The EU’s up to date Network and Information Security Directive (NIS2) establishes a unified authorized framework to uphold cybersecurity throughout 18 essential sectors. This essential replace addresses evolving cyber threats and strengthens the digital resilience of Europe’s important companies. NIS2 got here into impact in 2023, with Member States anticipated to implement it by October 2024. Cisco safety options, enhanced by the most recent improvements, help organizations in strengthening their cybersecurity defenses whereas additionally supporting their efforts to adjust to NIS2.
In this weblog, we’ll discover NIS2’s key parts, display how Cisco’s cutting-edge options can function your cybersecurity armor, and focus on how one can combine NIS2 and the European Union General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) right into a cohesive protection technique.
Understanding NIS2
The NIS2 Directive is a successor of the NIS1 Directive, which is taken into account the primary complete EU-wide cybersecurity legislation. Since its implementation in 2018, the NIS1 Directive has confirmed to be important for the implementation of the EU Cybersecurity Strategy, however as time went on, NIS1’s requirements fell brief given the challenges posed by the present menace panorama.
NIS2 expands the scope of the laws by together with new sectors and varieties of organizations which have to comply and introducing stricter necessities for his or her cybersecurity. Key elements embody:
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- Broader protection of essential sectors: Additional essential sectors that weren’t particularly lined in NIS1, that at the moment are lined in NIS2: Manufacturing, Public Administration, Space, Waste Management, Food Production, and Postal and Courier Services, whereas sustaining safety for present sectors equivalent to Energy, Transportation, Healthcare, and Digital Infrastructure.
- Mandatory cybersecurity threat administration measures: The NIS2 Directive introduces complete cybersecurity administration measures to boost the resilience and safety of important and necessary entities throughout the EU. These measures embody threat administration practices, incident response protocols, and steady monitoring to detect and mitigate threats promptly.
All in-scope entities are directed to determine strong provide chain safety, conduct common audits, and guarantee enough coaching for workers to take care of a excessive commonplace of cybersecurity consciousness and preparedness.
NIS2 additionally has international implications by mandating that any group, no matter its geographic origin, providing in-scope companies in EU-regulated sectors should adhere to its complete cybersecurity requirements. Non-EU firms in essential sectors should adjust to NIS2 necessities to take care of EU market entry and keep away from probably substantial regulatory fines, successfully establishing a brand new international cybersecurity benchmark. - Enhanced safety necessities for digital and bodily property: The NIS2 Directive guides Member States to implement enhanced safety necessities for each digital and bodily property to strengthen the cybersecurity posture of important and necessary entities. These necessities embody implementing superior safety measures for IT and OT methods and networks, guaranteeing the bodily safety of essential infrastructure, and integrating cybersecurity into the design and upkeep of each digital and bodily parts.
Increased accountability for senior administration
The NIS2 Directive envisions an elevated accountability for senior administration in strengthening organizational cybersecurity. This contains their private duty to supervise the implementation of efficient cybersecurity measures, allocate applicable sources, and guarantee compliance with the NIS2 Directive’s necessities.
Senior administration should even be concerned in strategic decision-making associated to cybersecurity, reflecting their essential function in fostering a tradition of safety inside the group.

The NIS2 Directive additional introduces stricter incident reporting obligations, with incidents to be reported inside 24 hours after preliminary discovery, adopted by a extra detailed replace inside 72 hours, and a complete last report inside a month.
Cisco Innovations: Universal ZTNA and Hybrid Mesh Firewall
Cisco safety options provide a layered safety technique that aligns with NIS2’s objectives of bettering cybersecurity resilience and accountability. As an instance, constructing upon the NIS2 compliance framework, Cisco affords options like Universal Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) and Hybrid Mesh Firewall to additional improve cybersecurity posture.
Universal ZTNA aligns with NIS2’s mission by implementing zero-trust ideas, providing:
- Adaptive, context-aware entry insurance policies
- Continuous person and system conduct monitoring
- Secure entry to cloud, and community purposes, and industrial property
- Unified administration and scalable adoption
This strategy fortifies essential infrastructures by minimizing entry, segmenting networks, and concealing purposes. It ensures solely authenticated and approved customers entry essential sources by strict id verification and steady monitoring. This aligns with NIS2’s objectives, serving to organizations meet compliance requirements whereas minimizing unauthorized entry dangers.
Hybrid Mesh Firewall enhances ZTNA by providing a unified safety platform, offering a unified safety platform with:
- Consistent coverage enforcement
- Integrated visibility
- Scalable safety measures
Cisco’s Hybrid Mesh Firewall gives a complete safety answer that integrates community and application-level safety throughout numerous environments, together with on-premises, cloud, and hybrid setups. This firewall answer assists in figuring out and mitigating threats in real-time, providing superior menace detection and response capabilities. By securing each digital and bodily property, the Hybrid Mesh Firewall helps the NIS2 Directive’s requirement for enhanced safety measures, serving to to guard the community infrastructure in opposition to potential vulnerabilities.
Together, ZTNA and Hybrid Mesh Firewall allows organizations to create a powerful protection technique that addresses the evolving menace panorama and helps NIS2’s objectives for proactive menace detection, incident response, and resilience in opposition to cyber assaults.
NIS2 and GDPR: A Unified Approach to Data Protection
NIS2 and GDPR collectively set up a sturdy framework for knowledge safety, see Figure 2: Comparative Overview of NIS2 and GDPR. Each targets distinct elements of safety and privateness. Incorporating Cisco’s superior safety options helps organizations comply to the broader regulatory panorama.
While GDPR focuses on private knowledge safety and privateness rights, NIS2 emphasizes the resilience of community and data methods. Their complementary nature permits organizations to synergize compliance efforts, enhancing general knowledge governance and safety. By integrating methods for each, organizations can successfully safeguard knowledge.

Preparing for NIS2 Compliance
Organizations should now give attention to sensible steps for NIS2 compliance by conducting thorough threat assessments, updating cybersecurity insurance policies, and implementing strong incident response plans. Regular coaching and consciousness packages for workers will probably be essential to take care of a security-conscious tradition.
Cisco Talos Incident Response Services play an important function on this preparation, providing superior menace intelligence and proactive monitoring options. These companies assist to determine and handle potential vulnerabilities. By leveraging Talos’s experience, organizations can strengthen their safety posture, align with NIS2 necessities, and improve their general resilience in opposition to cyber threats.
NIS2 presents each challenges and alternatives for organizations to strengthen their cybersecurity posture. By leveraging Cisco’s progressive options like Universal ZTNA and Hybrid Mesh Firewall, alongside Talos companies, organizations achieve invaluable instruments to help NIS2 objectives. This proactive technique not solely boosts cyber resilience but additionally aids in assembly regulatory necessities.
Next Steps
For extra info on NIS2 and the way Cisco can help your compliance journey, discover the next sources:
NIS2 Directive: Challenges to Opportunities
Blog: What is NIS2, and how are you going to put together for the brand new cybersecurity necessities within the EU?
Blog: NIS2 compliance for industrial networks: Are you prepared?
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