Preparing For A New Generation Of Cybersecurity Compliance

Cybersecurity has now moved from the IT department to the CISO boardroom. European Union’s NIS Directive in 2016 was a wake-up call for businesses to take cybersecurity seriously.

However, our current digital dependencies have exploded and outgrown NIS, pushing the EU to respond with a stronger successor: NIS2. It goes into effect from 18 October 2024.

NIS vs NIS 2: What’s The Difference?

1. Accountability just got serious: Forget slapping a fine on the company. NIS2 now holds senior management personally accountable for cybersecurity failures. Yes, that means this isn’t an IT problem anymore – CEOs and boards need to be involved and informed.

2. Bigger scope: NIS2 expands the list of industries required to comply. It’s no longer just about healthcare, energy, and transport. Whether you’re in food, logistics, or even the postal service, you’re now part of the cybersecurity equation.

3. Reactive to proactive: NIS allowed organizations to get by with basic security measures. But NIS2 emphasises on anticipating threats, not just reacting to them.

4. Penalties that sting: Under NIS2, fines are no longer left to one’s imagination. Failure to comply can result in penalties up to €10 million or 2% of your annual global turnover—whichever is worse.

The Countdown To NIS2 Is On

1. Identify if you’re in the game nowOrganizations that never thought they’d ever need to worry about cybersecurity regulations may now find themselves front and center. Start by determining whether your business falls under NIS2’s umbrella.

2. Audit your current security setupNIS2 demands more than a simple firewall and antivirus. Conduct a thorough audit of your current security practices and procedures.

3. Get leadership onboardEducate senior executives about their new responsibilities under NIS2 and ensure they’re taking an active role in compliance.

4. Update security policies and proceduresRevise your existing policies to align with NIS 2. This includes updating risk management practices, incident response plans, and business continuity strategies.

5. Strengthen incident response plansNIS2 emphasises faster and more accurate incident reporting. Ensure your team is ready to act quickly and that your reporting mechanisms are rock solid.

Challenges To Look Out For

Compliance and cybersecurity go hand in hand. Here are a few obstacles you might face when achieving them:

• Culture shock: Shifting to a security-first mindset requires more than just technical changes—it’s a cultural shift that involves everyone in the organization, from top to bottom.
• Resource strain: Smaller businesses, especially those newly affected by compliances, may struggle to meet the requirements without the right expertise or budget.
• Increased costs: Compliance and cybersecurity isn’t cheap; this will likely mean investing more in technology, personnel, and training.

To help you navigate this transition, we’re hosting an exclusive webinar on compliance and cybersecurity with Endpoint Central

We’ll discuss:

1. Comparison with previous NIS directive
2. How do NIS2 and GDPR overlap
3. AI’s role in cybersecurity
4. Speed and scope of threat detection and response with AI
5. Achieving them with the functionalities of a UEMS solution