In an era of increasing digitization and dependence on technology, the European Union has strengthened its cybersecurity regulatory framework with the introduction of the NIS2. This new directive represents a significant evolution from the previous NIS2, with the goal of improving the cyber resilience and security of networks and information systems across the EU.
Goals of the directive
NIS2 aims to:
- Strengthening security measures
- Improve cybersecurity of essential entities, including sectors such as energy, transportation, banking and healthcare
- Harmonizing reporting in the event of an attack
- Establish uniform incident reporting requirements to improve transparency and enable a coordinated response to cyber threats
- Expand the scope of regulation
- Cover a broad range of sectors and digital service providers, reflecting the evolution of cyber risks
- Strengthen national supervisory measures and promote EU-level cooperation to respond effectively to cyber attacks.
Key differences between NIS and NIS2
The transition from the NIS Directive to NIS2 is characterized by some key differences that reflect the evolution of cyber threats and the need for higher security standards:
- The NIS Directive focused mainly on essential services in sectors such as health, energy, transport and finance. With NIS2, the scope has been broadened to include a greater number of sectors, such as postal and courier services, public administration and waste management
- In terms of security and reporting requirements, NIS2 imposes more stringent obligations than the original directive. This reflects the need for higher standards due to evolving cyber threats. In addition, NIS2 introduces more stringent enforcement measures, including higher fines and tighter regulatory oversight to ensure compliance.
- Another significant difference concerns supply chain security. While the original directive placed limited emphasis on this aspect, NIS2 recognizes the critical importance of supply chain security for cybersecurity at the European level.
Impact on Businesses
NIS2 has a positive impact for the companies involved as it creates a clear directive for structuring internal best practices and strengthens their overall systems resilience against external attacks. Adaptation thus creates a virtuous path that also improves the IT system of the companies involved from a systems perspective and is a key element for national cybersecurity strategies.
Preparation for NIS2 Compliance
With the introduction of more stringent cybersecurity requirements, organizations across the EU must prepare for compliance. This process involves a multi-factor approach, which includes:
- Evaluating and identifying specific IT risks for the organization
- The implementation of security measures with the adoption of appropriate technical, operational and organizational measures to manage risks
- Incident response plans with specific disaster recovery programs and standardized procedures for immediate intervention by work teams to safeguard system safety
- Training and promotion of a culture of cybersecurity through refresher courses and continuous awareness-raising of employees.
Conclusion
The NIS2 Directive represents a significant step forward in the protection of network and information systems in the EU. With more stringent security requirements and a greater emphasis on cross-border collaboration, NIS2 aims to create a high and uniform level of cybersecurity across the Union. Organizations must adequately prepare to comply with these new requirements, thus ensuring greater resilience against evolving cyber threats.