Operational resilience has evolved from a matter of preparation to one of demonstration. Financial institutions are now tasked with showing that resilience is part of everyday decision-making and operational execution, not a theoretical future state. Firms are expected to demonstrate that they can continue delivering critical services during disruption. At the same time, boards want confidence that resilience programs are sustainable and tied to long-term business value.
Meeting compliance requirements is just the first milestone on the path to true resilience. The next challenge for executives is to build resilience into everyday operations in ways that lower cost, improve efficiency, and strengthen trust.
What Do Regulators Expect from Resilience Programs After 2025?
Regulators now expect firms to prove that they’re working to improve operational resilience for financial services every day. That means being clear about which services matter most, setting limits on how much disruption the organization can tolerate, and showing through testing that those limits can be met. These are no longer tasks that can be done once a year and filed away.
For global institutions, achieving consistency is a constant challenge. Varying processes across jurisdictions create duplication, add cost, and make it difficult to manage resilience at scale. Differing regulatory approaches only add complexity. In the UK, the Bank of England, Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA), and Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) require firms to show they can maintain important business services within set impact tolerances during severe but plausible disruptions.
By contrast, the EU’s Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA) introduces a more prescriptive, rules-based model, with specific requirements for ICT (information and communication technology) risk management, dependency mapping, testing, and third-party oversight. A unified approach helps reduce complexity and gives stakeholders greater confidence that their organization can deliver on their customer promise in times of crisis.
Why Is Scaling Operational Resilience Still So Difficult?
Many firms are still focused on meeting initial regulatory requirements. Building resilience that is both reliable and scalable remains a major challenge. Legacy audit, compliance, and IT service management (ITSM) tools weren’t built for resilience, leaving risk, continuity, IT, and third-party teams working in silos.
Manual processes like spreadsheets and ad hoc workflows make things worse. They slow decisions, create blind spots, and drive up costs. Too often, resilience programs are shaped by audit demands instead of serving as continuous, forward-looking strategies. Too often, compliance is achieved without delivering what matters most: the visibility, speed, and confidence to lead through disruption.
How Can Technology Accelerate and Sustain Operational Resilience?
Sustained operational resilience in financial services depends on tools that are built for the task. Generalist or homegrown systems and manual processes create inefficiencies and increased vulnerabilities, while purpose-built solutions support integration, automation, and clear reporting. The right technology helps firms map dependencies across people, systems, and third parties. It also enables large-scale scenario testing and real-time reporting for boards and regulators.
Just as importantly, resilience technology ensures reliable information is available when needed most. As a result, leaders can make confident, data-driven decisions in real time. In addition, integrated platforms connect risk management, business continuity, IT, and third-party risk management data. Continuous monitoring then helps organizations adapt as risks and requirements change.
By consolidating insights and streamlining access to critical data, firms can respond faster, coordinate better, and maintain transparency across the enterprise. With these capabilities in place, institutions gain a single, reliable view of their resilience posture and can act decisively in any situation.
From Compliance to Competitive Advantage
When compliance becomes more than a regulatory task, it drives stronger governance and more transparent oversight. In turn, embedding resilience into strategy builds confidence, improves coordination, and strengthens stakeholder trust.
However, firms that rely on fragmented tools or reactive programs face higher costs and growing reputational risk. At the same time, boards are demanding regular evidence that resilience programs are active and improving over time. To keep pace, organizations must centralize their resilience efforts and align programs across jurisdictions. They should also make testing and monitoring part of everyday operations.
With the right framework, firms can move beyond compliance and scale resilience as a continuous discipline — one that protects operations, builds confidence, and supports growth. Connect with a Fusion expert to explore how our solutions strengthen resilience, streamline compliance, and prepare your organization for what’s next.
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