As the European Union’s Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA) reshapes regulatory expectations, financial institutions face escalating demands to secure their digital ecosystems. From banks to IT service providers, organizations must adapt to meet stringent requirements for operational resilience and cybersecurity. But compliance isn’t just about ticking boxes; it’s about strengthening practices to mitigate modern cyber risks effectively.
Among the key technology enablers for DORA compliance is Privileged Access Management (PAM). While traditional PAM systems have long been implemented to control high-level access, they often fall short of DORA’s sophisticated standards. Enter Just-in-Time (JIT) access—a forward-thinking approach that enhances security, simplifies compliance, and boosts operational agility.
This deep-dive explores how DORA redefines access management, why JIT access is a game-changer, and actionable steps for financial institutions to adapt.
What is DORA, and Why Does It Matter?
The Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA), introduced by the EU, is a comprehensive regulation designed to ensure that financial institutions can withstand, respond to, and recover from operational disruption. By addressing digital resilience, DORA is particularly impactful in our hyper-connected, threat-laden landscape where cybersecurity is pivotal.
Who Does DORA Apply to?
DORA applies to a wide array of entities, including:
- Banks
- Insurance companies
- Investment firms
- Payment service providers
- IT service providers supporting financial institutions
Core DORA Mandates
Under DORA, organizations must:
- Ensure operational resilience: Build systems capable of maintaining key functions during crises or cyberattacks.
- Implement risk-based access controls: Tighten access to critical systems and tailor permissions based on risk.
- Maintain auditability: Log all system access for regulatory transparency and monitoring.
For IT and security teams, DORA isn’t just a compliance obligation. It’s a framework to enhance their organization’s ability to protect digital assets and withstand rapidly evolving threats.
Why Traditional PAM Falls Short
Privileged access—allowing high-level control over systems—is one of the most critical risk vectors in any organization. While traditional PAM solutions have helped to centralize and manage access, they often rely on standing privileges—preassigned permissions users retain even when not actively needed. This approach has exposed organizations to significant security and compliance risks, especially in a DORA-driven regulatory landscape.
Built for Legacy, Not for Agility
Traditional PAM tools were created to manage static, on-premises infrastructure. They lack the flexibility to adapt to the cloud-first, hybrid environments that dominate today’s organizations. This outdated architecture creates a significant gap when trying to implement risk-aware, just-in-time access or address modern compliance mandates like those required by DORA.
Hard to Implement and Maintain
Setting up and maintaining traditional PAM systems is notoriously complex, often requiring significant customization and IT resources. This not only increases operational costs but also slows down deployment timelines, making it difficult for organizations to meet regulatory deadlines.
Poor User Experience (UX)
Adoption of traditional PAM solutions is a constant challenge because of their clunky, unintuitive interfaces. End users often struggle to navigate these systems, leading to frustration, slow adoption, and potential workarounds that undermine security.
The Risks of Standing Privileges
Compounding these challenges, traditional PAM solutions rely heavily on standing privileges, where users retain preassigned permissions even when they are not actively needed. This creates specific security and compliance issues:
- Expanded Attack Surface – Overprovisioned accounts with unnecessary high-level access are easy targets for attackers, particularly if credentials are compromised.
- Compliance Gaps – Standing privileges make it difficult to document why access was granted, whether it was used appropriately, and whether it aligns with frameworks like DORA.
- Operational Inefficiencies – Manual access reviews and privilege adjustments place a heavy administrative burden on IT teams and increase the chance of oversight.
These inefficiencies and risks highlight the need for a dynamic, risk-aware approach to privileged access management—one that aligns with DORA’s mandates.
Just-in-Time Access (JIT): The Modern Solution
Just-in-Time (JIT) access is rapidly emerging as the preferred PAM strategy for organizations aiming to align with DORA’s requirements. Unlike traditional methods, JIT access completely eliminates standing privileges by granting temporary, on-demand access for users only when it is needed, for a specific task, and within a defined timeframe.
Once the task is complete, access is automatically revoked, greatly enhancing security and operational efficiency.
How JIT Access Aligns with DORA
- Reducing Security Risks
Temporary, purpose-driven access minimizes the attack surface. Even if access credentials are compromised, their limited validity significantly reduces the potential for misuse.
- Ensuring Auditability and Compliance
JIT workflows log every access request, approval, and activity in real-time. These detailed records allow organizations to meet DORA’s stringent audit and reporting requirements effortlessly.
- Enabling Resilience in Disruptions
JIT ensures that critical personnel can access essential systems securely and swiftly during crises or unplanned disruptions.
Beyond Compliance: The Wider Benefits of JIT Access
While JIT access is crucial for DORA compliance, its advantages extend far beyond regulatory alignment:
- Zero Trust Model Alignment
JIT access upholds the least privilege principle, dynamically granting permissions based on specific requirements. This aligns with Zero Trust strategies that reduce attack vectors.
- Mitigating Insider Threats
With temporary access, the risk of intentional or accidental misuse by employees and third-party contractors is greatly diminished.
- Enhanced Efficiency
Automating access workflows reduces administrative workload and accelerates time-sensitive tasks for IT and security teams.
- Scalability
JIT access solutions easily adapt as organizations grow, accommodating multiple users, systems, and environments.
Steps to Implement Just-in-Time Access for DORA Compliance
To integrate JIT access into your privileged access management framework, follow these essential steps:
Step 1. Define Access Policies
Establish clear guidelines about who can request access, under which conditions it is granted, and which resources are eligible. Ensure that these policies align with DORA’s requirements.
Step 2. Automate Access Workflows
Choose platforms or tools that automate access requests, approval processes, and permission revocations. Automating these steps ensures consistent and precise enforcement.
Step 3. Integrate with Existing Systems
Seamlessly integrate JIT access solutions with your existing PAM, IAM (Identity and Access Management), and monitoring tools to maintain operational continuity.
Step 4. Prepare for Audits
Leverage tools with detailed logging and reporting features to simplify compliance audits. Ensure auditors have full visibility into every action taken within the JIT system.
A Modern PAM Solution Built for DORA
For financial institutions seeking to simplify compliance and improve access security, solutions like Axiom’s Privileged Access Management stand out.
Why Choose Axiom?
Axiom offers:
- Cloud-Native Management built for today’s dynamic Cloud and SaaS environments.
- Granular Access Control via intelligent, just-in-time provisioning.
- Seamless Integrations with existing workflows, ensuring minimal disruption.
- Automated Workflows to eliminate standing privileges while boosting IT efficiency.
- User-Centric Design focused on streamlining both administrator and end-user experiences.
By aligning your PAM strategy with Axiom’s cutting-edge solution, your organization can ensure compliance while future-proofing its access security practices.
Raising the Bar for Operational Resilience
The Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA) signals a critical turning point for financial institutions. But this isn’t just about compliance—it’s an opportunity to modernize privileged access management, safeguard systems against complex threats, and reduce operational overhead.
Just-in-Time (JIT) access provides a clear path forward. By adopting JIT as a proactive solution, organizations can streamline audits, eliminate standing privileges, and meet DORA’s mandates while reinforcing robust security practices.
Is your institution ready for a DORA-compliant future? Now is the time to rethink your PAM strategy and explore advanced solutions like JIT access with Axiom.
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