Strengthen Compliance: 6 Actions To Take Now
The EU’s NIS2 Directive will significantly impact organizations within its scope, particularly regarding cybersecurity measures for critical infrastructure, OT and IT integration, and governance. Here’s how an organization might be affected and actions it can consider:
Compliance and Certification Obligations (Art 24 of the NIS2 Directive):
Article 24 of the NIS2 Directive permits Member States to require that specific ICT products, services, and processes be certified under European cybersecurity certification schemes. As a result, entities may need to adopt certified technologies, which involves selecting and investing in products that meet these stringent requirements to demonstrate compliance with Article 21 security obligations.
Include Internal Impact and NIS2 Related Financial Penalties in your Risk Assessment:
Organizations classified as "essential" or "important" risk substantial fines for non-compliance. Similar to GDPR, understanding and enforcing NIS2 requirements will likely evolve. It’s critical for organizations to assess their inclusion in NIS2's scope, especially multinational entities or those outside the EU but providing services within the EU, as they may fall under its jurisdiction.
Use the IEC 62443 Standards to Bolster IT and OT Security:
NIS2 emphasizes protection for Operational Technology (OT) alongside Information Technology (IT). As these environments converge, vulnerabilities grow, necessitating a more integrated and secure approach. Implementing the IEC 62443 standards can help organizations ensure secure IT-OT convergence, mitigating cyber risks that could impact physical safety or environmental conditions.
Streamline and Unify Compliance Frameworks:
Adopting a “test once and comply to many” approach could streamline regulatory efforts, enabling organizations to meet multiple standards through a unified framework. For example, Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) tools like KPMG Sofy GRC provide centralized compliance management, mapping regulations and facilitating real-time monitoring.
Implement Strategic NIS2 Readiness Actions:
Executive Awareness: Building understanding among the C-suite is essential. Leaders, especially the COO and CISO, need to be informed of NIS2's challenges and potential liabilities, ensuring dedicated cybersecurity resources and strategies.
Baseline & Planning: Conduct baseline assessments to identify key vulnerabilities, using frameworks like C2M2 for structured cybersecurity maturity evaluations.
Immediate Remediation: Implement "Fix-it" programs to address high-priority vulnerabilities efficiently.
Ownership and Accountability: Strengthen governance by designating clear ownership for IT and OT risks, using IRM/GRC tools to automate monitoring, risk assignment, and reporting.
NIS2 Compliance Cybersecurity Awareness:
NIS2 requires management to possess cybersecurity expertise and mandates regular employee training. Organizations should therefore implement awareness programs to educate employees on security practices, building a culture of cybersecurity vigilance.
By adopting a proactive stance toward NIS2, organizations can enhance resilience, meet regulatory standards, and contribute to the broader objective of protecting critical infrastructure across the EU.
Ready to Strengthen Compliance?
You can use the questionnaire to kick start your discussion!
Designed for organizations assessing their ISO 27001:2022 readiness, this tool offers to evaluate your information security management system against the new standard.
Note: The results are available to Superuser OÜ, so if you wish to utilize our services please fill in the questionnaire and we will reach out to you. If you ever change your mind, you can reach out to us and request for data deletion.
Contact Us Today
Learn more about Superuser OÜ events and follow our LinkedIn.
Have a question? Find the following resources on our Services Page for other enquires, contact us.
Register your interest for upcoming new products and services or stay up-to-date by subscribing to our mailing list.
