NIS 2 Directive Enforcement: 17 October 2024
Starting your compliance journey sooner rather than later is crucial to ensure you meet the deadline and avoid potential fines or reputational damage.
Technically speaking UK businesses do not have to comply with NIS 2 because the UK is no longer bound by EU legislation. However, if you are a UK organisation that does business with the EU, it is a good idea to follow suit because the new NIS 2 regulations apply to supply-chain companies too. In addition, the UK government is developing its own cybersecurity legislation which is expected to align with NIS 2.
So, you should not waste time and start preparing now to ensure that your business is NIS 2 ready!
If your organisation is already ISO 27001 certified, then you have taken significant steps to become NIS 2 compliant. However, you need to understand the scope of NIS 2 and where your business stands in terms security and the areas that need optimisation.
Assess Current Cybersecurity Posture
- Conduct risk assessments and security policies for information systems, identifying security risks and vulnerabilities
- Analyse and compare current security measures and their effectiveness with NIS 2 requirements
Develop a Plan
- Define which requirements need optimisation and set out a clear and achievable timeline
- Allocate the necessary budget, personnel and technology both software and hardware
- Create a plan for handling security incidents
Enhance Risk Management and Incident Response
- Implement a robust framework to identify and mitigate risks
- Develop and regularly update an incident response plan to handle potential cybersecurity incidents effectively
- A plan for managing business operations during and after a security incident. This means that backups must be up to date
Employee Training and Awareness
- Conduct regular cybersecurity training for all employees
- Use of multi-factor authentication, continuous authentication solutions, voice, video, and text encryption, and encrypted internal emergency communication, where possible
Monitor and Improve
- Implement continuous monitoring systems to detect and respond to threats in real-time
- Conduct regular internal and external audits to ensure ongoing compliance and identify areas for improvement
- Monitor security around supply chains. Companies must choose security measures that fit the vulnerabilities of each direct supplier. Companies must assess the overall security level for all suppliers.
Documentation and Reporting
- Your organisation needs to keep detailed records of all compliance activities, risk assessments and incident responses
- Ensure you have put steps in place for timely reporting to relevant authorities as required by NIS 2.
To protect your business, conduct a cybersecurity risk assessment and implement appropriate measures to manage cybersecurity risks. Syn-Star can help.
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