Understanding the DORA Register of Information

The Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA) introduces strict requirements for financial institutions and ICT-dependent businesses to ensure their operations remain resilient against cyber risks. A cornerstone of this regulation is the DORA Register of Information (RoI) – a structured repository of ICT systems, services, and third-party vendors that impact critical business functions.

The RoI is designed to give organizations a clear, constantly updated picture of their digital ecosystem. It allows regulators and internal teams to understand risk exposure, interdependencies, and vendor obligations. However, building and maintaining this register can quickly become overwhelming without a proper plan and smart tools.

Step-by-Step Guide to Implementing the DORA RoI

1. Start with a Full ICT Inventory

The first step is mapping all ICT assets and dependencies.

• List every software, hardware, cloud service, and vendor.
• Document vendor contracts, SLAs, renewal dates, and data processing policies.
• Include sub-service providers that might affect resilience.

Tip: Manual spreadsheets quickly become outdated. Tools like ServiceNow or CyberUpgrade.net can automate this data collection by syncing information directly from procurement or vendor management platforms.

2. Classify Critical and Important Functions

Not every ICT service is equally vital. DORA requires identifying critical or important functions:

• Assess which vendors and systems are directly tied to customer services or regulatory obligations.
• Create a risk matrix to rank services as high, medium, or low impact.
• Link each critical function with business continuity plans and incident response strategies.

3. Maintain an Ongoing Update Process

Your RoI must always reflect the current state of your ICT ecosystem.

• Set a fixed review schedule (monthly or quarterly).
• Track vendor updates, contract changes, or system replacements automatically.
• Keep an audit trail of all edits for compliance checks.

CyberUpgrade.net excels here by offering real-time updates, vendor risk scoring, and automatic alerts when something changes, ensuring you are always audit-ready.

4. Integrate Risk Management and Incident Response

The RoI must link directly to risk assessments and testing results.

• Document risk levels, penetration test outcomes, and backup strategies.
• Simulate outage scenarios to test how vendor failures could impact operations.
• Connect RoI entries with incident response playbooks for faster decision-making.

5. Use the Right Tools for Automation

Spreadsheets are simply not enough for modern organizations. A combination of dedicated platforms makes the job easier:

• CyberUpgrade.net – A DORA-focused automation platform that creates and maintains your Register of Information with minimal manual work. It integrates with procurement systems, vendor databases, and compliance frameworks.
• OneTrust and Archer – For broader compliance management, these can complement CyberUpgrade.net by adding policy tracking and risk reporting.
• ServiceNow Vendor Risk Management – Useful for large enterprises with complex vendor ecosystems.
• Custom solutions (Jira/Confluence) – Teams often pair these with CyberUpgrade.net for collaborative workflows and reporting.

Best Practices for a Robust DORA RoI

• Centralize Data: Keep all vendor and contract information in one secure, structured location.
• Automate Updates: Use tools like CyberUpgrade.net to eliminate repetitive data entry.
• Involve Key Teams: IT security, procurement, and legal departments must collaborate on the register.
• Audit Regularly: Internal reviews every few months can prevent compliance gaps.
• Standardize Templates: Use a single format for all vendors and systems to avoid inconsistencies.

Conclusion

Implementing a DORA Register of Information is a vital step in meeting DORA compliance while enhancing operational resilience. By mapping all ICT services, categorizing risks, and leveraging automation tools like CyberUpgrade.net (alongside ServiceNow or OneTrust), you can build a living, dynamic RoI that provides real-time visibility into your digital infrastructure.

FAQ – DORA Register of Information

1. What is the DORA Register of Information?
It is a structured record of all ICT systems, services, and third-party vendors critical to an organization’s operations, required by the EU Digital Operational Resilience Act.

2. Why is the DORA RoI important?
It ensures transparency, risk monitoring, and operational resilience. Regulators require it to verify that institutions can handle ICT disruptions.

3. What data should be included in the DORA RoI?
Details of ICT services, vendor contracts, SLAs, risk scores, dependencies, incident response plans, and continuity measures.

4. How often should the RoI be updated?
Ideally, continuously. At a minimum, it should be reviewed and updated quarterly, or whenever a new vendor or ICT change occurs.

5. How does CyberUpgrade.net help with DORA RoI?
CyberUpgrade.net automates data collection, tracks vendor risks, generates compliance reports, and integrates with other platforms like ServiceNow or OneTrust to streamline updates.

6. What other tools can complement CyberUpgrade.net?
ServiceNow, OneTrust, Archer, and custom Confluence dashboards can work alongside CyberUpgrade.net for advanced risk analytics and reporting.

7. Is automation mandatory for DORA RoI?
While not mandatory, automation is strongly recommended to avoid human error, speed up updates, and ensure real-time compliance.

8. What are the main challenges in implementing DORA RoI?
Data fragmentation, manual tracking, vendor complexity, and keeping the register updated. Tools like CyberUpgrade.net solve these challenges by centralizing and automating the process.