The NIS2 Directive (Network and Information Security Directive) is to be implemented by national law by October 17, 2024 and tightens cyber security requirements for a large number of industries across Europe. Its aim is to better protect critical infrastructures and digital services from cyber attacks. This regulation goes far beyond the original NIS Directive and requires considerable investment and adjustments in the affected companies. The German NIS2UmsuCG (“NIS-2-implementation and Cyber Security Strengthening Act”) is expected to come into force in spring 2025. When the NIS2UmsuCG comes into force, all affected companies must have already implemented the relevant requirements. No transitional periods are planned.
Extended scope and affected sectors
Compared to the first NIS Directive, NIS2 now covers many more sectors that are considered essential for the proper functioning of society and the economy. Here are some of the key areas:
Critical infrastructures such as energy, transportation, water supply and healthcare. These sectors must meet particularly high cyber security requirements, as their failure could have a catastrophic impact on society.
Information and communication technologies (ICT): Telecommunications companies, cloud service providers and data centers must ensure that their digital platforms and networks are robust against cyber attacks.
Public administration at national, regional and local level that is responsible for the provision of important public services.
Social services: From waste management to other municipal utility services, these companies also need to invest in their security infrastructure.
Critical industries, including chemicals, food production and electronics manufacturing, where a failure would have a massive impact on supply chains.
Research and higher education, in particular institutions active in technology development.
In addition, new categories have been included in NIS2, such as postal and courier services, waste management and manufacturers of critical products such as pharmaceuticals and medical devices. This expansion means that a much broader group of companies are being made responsible for securing their IT security according to modern standards.
Challenges of the NIS2 Directive
1. Risk management and obligations to provide evidence:
The NIS2 Directive requires all affected companies not only to implement state-of-the-art cybersecurity measures, but also to continuously review and adapt them. One of the biggest challenges here is the obligation to provide evidence. Companies must be able to comprehensively document their measures and processes and prove that they comply with all regulations.
2. Broader responsibility at management level:
A key feature of NIS2 is the greater involvement of the management level. Managing directors and board members are explicitly made responsible for monitoring compliance with security requirements and are held liable in the event of failures. This requires not only a deep understanding of IT security, but also the systematic integration of security aspects into the company’s strategic decisions.
3. Reporting and documentation obligations for security incidents:
Reporting and documentation requirements have become stricter and companies must report cyber incidents to the relevant authorities in a timely manner. This requires that internal processes for detecting and communicating threats and incidents are well established.
Solution approaches: ISMS out of the box
The use of a preconfigured information security management system (ISMS) is a good way to overcome the challenges of the NIS2 directive. This “ISMS out of the box” solution enables companies to implement the complex requirements quickly and efficiently. It is a comprehensive package that offers all the necessary building blocks for compliance with the NIS2 requirements:
Guidelines and specifications: A set of guidelines to ensure that all NIS2 requirements are met.
Risk analyses: Predefined risk analyses for specific industries and IT systems to quickly identify potential vulnerabilities and take countermeasures.
Project plans: Structured plans that involve both the company and external consultants and provide a clear roadmap for implementation.
This standardization of processes makes it possible to meet the requirements of small and medium-sized companies quickly and effectively.
Advantages of an ISMS out of the box
Fast implementation and adaptation: Companies can quickly adapt the predefined guidelines and processes to their specific needs and thus quickly implement the security requirements.
Cost certainty: A fixed price model offers transparency and planning certainty so that companies can accurately calculate the costs of implementing cyber security measures.
Conformity with recognized security standards*: The solution takes into account relevant national and international norms and security standards, such as the ISO 27000 family of standards, industry-specific security standards from the KRITIS sectors and the BSI’s IT baseline protection compendium.
Conclusion: NIS2 as an opportunity to strengthen cyber security
The NIS2 Directive presents companies with considerable challenges, but also opens up the opportunity to improve their cyber security in the long term. The clear structure of the requirements and the extended obligations make it necessary for companies to put their IT security strategies to the test and raise them to the latest standards. An “ISMS out of the box” offers a fast and cost-effective approach that enables companies to meet regulatory requirements while strengthening their resilience to cyber attacks.
By acting proactively and taking the NIS2 requirements seriously, companies not only create a stable foundation for their own IT security, but also strengthen confidence in their ability to protect critical services and infrastructures.
Your partner for NIS2-compliant ISMS
The challenges that NIS2 and other regulatory requirements pose for companies with critical infrastructures are manifold – but with the right strategy and the right tools, they can be overcome.
If you want to ensure that your company is optimally prepared for the new regulations, take advantage of the non-binding consultation with our experts. Together, we will find out how you can introduce and successfully implement NIS2 on the basis of our ISMS (Information Security Management System). We will find out how “ISMS out of the box” can be tailored specifically to your needs and support you in efficiently mapping, managing and securing all requirements in the system. From risk analyses and project plans to complete documentation – our tool supports you every step of the way to NIS2 compliance.
INFORMATION SECURITY
Information Security Management System
The practical guide to the i-doit ISMS
Systems, applications and processes within organizations are becoming increasingly complex. This increases the attack surface that potential attackers and malware can exploit. The goal of information security is to keep this attack surface low and to protect corporate assets. The topic of security only gains importance in many companies when business-critical processes have been disrupted or financial damage has occurred. Most impacts can be averted with simple means or their scope can be drastically reduced. We would like to introduce you to these steps in the i-doit ISMS Practice Guide.
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