NIS2 Compliance Guide: Practical Steps for 2025 Blog

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As the digital landscape evolves and cyber threats grow in sophistication and scale, the European Union has responded with one of its most comprehensive cybersecurity laws to date: the NIS2 Directive (Directive (EU) 2022/2555). Designed to strengthen the cybersecurity posture across the EU, NIS2 builds on the original NIS framework and introduces unified requirements for risk management, incident reporting, corporate accountability, and operational resilience.

Unlike its predecessor, NIS2 applies to a broader range of organizations — including essential and important entities across multiple sectors — and sets out stringent requirements that go beyond technical cybersecurity measures. It pushes organizations to integrate cybersecurity into their core governance, operational processes, and strategic planning.

Understanding NIS2 and Its Scope

At its core, NIS2 aims to harmonize cybersecurity regulation across the EU by requiring member states to adopt national strategies that ensure a high level of security for network and information systems. The directive replaces the original NIS rules and significantly broadens the number of organizations that must comply.

This directive applies not only to traditional critical infrastructure sectors such as energy, transportation, and health, but also to digital infrastructure, ICT service management, and other sectors identified as vital to economic resilience. Organizations must assess whether they are designated as “essential” or “important” entities” based on criteria such as size, impact, and role in supporting critical services.

Being in scope under NIS2 means more than technical compliance — it means embedding cybersecurity requirements into governance structures, appointing responsible leaders, and implementing documented policies that align with risk management best practices.

Step One: Conduct a Scoping and Gap Analysis

The first step in any NIS2 compliance journey is to determine whether your organization is in scope and identify compliance gaps. This analysis should involve cross-functional teams including IT, security, legal, and business leaders to ensure a complete understanding of current capabilities and future obligations.

Gap analysis involves mapping existing security controls, governance practices, and incident response processes against the obligations outlined in NIS2 — from risk management policies to incident reporting timelines. This lays the foundation for a tailored compliance plan aligned with your organizational risk profile.

This phase should also consider subsidiary entities, third-party partners, and suppliers, as NIS2’s scope includes supply chain security obligations that extend beyond internal systems.

Step Two: Establish Robust Risk Management

A central requirement of NIS2 is the implementation of a documented risk management framework that continuously identifies, assesses, and mitigates cybersecurity risks. Rather than being a one-off exercise, risk management must be part of the organization’s operating rhythm.

Effective risk management includes creating a formal risk register, defining security policies, conducting regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing, and aligning security objectives with business outcomes. It also requires ongoing monitoring of threats and adjustments to controls as the threat landscape evolves.

Beyond technical controls like access management and encryption, risk management under NIS2 also covers governance structures, such as board oversight, executive-level engagement, and clear accountability for cybersecurity outcomes.

Step Three: Implement Technical and Organizational Measures

NIS2 does not mandate specific technologies but does require organizations to put in place adequate technical and organizational measures that strengthen cybersecurity resilience. These measures include security incident management, network segmentation, vulnerability management, and access control practices tailored to risk profiles.

Organizations should document these measures and their effectiveness, demonstrating to regulators that the chosen controls are appropriate and regularly evaluated. Real-world practices include multi-factor authentication, encryption, secure configuration baselines, and continuous security monitoring.

Organizational measures — such as training, policies, and audit regimes — are equally critical, enabling consistent security practices at all levels of the organization.

Step Four: Prepare Incident Response and Reporting Processes

One of NIS2’s most impactful requirements concerns incident detection, response, and reporting. Organizations must establish documented procedures for identifying and responding to security incidents and for providing timely notifications to the competent authorities.

NIS2 defines precise reporting expectations, such as early warning notifications within 24 hours and comprehensive incident reports shortly thereafter, ensuring a coordinated response across jurisdictions.

Regular testing of these procedures via tabletop exercises, simulations, and cross-functional drills is a best practice that helps organizations cement operational readiness.

Step Five: Engage with the Executive Team and Supply Chain Partners

NIS2 elevates corporate accountability by requiring leadership involvement in both strategy and execution of cybersecurity measures. Executives must formally endorse security policies and participate in strategic decision-making related to cyber risk.

In parallel, organizations must extend their security expectations to supply chain partners and third-party vendors, ensuring that contractual arrangements reflect cybersecurity requirements and that partners are held to equivalent standards.

This approach acknowledges that security is not isolated within internal borders but is a function of the broader digital ecosystem in which an organization operates.

Best Practices and Long-Term Compliance

Organizations that treat NIS2 compliance as a continuous improvement process — not merely a checkbox exercise — gain true operational resilience. Practices such as continuous monitoring, periodic audits, regular training, and management reviews foster a security culture aligned with business objectives.

Many entities also integrate NIS2 requirements with other governance frameworks like ISO/IEC 27001 to streamline compliance across regulatory and operational domains.

Ultimately, the goal is not only to achieve compliance by a deadline, but to embed cybersecurity resilience into organizational DNA — enabling quicker responses to emerging threats, minimizing operational disruptions, and building trust with customers, partners, and regulators.