Compliance Monitoring: Ensuring Businesses Stay on the Right Side of the Rules

The NIS2 (Network and Information Security Directive) is a comprehensive directive that mandates organizations to implement robust security measures and document compliance to protect critical assets and ensure community continuity.  For organizations subject to NIS2 requirements, CISOs, and IT security officers must ensure robust internal compliance preparedness. Why NIS2 Compliance Matters NIS2 aims to enhance the overall level of cybersecurity in the EU by: Improving the resilience of critical infrastructure. Enhancing the security of network and information systems. Ensuring rapid response to and recovery from cyber incidents. For organizations subject to NIS2 requirements, compliance is not just a legal obligation but a vital component of risk management and operational continuity. Failing to comply can result in significant financial penalties, reputational damage, and operational disruptions. Who is affected by NIS2? NIS2 affects all big organizations that work in the European Union and are considered important to society. This includes organizations that: Have 50 or more employees, or Make over €10 million in revenue each year NIS2 puts these organizations into two groups: Essential organizations - These are very important sectors like energy, healthcare, transportation, and water supply. Important organizations - These are sectors like manufacturing, food production, waste management, and postal services. So in simple terms, if your fairly large organization operates in the EU and provides crucial services or products to society, then NIS2 applies to you. The directive aims to ensure these vital entities have strong cybersecurity measures in place. The penalties for not following NIS2 rules are different depending on whether an organization is labeled as "essential" or "important". For essential organizations: They can be fined up to €10 million, or They can be fined at least 2% of their total worldwide revenue from the previous year, whichever amount is higher. For important organizations: They can be fined up to €7 million, or They can be fined at least 1.4% of their total worldwide revenue from the previous year, whichever amount is higher. Gart’s NIS2 Solution Gart offers a solution that simplifies the complexity of NIS2 compliance. The solution provides a systematic approach tailored to your ongoing operations and compliance efforts. By adopting Gart’s solution, you gain access to: A systematic compliance framework for analyzing and documenting the security of critical assets. Assurance of effective compliance work throughout your organization, aligned with good security practices and NIS2 requirements by applying ISO/EIC 27001/2 security principles. Use of questionnaires to review the directive's requirements and ensure all documentation requirements are met, preparing you for audits. Clear guidance on how to register significant security incidents with CSIRT, ensuring a proactive approach. Read more: Gart’s Expertise in ISO 27001 Compliance Empowers Spiral Technology for Seamless Audits and Cloud Migration How Does Gart Solution Support NIS2 Compliance? NIS2 Requirement 1: Have policies for analyzing risks and information security Gart can find and evaluate all assets, systems, weaknesses, and cyber/operational risks in critical infrastructure environments. It uses this detailed visibility to automatically create and enforce network security policies that reduce exposure to those identified risks. In simple terms, Gart's solution allows organizations to: Discover all their critical assets, systems, and potential vulnerabilities Assess the cyber and operational risks in their environments   Automatically define security policies to protect against those risks Enforce those security policies across their networks NIS2 Requirement 2: Dealing with Security Incidents Gart Solutions constantly keeps watch over all critical infrastructure systems for any signs of potential threats, both known and new. It analyzes all security alerts in detail to prioritize the most important issues. Gart also integrates with existing security tools like SIEM and SOAR to extend an organization's security processes across all of its critical systems. In simpler terms, Gart's solution allows organizations to: Continuously monitor all their vital systems and networks Quickly detect any potential cyber threats, even new unidentified ones Understand the context and importance of every security alert Work seamlessly with their existing security tools and workflows Expand their incident response capabilities to cover all critical infrastructure NIS2 Requirement 3: Managing Crises Gart provides: A complete, up-to-date list of all critical systems Logging of all changes and unusual activity in assets and networks Ability to create and enforce security policies to separate networks and control access Ready integration with backup and recovery tools All of these capabilities from Gart help organizations improve their overall crisis management and ensure the continuity of essential operations. In simpler terms, Gart's solution allows organizations to: Know exactly what critical assets they have at all times Track all activity so they can investigate incidents Lock down systems by enforcing strict security controls Quickly backup and restore systems if needed NIS2 Requirement 4: Security of Networks and Information Systems By utilizing Gart's capabilities, customers can effectively: Identify vulnerabilities and insecure configurations in their critical networks and systems Assess and manage the