What is the NIS 2 Directive and How to Comply
With the adoption of the NIS 2 Directive and the DORA Regulation, the cybersecurity and digital resilience requirements are intensifying for many businesses across Europe. These new regulations impose high standards on risk management, incident reporting, and data security. In this context, a Document Management System (DMS) can play a crucial role by facilitating compliance and enhancing information security.
NIS 2 and DORA: What Are They?
The European NIS 2 Directive (Network and Information Security 2) aims to strengthen the cybersecurity of businesses operating in critical sectors such as energy, finance, telecommunications, healthcare, and transportation. It imposes strict requirements on risk management, information system security, and incident reporting to the relevant authorities. Its primary objective is to improve the resilience of digital infrastructures against cyberattacks.
On the other hand, the DORA Regulation (Digital Operational Resilience Act) specifically applies to the financial sector. It emphasizes the ability of businesses to prevent, detect, manage, and report incidents related to digital technologies. DORA notably requires the standardization of cybersecurity measures and strict oversight of relationships between financial institutions and their digital service providers.
What Are the Obligations for Companies?
This directive requires Member States to develop a national strategy to ensure a high and consistent level of security in the affected areas.
They must ensure that targeted entities apply appropriate protective measures to their networks, information systems, and physical infrastructures, based on a cybersecurity risk analysis approach.
This approach includes:
- Risk and Cyber Threat Assessment: In accordance with Regulation 2019/881 concerning ENISA, which defines a cyber threat as “any circumstance, event, or action capable of harming networks and information systems, their users, or causing service interruption.”
- Identification and Remediation of Vulnerabilities: Defined in NIS 2 as “a flaw, weakness, or susceptibility of ICT products or services that can be exploited by a cyber threat.”
- Consideration of Risks Related to the Value Chain: Including subcontractors and suppliers.
- Incident Detection: Defined as “any event compromising the availability, authenticity, integrity, or confidentiality of stored, transmitted, or processed data, as well as associated services.”
- Incident Management: Encompassing all actions aimed at preventing, detecting, analyzing, containing, resolving, and recovering from an incident.
Additionally, the directive strengthens the obligation to report security incidents. Any affected entity must report an incident within 24 hours of its identification and provide a detailed report within a month after the initial notification.
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Why Are Subcontractors Concerned?
Supply chain attacks are increasing sharply, which is why NIS 2 mandates that companies surround themselves with secure partners.
Subcontractors, often directly linked to sensitive data and critical systems, can become entry points for cyberattacks if not adequately protected. By imposing cybersecurity requirements on these players, the directive allows companies to select reliable suppliers and limit risks associated with their ecosystem.
Why These New Cybersecurity Regulations?
Cyberattacks are constantly evolving in Europe, threatening critical sectors. These attacks, sometimes carried out by state groups or organized crime, aim not only to extort ransom but also to disrupt or destroy essential infrastructures. Wipers, for example, are malware designed to erase data and render systems inoperative, thus compromising the continuity of public and private services.
The NIS2 directive expands its scope and introduces enhanced obligations regarding incident management and risk governance. It also aims to improve cooperation among Member States for a coordinated response to cyber crises.
Which Sectors Are Affected by the NIS 2 Directive?
The NIS 2 Directive covers a wide range of sectors deemed essential for the proper functioning of the economy and society. These sectors are divided into two major categories: highly critical sectors and other critical sectors. Among the former, there are areas such as energy, digital infrastructures, transportation, healthcare, and banking and financial services. These sectors are particularly vulnerable to cyberattacks and require enhanced cybersecurity measures.
Regardless of their category, all entities must implement strict risk management measures and report significant cybersecurity incidents. These obligations aim to strengthen the resilience of critical infrastructures against growing digital threats.
How to Comply with the New Regulations?
To meet the requirements of NIS 2 and DORA, companies must adopt a holistic approach to cybersecurity and risk management, involving several key actions:
- Risk Assessment: Identify vulnerabilities and implement action plans to strengthen digital resilience.
- Implement Cybersecurity Policies: Define strict protocols for data protection, incident management, and response to cyberattacks.
- Training and Awareness: Ensure employees understand best practices in security and know how to respond to threats.
- Strengthening IT Infrastructure: Adopt advanced cybersecurity solutions such as multi-factor authentication, smart firewalls, and continuous system monitoring.
- Collaboration with Trusted Providers: Work with certified partners to ensure compliance and security of digital services.
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Open Bee DMS: A Strategic Tool for Document Security
Document security begins with strict access controls. Open Bee incorporates advanced measures such as two-factor authentication (2FA), HTTPS access, a locking policy, and a Zero Trust approach, ensuring that only authorized users access data.
Beyond access, Open Bee also provides enhanced data protection with encryption, granular permissions, complete action traceability, and secure external document sharing, including password authentication.
Finally, the security of the infrastructure is key. Open Bee Cloud applications are hosted in the Orange data centers in France, ensuring sovereignty and high availability. Orange implements high-level physical security with strict access control, rigorous monitoring protocols, and a dedicated team for continuous infrastructure protection, especially under the NIS 2 directive.
However, while the DMS is an essential pillar for compliance and cybersecurity, it is not sufficient on its own. It must be integrated into a comprehensive approach that includes complementary measures like threat monitoring and incident response protocols.
By combining these strategies with tools like the DMS, companies can not only comply with new regulatory obligations but also sustainably strengthen their security in the face of cyber threats.
**For further information, consult official sources :
cyber.gouv.fr
enisa.europa.eu
nis-2-directive.com
cyber.gouv.fr
