In 2025, a major shift took place across Europe’s financial sector. That’s the day when the Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA) came into force. It marked a significant turning point for banks and financial institutions, not just in how they manage digital risk, but in how they structure, select, and govern their core banking systems.
It’s not just another compliance checkbox. DORA is about making sure that the systems banks rely on every day, especially their core banking software, are built to withstand, recover from, and report on any ICT-related disruption. Whether it’s a cyberattack, a systems failure, or a breakdown in outsourced services, the regulation sets clear expectations for operational resilience.
But how does that affect the technology at the heart of your operations?
Let’s take a closer look.
From Infrastructure to Accountability
DORA is ambitious in scope. It touches everything from risk management to incident reporting, from penetration testing to governance. And it leaves no room for ambiguity when it comes to who’s responsible, under Article 5 of DORA, the management body is explicitly responsible for defining, approving, and overseeing the ICT risk management framework, making operational resilience a direct board-level obligation.
Naturally, this puts the spotlight on core banking platforms.
These systems are not just the digital plumbing that moves money. They process sensitive data, connect to payment networks, link to mobile apps, manage loan workflows, and often serve as the front line of customer interaction. If something goes wrong here, the consequences ripple across the institution, and beyond.
DORA makes one thing clear: if your core system can’t support resilience and control, it’s a liability.
Why Traditional Approaches Are No Longer Enough
Many banks still run on legacy systems, robust in their time, but often rigid, complex, and difficult to monitor in real time. At the same time, others have moved toward cloud-based platforms, attracted by speed and scalability. But DORA brings both of these strategies into question.
Legacy platforms often lack features that DORA treats as essential. On the other hand, cloud-native solutions may expose institutions to outsourcing risk, one of DORA’s biggest red flags.
Under the regulation, banks must have visibility and control over all ICT providers. That includes understanding where the data is processed, who maintains the infrastructure, and how the service is supervised. If a third party fails and you can’t explain it, you’re still accountable.
This is where software architecture matters more than ever before.
Why Aspekt Product Suite Was Ready?
While others scrambled to re-engineer their systems or renegotiate vendor contracts, institutions that implemented Aspekt Product Suite were already operating from a position of strength.
Built with on-premise deployment as standard, Aspekt gave banks full control over infrastructure, access, and data, which govern third-party ICT risk.
To meet DORA’s expectations, core banking software must do more than process transactions. It must:
- Give banks full control over their infrastructure
- Enable auditability and clear incident reporting
- Allow for phased modernization, testing, and isolation of components
- Avoid hidden dependencies and third-party risks
That’s exactly the thinking behind the Aspekt Product Suite.
Unlike cloud-first platforms or legacy cores tied to external providers, Aspekt is designed to be deployed entirely on-premise, under the full ownership of the institution. That means no opaque cloud layers, no subcontracted hosting, and no “black box” services. You know where your data is, who has access, and how every part of the system behaves.
The modular architecture also means you can implement exactly what you need, whether it’s loan origination, risk management, credit scoring, or customer servicing, and expand it at your own pace, without disruption. That’s key when you need to introduce resilience testing or incident monitoring gradually, in line with DORA’s evolving enforcement approach.
The Outcome: More Control, Less Risk
For banks that adopted Aspekt Product Suite, the post-DORA period did not bring panic, it brought confirmation. Their architecture supported the new reality. Their teams had the visibility, documentation, and control required to meet regulatory expectations confidently.
They didn’t just comply, they built trust. And for many of them, this architecture is now helping them go further: improving data governance and creating new digital products without regulatory risk holding them back.
Looking Ahead: Beyond 2026
DORA is no longer a future requirement. It is now a permanent part of the financial regulatory landscape in Europe.
Institutions that invested early in resilient, modular, and transparent platforms are already seeing the benefits, in reduced operational risk, faster audit response, and increased credibility with partners and regulators.
For others, the message is clear: resilience is no longer optional, and your core banking software is central to delivering it.
But here’s the opportunity: by modernizing your core systems with regulation in mind, you’re not just avoiding penalties, you’re gaining trust. You’re showing clients, partners, and regulators that your institution is not only secure, but also structured for long-term digital resilience.
And with the right platform, like Aspekt Product Suite, you don’t have to trade control for innovation.
Ready to make resilience part of your core? Contact us at sales@aspekt.mk.
