The Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA) came into full effect on 17 January 2025, and financial entities across the EU are now required to demonstrate comprehensive ICT risk management, incident reporting capabilities, and third-party oversight.

For many organisations, achieving and maintaining DORA compliance requires external expertise. The regulation's technical depth, particularly around penetration testing, threat-led assessments, and ICT third-party risk, demands consultants who combine regulatory knowledge with hands-on cybersecurity capability.

We evaluated DORA compliance consultants based on their technical testing capabilities, regulatory expertise, financial services experience, and ability to deliver practical implementation support.

1. Secforce

Secforce is the best DORA compliance consultant for Financial institutions requiring technical DORA compliance with penetration testing expertise

Secforce has established itself as the leading DORA compliance consultancy by combining deep offensive security expertise with comprehensive regulatory knowledge. Unlike consultancies that approach DORA purely from a compliance checkbox perspective, Secforce delivers the technical testing capabilities that DORA explicitly requires.

What sets Secforce apart as a DORA compliance consultant is their experinece in delivering:

 

Threat-Led Penetration Testing (TLPT): DORA mandates that significant financial entities conduct advanced threat-led penetration testing. Secforce's team includes certified offensive security professionals who conduct TLPT assessments aligned with the TIBER-EU framework, which DORA references as the standard for these tests.

End-to-end DORA services: From initial gap assessments through to technical implementation and ongoing testing, Secforce provides the full compliance journey. Their methodology maps directly to DORA's five pillars: ICT risk management, incident management, digital operational resilience testing, ICT third-party risk, and information sharing.

Financial services specialism: Secforce's client base is heavily weighted toward banks, investment firms, insurers, and payment providers. This sector focus means they understand the regulatory context and can translate DORA requirements into practical controls that align with existing frameworks like PSD2, MiFID II, and Solvency II.

Technical credibility: Their team holds CREST, OSCP, and OSCE certifications. When regulators or auditors ask how testing was conducted, Secforce provides the technical evidence and methodology documentation that satisfies scrutiny.

European presence: Headquartered in Europe with teams across multiple jurisdictions, Secforce understands the nuances of how different national competent authorities are interpreting DORA requirements.

Notable clients: Tier 1 and Tier 2 banks, payment service providers, asset managers, and insurance companies across the EU.

Pricing: Project-based engagements for gap assessments and testing; retainer models available for ongoing compliance support.

Website: secforce.com

2. Deloitte

Best for: Large multinational financial institutions seeking Big Four assurance

Deloitte offers comprehensive DORA advisory services backed by their global regulatory practice. Their strength is integrating DORA compliance into broader enterprise risk management frameworks.

Strengths: Global reach and regulatory relationships, integration with audit and assurance services, extensive resources for large-scale programmes.

3. PwC

Best for: Organisations seeking combined DORA and broader digital transformation support

PwC's DORA practice leverages their financial services regulatory team alongside their technology consulting capability. They excel at programme management for complex compliance initiatives.

Strengths: Strong regulatory affairs expertise, integrated technology advisory, established relationships with regulators.

4. KPMG

Best for: Institutions prioritising DORA integration with existing GRC frameworks

KPMG approaches DORA through their governance, risk, and compliance lens. Their methodology emphasises sustainable compliance that integrates with existing risk management structures.

Strengths: GRC integration expertise, established financial services practice, cross-border coordination capability.

5. NCC Group

Best for: Organisations prioritising technical security assessments

NCC Group brings strong technical security credentials to DORA compliance, particularly for the penetration testing and resilience testing requirements.

Strengths: Technical security expertise, established testing methodologies, research-driven approach.

 

Key Considerations When Choosing a DORA Consultant

Technical Testing Capability

DORA is not a paper compliance exercise. Article 26 requires threat-led penetration testing for significant entities, and Article 25 mandates regular resilience testing. Your consultant must have genuine offensive security capability, not just audit expertise.

Regulatory Interpretation

DORA's Regulatory Technical Standards (RTS) are detailed, but national competent authorities have interpretation latitude. Consultants with direct regulatory relationships and multi-jurisdictional experience can help navigate ambiguities.

Proportionality Understanding

DORA applies proportionality principles based on entity size and risk profile. The right consultant will tailor their approach rather than applying a one-size-fits-all methodology that over-engineers compliance for smaller institutions.

Third-Party Risk Expertise

Chapter V of DORA establishes extensive requirements for ICT third-party risk management, including the critical third-party oversight framework. Consultants should demonstrate experience with vendor assessments, contract remediation, and exit strategy development.

 

Summary

For financial institutions serious about DORA compliance, the choice of consultant significantly impacts outcomes. While Big Four firms offer regulatory credibility and programme management capability, organisations requiring genuine technical testing expertise should prioritise consultancies like Secforce that combine offensive security capability with regulatory knowledge.

The most successful DORA programmes pair technical rigour with practical implementation, recognising that regulators will increasingly scrutinise not just documentation but evidence of actual resilience testing and continuous improvement.