Rachel Easter
Hello to all the amazing cybersecurity professionals working across Europe. If you're operating or working within a Security Operations Center (SOC) or a Managed Security Service Provider (MSSP) in Europe, it's crucial that you're working in a way that’s NIS2 compliant.
But what does this mean, and how can you ensure compliance without feeling overwhelmed? Don't worry; Binalyze has compiled key information to keep you covered!
Let's dive in.
Understanding NIS2: The Basics
NIS2, or the Directive on Security of Network and Information Systems, represents a significant step forward in the European Union's efforts to bolster cybersecurity across its member states.
This directive is an evolution of the original NIS Directive, which was first implemented to establish a baseline of cybersecurity and incident response capabilities across the EU.
The NIS2 Directive goes beyond its predecessor by broadening the scope of sectors and entities that fall under its mandate. It now encompasses a wider range of essential and important entities across critical sectors like energy, transport, banking, health, and digital infrastructure. This expansion acknowledges the increasingly interconnected nature of these sectors and the rising cybersecurity risks.
The NIS2 Directive is set to come into effect on October 17, 2024, and is expected to enter into force at that time or shortly after that. This means there’s sufficient time to ensure you’re fully up to speed and can implement the changes needed to ensure compliance.
As an evolution of the EU's cybersecurity strategy, NIS2 demonstrates a proactive and inclusive approach to safeguarding Europe's digital landscape against evolving cyber threats. It's a significant move towards a more resilient and secure digital environment for all member states.
What NIS2 Covers:
Critical Entities: NIS2 expands the list of sectors considered essential, like energy, transport, banking, and health:
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Energy: Electricity, oil, and gas.
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Transport: Air, rail, water, and road transport.
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Banking: Credit institutions.
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Financial Market Infrastructures: Trading venues, central counterparties, central securities depositories, etc.
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Health: Healthcare providers, including hospitals and clinics.
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Drinking Water: Supply and distribution.
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Waste Water: Collection and treatment.
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Digital Infrastructure: DNS service providers, TLD name registries, cloud computing services, data center services, etc.
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Public Administration: Governmental services and functions.
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Space: Entities involved in space operations and services.
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Postal and Courier Services: Entities providing postal and courier activities.
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Waste Management: Management of non-hazardous and hazardous waste.
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Chemicals: Manufacturing, storing, and handling of chemicals.
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Food: Production, processing, and distribution of food.
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Manufacturing: Manufacturers of critical products, including electronics, machinery, and pharmaceuticals.
Risk Management Measures: Mandatory implementation of specific technical and organizational measures.
Reporting Obligations: Entities must report significant cyber incidents to relevant national authorities.
Supply Chain Security: Focus on the security of the entire supply chain, ensuring third-party service providers also comply.
Steps to Compliance:
- Assess Your Status: Determine if NIS2 applies to your business. If you're a critical infrastructure or a digital service provider, it likely does.
- Implement Risk Management Measures: Assess gaps and adopt practices to prevent, detect, and respond to cyber threats.
- Establish Reporting Mechanisms: Set up processes for timely incident reporting.
- Review Supply Chain Security: Ensure your suppliers and partners are also compliant.
- Documentation and Evidence: Keep thorough records to demonstrate compliance.
Dealing with Non-compliance:
So, what are the potential implications of not taking action?
Penalties: There are hefty fines for non-compliance, which can be up to 2% of your global turnover.
Reputational Damage: Non-compliance could harm your business reputation.
Steps to Rectify: If found non-compliant, you'll likely be given a chance to remedy the situation before penalties are imposed.
Binalyze: Your perfect compliance partner
At Binalyze, we understand the complexities of NIS2 compliance. We built AIR, our cutting-edge investigation and response automation platform powered by forensic visibility, to support you with:
Compliance-approved workflows: AIR has a number of key compliance features, from managing the remote capture of artifacts and storing information within certain geographic boundaries to ensuring there’s always a full audit path with all actions performed placed into a detailed log.
AIR uses SHA-256 hashing in conjunction with RFC3161 digital timestamp certificates to protect data content and also provide guarantees as to exactly when that protected content originally existed - giving you an immutable timestamping for an effective chain of custody to maintain forensic integrity.
Expert guidance: Our team of DFIR experts can help you navigate the intricate requirements of NIS2. If you’re not already a Binalyze AIR customer, we can provide you with a tailored scoping session, looking at all elements of your IT estate and providing you with DFIR best practices and workflows to put your best foot forward at all times.
Even better, we provide a free 14-day trial of AIR so you can try out a deployment and see firsthand how AIR bolsters your NIS2 compliance effort.
Ongoing support: At Binalyze, we're here for the long haul, helping you stay compliant as regulations evolve. Our AIR roadmap takes into account all upcoming potential regulations to ensure as and when they come into effect, you understand their impacts.
For example, If you’ve cybersecurity operations in the US, AIR is fully compliant with the new SEC cybersecurity Rule 2023. Our support team is available 24/7, and if you need to contact someone, there’s always a friendly and supportive point of contact ready to answer any questions you may have.
Remember, with Binalyze by your side, you're ahead of the curve!
Don’t forget to request your 14-day free trial here.
