Where belonging to a groupmeans a group as defined in Article 2, point (11), of Directive 2013/34/EU;, the parent undertakingmeans a parent undertaking within the meaning of Article 2, point (9), and Article 22 of Directive 2013/34/EU; of financial entitiesas defined in Article 2, points (a) to (t) should ensure that the policy on the use of ICT subcontractors providing ICT servicesmeans digital and data services provided through ICT systems to one or more internal or external users on an ongoing basis, including hardware as a service and hardware services which includes the provision of technical support via software or firmware updates by the hardware provider, excluding traditional analogue telephone services; supporting critical or important functionsmeans a function, the disruption of which would materially impair the financial performance of a financial entity, or the soundness or continuity of its services and activities, or the discontinued, defective or failed performance of that function would materially impair the continuing compliance of a financial entity with the conditions and obligations of its authorisation, or with its other obligations under applicable financial services law; or material part thereof by ICT third party providers is applied in a consistent and coherent way within the groupmeans a group as defined in Article 2, point (11), of Directive 2013/34/EU;.