With sophisticated cyberattacks getting more frequent every day, and regulations around data privacy tightening, businesses across Europe are facing a big challenge:
Enter the NIS2 Directive — a step up for cybersecurity that demands organizations be ready to face any cyber storm that comes their way.
NIS2's Expanded Reach and What It Means for You
If you haven’t heard about NIS2 yet, here’s the quick rundown: It’s the new, tougher version of the original NIS (Network and Information Security) Directive. While NIS covered certain sectors like energy and transport, NIS2 broadens the scope, pulling in more industries, such as digital service providers and healthcare. Think of it as a safety net stretched wider, ensuring every major player is held to higher cybersecurity standards. These industries are prime targets for cyberattacks, and any disruption could have widespread consequences.
The directive now requires all organisations in these sectors, not just big corporations, to follow strict cybersecurity protocols. Whether you’re a smaller business providing water management or a digital services provider offering cloud solutions, the game has changed. Compliance is no longer optional — it’s the law.
Key sectors covered by NIS2 Directive:
- Energy: Providers of electricity, gas, and heat, which are vital for societal function, are especially at risk of cyberattacks that could have catastrophic effects.
- Transportation: Air, sea, rail, and road networks, integral to both economic and social life, need protection from potential disruptions.
- Financial institutions: Banks and financial markets handle sensitive data, making them primary targets for cybercriminals.
- Public health: Hospitals, healthcare institutions, and research labs must secure patient data and ensure continuity of critical medical services.
- Water supply: Both water and wastewater services are recognized as essential to national security and public health.
- Digital services: Providers of online platforms, e-commerce services, cloud computing, and social networks are now under greater scrutiny due to their crucial role in modern life.
- Public sector: State and local government bodies must protect citizens’ data and critical infrastructure.
Network Penetration Testing is at the Heart of NIS2
NIS2’s central focus? Making sure companies can withstand and respond to cyberattacks. But how do you prove your defenses are strong enough? That’s where network penetration testing (pentesting) comes in. A network pentest is like hiring a friendly hacker to break into your system and expose weaknesses—before the bad guys do. It’s the ultimate stress test for your network, showing where you're vulnerable and what you need to fix ASAP.
NIS2 doesn’t just recommend pentesting—it all but requires it. Companies operating in critical sectors must carry out regular pentests to ensure they meet the directive’s stringent security standards. And we’re not talking about a one-time event. Nope, NIS2 calls for consistent, continuous security checks. The message is clear: just like cleaning your house, cybersecurity needs to be a regular routine, not a once-in-a-blue-moon task.
Why PenTesting Matters Under NIS2:
- Identify weaknesses in IT infrastructure.
- Simulate real-world attack scenarios to evaluate security.
- Ensure compliance through systematic assessments.
To stay compliant, companies should follow best practices from frameworks like ISO/IEC 27001, OWASP, and PTES, ensuring thorough and effective pentesting. While NIS2 doesn’t specify a set frequency for testing, it recommends conducting pentests at least annually or after significant system changes.
Results must be documented, and any significant vulnerabilities should be reported to national supervisory authorities, ensuring not only the identification of issues but also the continuous effectiveness of implemented security measures.
Key Sectors Affected
NIS2 has a laser focus on critical infrastructure—sectors like energy, healthcare and banking. Why? Because if these industries get hit, the consequences could be catastrophic. Imagine an attack on a hospital that paralyzes patient care or a cyber incident that takes down an energy grid. It’s not just inconvenient; it’s life-threatening. That’s why organisations in these sectors are required to ramp up their cybersecurity efforts. And one of the best ways to do that? You guessed it—network pentesting. But it doesn’t stop there. NIS2 also pulls in the supply chain, meaning if you’re a supplier to a critical infrastructure organisation, you’re under the microscope too. It’s a ripple effect—if one part of the chain is vulnerable, the entire system is at risk. Pentesting helps identify and plug these gaps before they become a real problem.
The sectors most impacted by the NIS2 Directive, and where penetration testing is most critical, include:
- Financial Institutions: Banks, insurance companies, and financial markets are prime targets for cybercriminals due to the sensitive financial data they handle. Regular pentesting is essential to uncover vulnerabilities in complex systems, protecting against data breaches, financial fraud, and sophisticated attacks on payment processing and trading systems.
- Energy Providers: This sector includes suppliers of electricity, gas, and heat—industries that form the backbone of national infrastructure. A cyberattack could lead to widespread blackouts or disruptions in fuel supply. Penetration testing helps secure critical industrial control systems (such as SCADA), ensuring resilience against attacks that could have catastrophic, nation-wide effects.
- Transportation: Air, sea, rail, and road networks are all critical to the economy and public safety. A cyberattack could disrupt operations, cause safety issues, and halt the movement of goods and people. Pentesting in this sector focuses on ensuring the integrity and security of digital navigation systems, traffic control, and logistics management platforms.
- Digital Services: As cloud providers and e-commerce platforms become increasingly integral to everyday life and business operations, they also become lucrative targets for cyberattacks. Pentesting in this space is crucial for ensuring data protection, service availability, and safeguarding sensitive user information, particularly with the growing reliance on remote working and digital transactions.
- Public Health and Water: Hospitals, healthcare facilities, and water supply services are critical to national security and public health. A successful cyberattack on these systems could disrupt essential services, endangering lives and public health. Pentesting ensures these systems are fortified against ransomware attacks, data breaches (e.g., patient records), and service interruptions.
Each of these industries is now required to implement stricter security protocols, with pentesting playing a key role in ensuring the safety of their digital operations.
NIS2 is Live: Are You Ready?
The NIS2 Directive officially went into effect on October 18, 2024, bringing new cybersecurity compliance requirements for critical sectors throughout Europe. Businesses must now prioritize penetration testing to stay compliant and protect against cyber threats. Implementing regular, automated penetration testing helps identify vulnerabilities and ensures your organisation’s readiness in this evolving landscape.
For more information on the NIS2 Directive, you can visit the official European Commission announcement here.
How We Can Help
At Vonahi Security, our vPenTest platform automates penetration testing, ensuring that your organisation stays compliant with NIS2 while maintaining a strong cybersecurity posture. With detailed reports, ongoing assessments, and actionable insights, vPenTest helps you stay ahead of the threats and ensures your business is always ready.
Are you ready for NIS2? Let vPenTest help you navigate these new regulations and safeguard your network from cyberattacks. Schedule a free demo!
