NIS2 Directive
The NIS2 Directive is the European Union’s cybersecurity law that strengthens security and incident reporting requirements for essential and important entities across critical sectors.
What is the NIS2 Directive?
The NIS2 Directive, which replaces the original 2016 Network and Information Systems (NIS) Directive, aims to enhance the cybersecurity resilience of critical infrastructure and digital services across the EU. It expands the scope of covered organizations to include more sectors, such as healthcare, energy, finance, digital infrastructure, and managed service providers.
The directive establishes baseline security measures, incident response obligations, and supply chain risk management requirements. Organizations must also report significant cybersecurity incidents within 24 hours of detection.
NIS2 complements other EU frameworks like the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA) by promoting a unified approach to risk, resilience, and accountability.
Why the NIS2 Directive matters
The NIS2 Directive raises the bar for cybersecurity governance across the EU, ensuring consistent protection for essential services that underpin economic and societal stability. By expanding its scope and introducing stricter penalties, NIS2 holds both organizations and leadership personally accountable for cyber resilience.
It emphasizes proactive risk management, cross-sector collaboration, and incident transparency to minimize disruption from cyberattacks and system failures.
For global organizations operating in or serving EU markets, NIS2 compliance demonstrates trustworthiness and readiness to handle evolving cybersecurity threats.
How the NIS2 Directive is used in practice
- Implementing technical and organizational security measures, such as access control and encryption
- Establishing continuous risk assessment and supply chain monitoring
- Developing an incident response plan and clear escalation procedures
- Reporting major cybersecurity incidents within 24 hours to national authorities
- Conducting post-incident reviews and strengthening operational resilience
- Integrating NIS2 compliance with broader governance, risk, and compliance (GRC) programs
Related laws & standards
- General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
- Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA)
- Network and Information Systems Directive (NIS)
- ISO/IEC 27001 (Information Security Management)
- NIST Cybersecurity Framework
How OneTrust helps with NIS2 Directive compliance
OneTrust helps organizations meet NIS2 requirements by automating risk assessments, centralizing incident reporting, and tracking compliance across operational systems. The platform provides visibility into cybersecurity readiness, supporting both technical and governance teams in achieving regulatory alignment.
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FAQs about the NIS2 Directive
NIS2 applies to essential and important entities across critical sectors in the EU, including energy, healthcare, financial services, transportation, and digital infrastructure providers.
Noncompliance can result in significant financial penalties, public enforcement actions, and management-level accountability, depending on the severity of the violation.
