The most important thing in brief:
- Strict compliance requirements: The NIS 2 Directive requires companies in critical and essential sectors to comply with strict cybersecurity standards; violations can result in fines of up to 10 million euros or 2% of annual global turnover lead.
- Expanded range of application: The directive applies not only to large corporations, but also to medium-sized companies and IT service providers, which are now required to address security incidents within 24 hours to report and provide evidence of extensive documentation.
- Efficient implementation: With professional documentation software such as Docusnap companies can automate risk assessments, efficiently generate incident reports, and seamlessly document compliance requirements to avoid heavy penalties.
In today's highly digitized world, cyber attacks and security threats are constantly increasing. In order to better protect businesses and critical infrastructure, the European Union has NIS2 Policy (Network and Information Security Directive 2) adopted. This new policy replaces the original NIS Directive from 2016 and requires companies to implement more comprehensive cybersecurity measures.
In this article, you will learn everything important about the NIS 2 Directive: What it is, when it comes into force, what requirements it places on companies, what the penalties for violations look like and what the professional documentation software is Docusnap Helping companies meet NIS 2 requirements
NIS2 or NIS 2? — What is the correct spelling?
Both spellings often appear in connection with the Directive: “NIS2” and “NIS 2”. Officially, the spelling is predominantly used in the EU context “NIS 2” or “NIS 2.0“used in German — particularly in IT — but the compact version has also been used “NIS2” established.
For better readability and findability, we use in this blog article both spellings But — depending on the context — always mean the same thing: the current EU directive on cybersecurity.
What is the NIS2 Policy?
Die NIS 2 guideline (Network and Information Security Directive 2) was adopted at the end of 2022 to modernize the previous directive and meet the increased NIS 2.0 cybersecurity requirements. In view of the increasing threats posed by cybercrime and the increasingly interconnected world, it was necessary to tighten the previous regulations. The NIS 2 Directive is a key element of the EU cybersecurity strategy and aims to improve the protection of critical infrastructure and essential services across the EU.
Why was an update necessary?
Since the original NIS Policy was introduced in 2016, the threat spectrum has changed dramatically. Cyber attacks such as ransomware, DDoS attacks (Distributed Denial of Service) and phishing campaigns have increased significantly and can cause significant financial damage to companies. The previous NIS Directive did not cover all affected industries and did not provide the necessary protective measures to counter modern threats. The NIS 2 Directive specifically addresses these gaps.
Objectives of the NIS 2 Directive
The main objectives of the NIS 2 Directive can be summarised as follows:
- Increasing cybersecurity within the EU through stricter standards and regulations.
- Improving collaboration between EU Member States to identify and ward off threats at an early stage.
- Protecting critical infrastructure and essential services to ensure security of supply.
- Increasing resilience from companies and organizations against cyber attacks.
- Ensuring a fast Reporting security incidentsto reduce response times.
What are the requirements of NIS2 for companies?
The NIS 2 Directive extends the scope and now covers a variety of sectors that were previously unregulated. The companies concerned fall into two categories: critical and essential service providers. In our blog article NIS2: Who is affected It describes in detail which sectors are affected and what measures they must take.
NIS2 requires companies to take comprehensive measures to improve cybersecurity. The most important requirements are:
1. Risk Management and Safety Measures
Companies must provide a detailed risk assessment carry out and appropriate technical and organizational measures implement to secure their IT infrastructure. Measures include:
- implementation of firewalls, Intrusion detection systems and Encryption technologies.
- Introduction of Emergency plans and regular security checks.
- Vulnerability analyses and continuous monitoring to identify security gaps at an early stage.
2. Incident management and reporting requirements
The NIS 2 Directive provides strict requirements for Reporting security incidents before:
- Security incidents must within 24 hours be reported to the competent authority after they are discovered.
- Within 72 hours detailed information must be provided on the nature of the incident and the measures taken.
- A final report is within a month to submit.
3. Staff training and awareness raising
To prevent cyber attacks, companies must regularly inform their employees about Educate cybersecurity. This training is intended to increase awareness of security risks and avoid human errors.
4. Documentation and verification
The NIS 2 Directive requires a complete documentation all safety measures taken. Companies must:
- yours Update IT documentation regularly.
- be able to provide evidence of security measures taken during checks.
- A comprehensive Incident management system establish to prove compliance with the guideline.
What are the penalties for breaches of the NIS 2 Directive?
The NIS 2 Directive provides for strict sanctions for companies that do not meet the prescribed safety requirements. The amount of the penalties depends on the type of company and the severity of the infringement. In this case, between critical service providers and essential service providers differentiated.
1. Penalties for critical service providers
Critical service providers are subject to particularly strict requirements, as their failures could have serious consequences for society and the economy. Violations of the NIS 2 Directive may result in the following penalties:
- Fines of up to 10 million euros or 2% of annual global turnover, whichever is higher.