cyber risks to their operational environments  Allow remote access for personnel to do their work securely In simple terms, Gart helps organizations implement robust security measures for their networks and information systems as required by NIS2. This includes finding and fixing vulnerabilities, evaluating risks, and controlling access - all crucial for securing vital operational technology. NIS2 Requirement 5: Basic Cybersecurity Practices and Training Gart's solution helps organizations: Identify areas where they need to improve their basic cybersecurity habits and procedures based on risk assessments. Ensure all personnel, whether employees or vendors, follow proper access controls, password management, and other essential cybersecurity practices. Use the recommendations to develop training programs to raise cybersecurity awareness and skills. NIS2 Requirement 6: Policies and Procedures for Data Encryption Gart provides: 1) Encryption of all user data, critical system data, and other sensitive information in compliance with NIS2, GDPR, and other regulations. 2) Alerts when sensitive data like personal health records is being processed in a way that violates security policies or could lead to a data breach. Here's a rewording in simple language: NIS2 Requirement 7: Using Multi-Factor Authentication and Secure Communications Gart helps organizations: - Enforce strong access controls like multi-factor authentication across their workforce and supply chain vendors/partners - Allow only authorized and verified personnel to access critical systems remotely or on-site - Ensure all communications to operational technology are fully secured - Meet audit requirements by recording all access sessions Key Features: Mapping of Critical Assets We will create an overview of the various types of critical assets within your value chain and document their security levels. Risk Assessment of Critical Assets, Systems, and Processes We will conduct a risk assessment based on the current threat landscape, the assets' placement within the value chain, and their potential societal consequences. GAP Analysis We will obtain a clear overview of your current compliance level and implementation, identifying the essential control objectives required for NIS2. Automated Processes We will automate control follow-ups and communication with internal stakeholders to ensure all relevant tasks are carried out correctly and on time. Compliance Control and Scope of SoA We will begin with an initial compliance review, prioritize, and scope the Statement of Applicability (SoA) based on NIS2 requirements. Create Awareness and Communicate Directly with Stakeholders We will create awareness and directly communicate with stakeholders to keep everyone informed about policy and procedural changes, ensuring everyone understands their role. Overview of Reporting to CSIRT We will establish a process for reporting significant incidents and threats to the organization or its supply chain to CSIRT, protecting critical assets quickly and efficiently. Ongoing Auditing We will document internal compliance with NIS2 via dedicated management controls and functionality for auditing critical suppliers. About NIS 2 Directive or NIS2 framework The NIS 2 Directive, also referred to as the NIS2 framework, is a European Union regulation aimed at enhancing cybersecurity across the bloc. Here's a breakdown of the key points: Goals: Improve overall cybersecurity posture in the EU. Strengthen existing cybersecurity measures in critical sectors. Ensure a consistent approach to cybersecurity risk management across member states. Key Features: Broader Scope: NIS2 applies to a wider range of sectors compared to the previous NIS Directive. This includes essential services (energy, transport, water, etc.) and important entities in sectors like waste management, postal services, manufacturing, and more. Enhanced Risk Management: Organizations must implement robust cybersecurity measures to manage risks to their network and information systems. This includes measures to prevent incidents, minimize their impact, and report them effectively. Incident Reporting: Entities are required to report significant incidents to relevant authorities. This allows for faster response and improved coordination across member states. Supply Chain Security: The directive emphasizes the importance of supply chain security. Organizations need to consider the cybersecurity risks associated with their suppliers and vendors. Cooperation and Information Sharing: Increased cooperation and information sharing among member states and relevant authorities are crucial aspects of NIS2. Current Status: Adopted in December 2022 and came into effect in January 2023. EU member states have until October 17, 2024 to transpose the NIS2 Directive into national law. By April 17, 2025, member states need to establish a list of essential entities falling under the directive. Conclusion The European Union's Network and Information Security Directive, known as NIS2, sets stringent requirements for organizations to safeguard their critical assets and ensure the continuity of essential services.  Gart is here to guide you through every step of the process, providing the expertise, tools, and support you need to achieve and maintain compliance. With our systematic approach, you can focus on your core business operations, confident that your information security is in capable hands. Are you ready to simplify your NIS2 compliance journey? Contact Gart today to learn more about how we can help you strengthen your information security and achieve regulatory compliance with ease.