NIS2: Beefing up security for critical industries

So, you’ve probably heard whispers (or maybe full-blown announcements!) about this thing called NIS2. 

But what exactly is the NIS2 Directive, and why should you care? 

Well, in a nutshell, it’s a new set of rules from the EU designed to seriously beef up critical security infrastructure across the board for essential industries. 

Think of it as a collective effort to make Europe a much tougher target for cyber nasties. For anyone thinking – I’m UK based, I’m not concerned. Well – not quite. NIS2 applies to organisations that provide services to the EU – like banking, transport, oil & gas, digital infrastructure or energy. 

The deadline for EU member states to get these rules baked into their own national laws was last October (17 October , 2024, to be precise). 

So, while the EU sets the overall vibe, it’s your own country’s specific laws you’ll ultimately need to follow. It’s all about hitting those NIS2 principles while keeping your national legal ducks in a row. It includes new penalties of up to 10 millions Euros and liabilities for management violations

Now, where does CybSafe come into the picture? Glad you asked! 

We’re all about tackling the human side of cybersecurity. Because let’s face it, even with the fanciest tech in place, a little human error can sometimes open the door to big trouble. 

And NIS2 totally gets this. 

While it has a broad range of techy and organisational demands, our approach at CybSafe directly tackles some really crucial areas:

1. Showing you the impact: measuring your cyber risk efforts

Ever wonder if your security awareness training is actually making a difference? If you cant measure it, you can’t manage it. 

CybSafe gives you the data to prove it (or highlight where you might need to tweak things). 

We provide insights into your “human cyber risk,” allowing you to see how effective your current security initiatives are and pinpoint areas that need a little more love. 

By actually measuring the risk associated with human behavior, you can get a much clearer picture of your overall cybersecurity health.

2. Level up your team’s cyber smarts

In November  2024, ENISA reported that 76% of cybersecurity staff lack certified training that would help their businesses achieve and maintain NIS2 compliance. This emphasises the need for everyone to have a good grasp of cyber hygiene and security practices. This is where CybSafe shines! 

Our security awareness content isn’t your typical snooze-fest. We make it personal, using data and behavioral science to deliver training that actually sticks. We track how behaviors change over time and give you the metrics to see the impact. 

This means:

• Your team gets a better understanding of the threats out there.
• We help build lasting good security habits.
• Training is tailored to different roles, so it’s actually relevant.
• We keep the learning going with helpful nudges and reminders.

3. Spotting trouble early: boosting your incident handling

NIS2 wants organisations to be on top of their game when it comes to handling security incidents. That means having processes in place to quickly identify and report anything significant. And yes, there are time limits!

CybSafe helps with this by offering tools like simulated phishing exercises and easy reporting features. This encourages your employees to become extra vigilant and flag potential issues. 

Plus, we provide training and info on how to prevent, detect, and respond to incidents – ticking another important NIS2 box.

Remember also that a NIS2 breach could at the same time be a GDPR breach – so worth keeping on top of privacy at the same time.

4. Getting the bosses on board: governance and accountability

NIS2 makes it clear that cybersecurity isn’t just an IT thing – it’s a leadership thing. 

Senior folks need to understand the risks and be involved in overseeing security measures. Specifically, management can be liable for an organisations breaches  – it just got personal!

CybSafe provides clear reports and metrics on human cyber risk, giving management the visibility they need. This data helps them make informed decisions, approve security strategies, and get a real handle on the organisation’s security posture from a people perspective.

5. Locking down access: the human side of things

Access controls are key especially in across a hybrid infrastructure. At CybSafe, our is focus on improving security behaviors plays a big role in making access control policies more effective. 

By making your team more aware of threats like phishing and social engineering, we reduce the chances of them being tricked into giving away access they shouldn’t. It’s about strengthening that human firewall!