- Additional penalties may include Publication of the infringement include to increase pressure on companies to improve their security measures.
- In serious cases, it can lead to Suspension of business activities or restrict certain services until the deficiencies have been remedied.
- Company managers can be held personally responsible, particularly if it is proven that they have their monitoring obligations have neglected.
Examples of violations that can result in heavy penalties:
- Failure to report a significant security incident within the prescribed period.
- Inadequate technical protection measures such as lack of encryption or poor access controls.
- Negligence in carrying out regular IT security audits and risk analyses
2. Penalties for major service providers
Essential service providers are also subject to strict security requirements, but the penalties for violations are somewhat less drastic than for critical service providers:
- Fines of up to 7 million euros or 1.4% of annual global turnover, whichever is higher.
- Significant service providers may also be required to publicly disclose their violations, resulting in a Reputational damage can lead.
- Temporary Operating restrictions can be imposed until the necessary safety measures have been proven.
- Managers can be held responsible if they are proven to be negligent in implementing safety requirements.
Typical violations include:
- Inadequate training of employees on cybersecurity practices.
- Lack of regular security policy reviews and updates.
- Improper IT infrastructure documentation and security protocols.
3. Graduated sanctions and sanctioning process
The NIS 2 Directive provides for a phased approach to the enforcement of penalties. This means that regulators can first issue warnings and give companies the opportunity to remedy the situation within a fixed period of time before drastic penalties are imposed. However, repeated violations or serious neglect can immediately result in large fines.
Difference between NIST2 and NIS2
In discussions about cybersecurity and legal requirements, two similar sounding terms often come up: NIST2 and NIS 2. Although both guidelines aim to strengthen information security, they take different approaches and have different origins.
NIS 2 (Network and Information Security Directive 2) is an EU directive that came into force in 2023 and must be transposed into national law by all member states. It is aimed specifically at operators of critical infrastructures and certain digital service providers in the EU. The aim is to create uniform safety standards and a higher level of safety across the Union.
NIST2 On the other hand, it is not a guideline, but usually refers to the second version of the Cybersecurity Framework (CSF) from the US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). This framework provides companies worldwide with voluntary but proven standards and best practices to improve their cybersecurity. While NIS2 is legally binding, the NIST CSF serves as a guide — in particular for organizations that want to build their own security strategies on internationally recognized models.
Practical tip: For many companies that operate internationally, it is worth taking a look at both approaches. The combination of NIS2 compliance required by law and the structured, methodological guidelines of NIST CSF can provide a solid basis for a comprehensive IT security concept.
NIS2 Directive & NIS2 Directive PDF
Anyone who is familiar with the content of NIS2 Directive wants to deal with or after an official “NIS2 Guideline PDF” Search, find at Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) a reliable source. The BSI provides comprehensive information on the European Directive as well as further documents and interpretive aids — for example on affected sectors, reporting requirements and implementation deadlines.
Especially as part of national implementation into German law (e.g. through the planned NIS2 Implementation and Cybersecurity Strengthening Act, NiS2umsucg), it is recommended that you regularly check the content of this page. For companies, this means that now is the right time to review processes, responsibilities and IT documentation.
How Docusnap helps companies comply with the NIS 2 Directive
Compliance with the NIS 2 Directive is a complex task that requires thorough monitoring and documentation of the IT infrastructure. Here comes Docusnap into the game, a leading software for IT documentation and IT compliance.
1. Automated IT documentation
Docusnap provides a complete automated documentation of the entire IT landscape. This includes:
- networks, hardware, software, and permissions.
- Preparation of IT security guidelines and processes.
- Regular safety reports to comply with the NIS 2 Directive.
2. Risk management support
Docusnap helps companies Risk analyses and identify security gaps at an early stage. As a result, companies can proactively implement measures to reduce risks.
3. Incident management and reporting
With Docusnap, security incidents can be quickly identified and documented. The software makes it easier Reporting incidents to the competent authorities and assist in preparing the necessary reports.
4. Efficient verification during audits
The complete documentation provided by Docusnap enables companies, during audits and controls comprehensive evidence present and prove compliance with the NIS 2 Directive.
Conclusion: NIS 2 compliance made easy with Docusnap
Die NIS 2 guideline presents companies with new challenges, but these can be overcome by using suitable tools such as Docusnap. Compliance with the NIS 2 Directive is essential to avoid heavy fines and strengthen the trust of customers and partners. Docusnap enables companies to efficiently meet NIS2 requirements while optimizing their IT security strategy.
Why companies should act now:
- Violations of the NIS 2 Directive can result in significant fines.
- A robust cybersecurity strategy not only protects against penalties, but also strengthens trust in the company.
- Using Docusnap makes it easier to implement the Directive and gives companies a competitive advantage in an increasingly digital world.
