Operational resilience: moving beyond compliance

Banks are increasingly integrating operational resilience into their risk management frameworks, but demonstrating their ability to withstand real-world disruption remains a challenge. Growing dependence on third-party technology providers, the adoption of artificial intelligence and evolving regulatory expectations are prompting institutions to reassess their operating models, testing capabilities and approach to risk governance.

This briefing from the Risk.net Operational Risk Leaders’ Network, held at Risk Live Europe 2026, captures insights from senior risk executives on how banks are embedding resilience across their organisations, addressing critical dependencies and moving beyond regulatory compliance towards greater operational readiness.

Among the takeaways:

• Federated resilience models are gaining ground, with central co-ordination and greater responsibility for delivery in the first line
• Regulatory compliance provides a foundation, but firms need to demonstrate their ability to withstand severe disruption and recover critical services
• More granular, end-to-end scenario testing is exposing vulnerabilities that traditional operational risk assessments can overlook
• Third- and fourth-party dependencies present significant challenges, particularly where critical suppliers offer limited transparency or opportunities for testing
• Clear accountability for remediation and risk acceptance is essential, with boards requiring a consolidated view of material exposures
• Resilience can strengthen customer confidence and support innovation, although demonstrating its commercial value remains difficult.

Download the report to explore how op risk leaders are strengthening resilience frameworks, tackling third-party vulnerabilities and balancing regulatory expectations with longer-term business priorities.