A tailored course, built for your situation
Mastering DORA for QA Automation Engineers in Regulated Financial Environments
Build auditable, defensible test automation frameworks that stand up to regulator scrutiny and internal audit pushback
$199 one-time
24-hour access provisioning
30-day money-back guarantee
Hand-built implementation playbook
12 modules. 12 chapters per module. 144 chapters total.
12 modules, each with 12 chapters (144 chapters total), text-based, plus downloadable templates and a hand-built implementation playbook delivered alongside course access.
Most DORA compliance efforts fail at audit time because test validations lack documented rationale and source backing
The situation this course is for
Teams treat DORA as a checklist, not a defensible framework. When auditors ask 'Why this test?', most can't cite EBA guidance or show precedent. That gap leads to failed validations, rework, and loss of influence.
Who this is for
Senior QA Automation Engineer in a regulated financial institution, responsible for validating operational resilience controls under DORA, FFIEC, or similar regimes
Who this is not for
Junior testers who don’t own test design, compliance generalists without automation experience, or teams treating DORA as a one-time project
What you walk away with
- Map every automated test case directly to EBA’s DORA RTS Article 16-20 requirements with cited sources
- Document the rationale for each test design decision using regulator-endorsed examples
- Respond to peer or auditor challenges with specific, precedent-backed reasoning
- Build reusable test validation packages that survive personnel and leadership changes
- Own the narrative on test automation validity during internal and external audits
The 12 modules (with all 144 chapters)
Module 1. DORA Implementation Landscape for Financial QA Teams
Understand how DORA’s Article 16-20 applies specifically to test automation in financial services. Learn the difference between compliance theater and auditable validation.
12 chapters in this module
- What DORA means for QA engineers
- Key deadlines for U.S. institutions
- EBA vs FFIEC expectations
- How DORA affects test automation scope
- Common misconceptions in banking IT
- Regulatory testing vs internal QA
- The role of documentation depth
- How regulators evaluate test design
- Precedent from the current cycle dry runs
- DORA’s impact on third-party vendors
- Mapping DORA to QA workflows
- First steps in validation readiness
Module 2. Control Mapping from DORA RTS to Automated Tests
Translate DORA’s required controls into testable, automated assurance points with traceable sourcing to EBA guidance.
12 chapters in this module
- Identifying Article 16 controls
- Breaking down resilience testing
- Automating incident response checks
- Testing third-party dependencies
- Sourcing control requirements
- Building testable interpretations
- Using EBA guidance as input
- Mapping test outputs to evidence
- Traceability matrix design
- Versioning test logic
- Common mapping errors
- Validating mapping accuracy
Module 3. Defensible Test Design for Resilience Scenarios
Design test cases that don’t just pass, they withstand challenge. Anchor each design in EBA reasoning and real financial IT environments.
12 chapters in this module
- Why test design matters
- Using precedent from EBA examples
- Building scenario catalogs
- Automating plausible incidents
- Documenting decision logic
- Including regulator reasoning
- Versioning test scenarios
- Peer-reviewing test validity
- Responding to pushback
- Updating scenarios annually
- Handling edge cases
- Linking scenarios to business impact
Module 4. Sourcing Evidence from Regulatory Guidance
Turn abstract RTS language into concrete test validation points using direct excerpts, interpretations, and citations from official documents.
12 chapters in this module
- Locating DORA RTS documents
- Interpreting Article 17 correctly
- Extracting testable requirements
- Citing EBA language precisely
- Building a source library
- Versioning regulatory text
- Cross-referencing with FFIEC
- Handling ambiguous language
- Documenting interpretation logic
- Sharing sources across teams
- Updating for amendments
- Archiving for audits
Module 5. Documenting the Rationale Chain
Create a traceable narrative from regulation to implementation, so any team member can re-explain the WHY behind each automated check.
12 chapters in this module
- Why rationale matters
- Structuring documentation
- Linking test to regulation
- Including risk context
- Writing for auditors
- Using plain language
- Versioning rationale
- Peer validation
- Automating rationale checks
- Updating for changes
- Storing for retrieval
- Sharing across QA
Module 6. Validating Third-Party Risk Testing
Extend DORA’s reach to vendor ecosystems with automated checks that verify subcontractor resilience obligations.
12 chapters in this module
- DORA’s vendor clauses
- Mapping to vendor contracts
- Automating compliance checks
- Testing vendor incident plans
- Validating response times
- Auditing subcontractor logs
- Building vendor scorecards
- Integrating with procurement
- Handling non-compliance
- Updating test packs annually
- Using EBA benchmarks
- Documenting vendor validation
Module 7. Incident Response Simulation Testing
Automate validated simulations of DORA-mandated incident scenarios to ensure response playbooks work under real pressure.
