Achieving NIS2 Compliance  

NIS 2 is a new EU data compliance requirement starting this year.

NIS 2 Compliance

The Network and Information Systems Directive 2 (NIS2) is an updated legislative framework introduced by the European Union to bolster cybersecurity across Member States. Building on the original NIS Directive (2016), NIS2 seeks to address the increasing sophistication of cyber threats and the growing dependence on digital infrastructure.

NIS2 DIRECTIVE

Key Objectives of NIS2:

  • Strengthening Cybersecurity Standards: NIS2 sets higher standards for the security of network and information systems, ensuring a more robust and resilient digital infrastructure across the EU.

  • Harmonizing Practices: It harmonizes cybersecurity practices across all Member States, aiming for a unified approach to dealing with cyber risks.

  • Expanding Scope: The directive extends its reach to include more sectors and more medium and large-sized enterprises, including public administration, healthcare, and other critical industries.

  • Improving Incident Response: It enhances mechanisms for incident reporting and coordination at the national and EU levels, promoting quicker and more effective responses to cyber incidents.

Key Requirements of NIS2

  1. Risk Management and Security Measures: Organizations must implement adequate and proportionate measures to manage and mitigate risks to their network and information systems.

  2. Incident Reporting: Significant incidents must be reported to national authorities within 24 hours, with detailed reports required within 72 hours.

  3. Supply Chain Security: Organizations are responsible for ensuring that their entire supply chain adheres to strong cybersecurity practices.

  4. Governance and Accountability: Organizations must establish governance structures and appoint responsible individuals to oversee cybersecurity.

  5. Enforcement and Penalties: Non-compliance can result in severe penalties, including fines of up to 10 million euros or 2% of global turnover.

  6. Cooperation and Information Sharing: Encourages collaboration between entities and information sharing on threats and incidents.

NIS2 expanded requirements

How XQ Can Help with NIS2 Compliance

XQ offers a suite of advanced cybersecurity solutions that align with the requirements of the NIS2 Directive. These solutions help organizations safeguard their data, manage risks, and comply with the directive’s stringent requirements.

1. Data Encryption and Protection:

  • End-to-End Encryption: XQ ensures that data is encrypted both at rest and in transit, protecting sensitive information across networks and systems.

  • Policy-Based Key Management: XQ enables organizations to control access to encrypted data, ensuring that only authorized users can decrypt information in compliance with NIS2.

  • Dynamic Key Rotation: By regularly rotating encryption keys based on policies, XQ reduces the risk of key compromise, meeting NIS2’s security measures requirements.

2. Risk Management and Security Measures:

  • Zero Trust Security Model: XQ’s Zero Trust Data (ZTD) approach ensures continuous verification of access requests, significantly reducing the risk of unauthorized access, in line with NIS2.

  • Data and Metadata Tagging: XQ’s tagging capabilities allow organizations to classify data for better management and security, directly supporting NIS2’s risk management directives.

3. Incident Reporting and Response:

  • Real-Time Monitoring and Alerts: XQ provides real-time insights into data access and usage, enabling faster detection and reporting of security incidents.

  • Audit Logs and Forensics: Detailed logs and forensic tools help organizations analyze incidents and prepare the necessary reports required under NIS2.

4. Supply Chain Security:

  • Secure Data Sharing: XQ facilitates secure communication with third-party vendors, ensuring that data remains protected across the supply chain.

  • Granular Access Control: XQ allows precise control over who can access data, ensuring compliance with NIS2’s supply chain security requirements.

5. Governance and Accountability:

  • Centralized Management: XQ’s platform centralizes the management of encryption keys and security policies, simplifying compliance with NIS2 governance requirements.

  • Compliance Reporting: XQ can generate compliance reports that detail encryption practices, access controls, and incident management, helping organizations demonstrate adherence to NIS2.

6. Cooperation and Information Sharing:

  • Interoperability: XQ’s solutions work seamlessly with other cybersecurity tools, supporting the sharing of threat intelligence and incident data across organizations.

  • Data Interoperability: XQ’s data tagging and classification ensure secure and efficient information sharing, facilitating cooperation in line with NIS2’s objectives.

The NIS2 directive expands coverage from the original 7 sectors under the NIS directive, adding 8 more for a total of 15 sectors. To access sector-specific NIS2 information.

Sectors Affected By The NIS2 Directive
NIS2 EU

By leveraging XQ's advanced encryption, risk management, and data protection solutions, organizations can effectively meet the stringent requirements of the NIS2 Directive.

XQ not only enhances the security of network and information systems but also provides the tools needed for compliance, incident response, and secure data management across the extended enterprise.