an initial breach to spreading across an organisation's systems in as little as 51 seconds. And for wealth managers and financial institutions, it's not only your own organisation that matters, but also your technology vendors.
 

This is exactly why the Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA) now treats operational resilience as a board-level priority.

What DORA is asking of the industry
 

DORA is an EU regulation that entered into force in January 2023, with compliance requirements applying from January 2025. It creates a consistent framework for managing technology risk, handling incidents and overseeing third-party providers across Europe's financial sector. Unlike earlier guidance-based approaches, it places direct accountability on senior leadership and requires firms to prove they can prevent, detect and recover from disruptions. Resilience is now a regulatory requirement, not a best-practice aspiration.
 

The regulation covers banks, insurers, asset managers, investment firms and the critical technology providers that serve them. For organisations that have traditionally treated technology risk as an IT matter, DORA demands a very different approach to governance.

Why wealth managers are especially exposed
 

Wealth management depends on constant access to data, trading systems, performance reporting and client-facing tools. Even brief disruptions can affect client decisions, adviser productivity and the trust that underpins long-term relationships. The sensitivity of wealth clients and the complexity of everyday workflows place the sector squarely in DORA's sights.
 

Recent industry incidents have shown how quickly problems escalate when detection and response routines are not fully developed. A system outage that delays a report before a crucial client meeting damages credibility. A fraudulent email that exposes client data can do lasting harm to the relationship.
 

In an industry built on trust, one click on the wrong email can destroy what took years to build. Clients leave. Prospects remember your name for the wrong reasons.

What boards need to prioritise
 

Senior leadership teams are now expected to take direct responsibility for their organisation's operational resilience rather than delegating it entirely to technology or compliance functions. DORA makes this oversight explicit and holds boards accountable.
 

Key priorities include clear mapping of critical services and potential failure points, so the organisation understands which systems are essential to continued operation. Incident-response plans must be tested under realistic conditions, not merely documented. Reliable monitoring across the technology estate helps identify issues before they escalate. And strong supplier oversight ensures that third-party providers meet the same standards applied internally.

DORA-ready by design – How Infront supports you
 

Infront's systems are built within highly regulated environments, particularly Switzerland and Germany, where operational and security standards are already stringent. This means our governance, incident management and continuity frameworks are designed to support the level of operational resilience DORA expects from financial institutions.

Our approach supports clients in the core areas that matter most for DORA. On incident management, we run proactive vulnerability scanning to identify risks before they become problems, maintain professional incident-response processes and provide templates that support regulatory reporting requirements. For compliance reporting, we deliver penetration testing and risk reports alongside accessible, well-documented policies. And our information security practices meet the highest standards, including ISO 27001-certified data centres, robust data protection controls and regular security training across the organisation.
 

Decades of work with major European banks and wealth managers demonstrate this capability in practice. For firms evaluating their technology partners through a DORA lens, Infront offers infrastructure and governance designed for exactly this level of scrutiny.

The strategic advantage of getting resilience right
 

As clients become more aware of cybercrime risks, operational resilience is becoming a genuine differentiator. Firms that can demonstrate mature, well-tested technology infrastructure have an edge in competitive situations where trust and reliability matter.
 

Organisations that invest early in resilience capabilities protect adviser productivity, reduce friction in daily operations and avoid last-minute compliance pressure as DORA supervision tightens through 2026. Those that wait may find themselves managing regulatory remediation while trying to maintain business momentum.

Looking ahead
 

The threat environment facing financial institutions today leaves little margin for error. DORA reflects a recognition that operational resilience is fundamental to financial stability and client protection.

Now is the moment for boards and management teams to assess their resilience honestly and ensure their technology partners meet the level of discipline demanded by both the regulation and the clients they serve. The firms that treat resilience as a strategic advantage rather than a compliance burden will be best positioned for the years ahead.
 

DORA sets a new baseline for operational resilience. But the firms we work with don't aim for the baseline.
 

If you're ready to evaluate whether your technology infrastructure meets the standard your clients expect, complete the form to speak with our team.

Sources:

ENISA Threat Landscape: Finance Sector – January 2023 to June 2024

CrowdStrike 2025 Global Threat Report