12 chapters in this module
- Defining incident scope
- Automating detection triggers
- Simulating escalation paths
- Validating communication trees
- Timing response phases
- Testing cross-team coordination
- Logging simulation results
- Benchmarking against EBA
- Updating playbooks post-test
- Versioning scenarios
- Integrating with SOAR
- Reporting to risk teams
Module 8. Building Reusable Test Artifacts
Design test components that compound across audit cycles and survive team turnover, with built-in sourcing and versioning.
12 chapters in this module
- What makes a test reusable
- Standardizing templates
- Including sourcing data
- Versioning frameworks
- Automating documentation
- Storing in shared repos
- Tagging by control type
- Training new hires
- Updating for new versions
- Contributing back
- Cross-project sharing
- Maintaining ownership
Module 9. Peer Review and Defensibility Readiness
Prepare for internal challenges by embedding review cycles and evidence readiness into test automation design.
12 chapters in this module
- Why peer review matters
- Structuring review meetings
- Sharing test rationale
- Sourcing pushback examples
- Updating designs post-review
- Building rebuttal libraries
- Preparing auditors
- Running dry audits
- Documenting feedback
- Versioning responses
- Training reviewers
- Establishing governance
Module 10. Audit Preparation and Evidence Packaging
Package automated test results into regulator-ready dossiers with full sourcing, timelines, and decision narratives.
12 chapters in this module
- What auditors look for
- Structuring evidence packs
- Including test logs
- Adding rationale documents
- Versioning submissions
- Automating pack generation
- Preparing cross-team inputs
- Reviewing for completeness
- Submitting on time
- Tracking auditor feedback
- Updating for findings
- Archiving final packs
Module 11. Maintaining Test Validity Over Time
Keep test automation relevant as DORA interpretations evolve, internal systems change, and audit standards deepen.
12 chapters in this module
- Tracking regulatory updates
- Updating test logic
- Versioning test cases
- Reviewing annually
- Automating change detection
- Alerting on drift
- Revalidating vendor tests
- Updating evidence packs
- Revising rationale docs
- Training new QA staff
- Auditing legacy tests
- Sunsetting obsolete cases
Module 12. Scaling Defensible Automation Across Teams
Extend your test framework approach to other departments and compliance domains, becoming the internal reference.
12 chapters in this module
- Identifying other use cases
- Sharing templates
- Training peer teams
- Standardizing documentation
- Building internal playbooks
- Gaining leadership buy-in
- Measuring adoption
- Tracking quality gains
- Reducing rework time
- Expanding to PCI DSS
- Integrating with SOC 2
- Establishing a center of excellence
How this maps to your situation
- Preparing for first DORA audit
- Defending test design under peer review
- Responding to auditor follow-ups
- Scaling compliance across departments
Before vs. after
Before
Test automation designed without documented rationale or direct sourcing from DORA RTS
After
Automated tests with full defensible depth, sources, examples, and reasoning ready for auditors or challengers
What's included with your purchase
- 12 modules with 12 chapters each (144 chapters)
- Downloadable templates and worked examples for every module
- Hand-built implementation playbook delivered alongside course access
- 30-day money-back guarantee
Delivery and format
- Course and learning environment access provisioned within 24 hours of purchase
- Hand-built implementation playbook delivered alongside course access
Format: Text-based modules and chapters in the Art of Service learning environment, plus downloadable templates and worked examples for every chapter, plus the hand-built implementation playbook delivered alongside course access.
Time investment: Approximately 3 hours per module, designed for integration into current compliance cycles.
If nothing changes
Without defensible design, test automation may pass internally but fail under audit scrutiny, leading to rework, compliance gaps, and diminished influence in resilience governance.
How this compares to the alternatives
Generic DORA courses teach compliance checklists. This course teaches how to defend each automated test with sourced, specific examples from EBA guidance and peer-tested frameworks.
Frequently asked
Is this course specific to U.S. financial institutions?
Yes. It focuses on DORA implementation in U.S. banking environments, including alignment with FFIEC expectations and cross-border implications.
How is the course structured?
12 modules, each containing 12 chapters (144 chapters total).
Does the course cover PCI DSS or SOC 2?
While DORA is the primary anchor, Module 12 shows how to extend the defensible automation model to PCI DSS, SOC 2, and other frameworks.
$199 one-time. Approximately 3 hours per module, designed for integration into current compliance cycles..
Within 24 hours your account in the learning environment is provisioned and the tailored implementation playbook is delivered alongside it.
30-day money-back guarantee·
144 chapters·
Hand-built playbook included·
Account access within 24 hours