NIS2 and 3 key questions

The NIS2 Directive is a new piece of EU legislation that aims to improve the overall level of cybersecurity in the EU. The directive has a number of specific impacts on data centers, including:

• Increased security requirements: Data centers will be required to implement more stringent security measures, including risk assessments, incident response plans, security awareness training for staff, and technical security measures, such as firewalls and intrusion detection systems.
• Increased reporting requirements: Data centers will also be required to report more types of cybersecurity incidents to national cybersecurity authorities, including data breaches, denial-of-service attacks, and ransomware attacks.
• Increased cooperation with authorities: Data centers will also be required to cooperate with national cybersecurity authorities in the event of a cybersecurity incident. This may include providing access to logs and other data, and assisting with investigations.

When will the NIS2 Directive be enforced in EU countries?

The NIS2 Directive entered into force on January 16, 2023. EU countries have 21 months, until October 17, 2024, to transpose the directive into their national legislation. This means that the directive will not be fully enforced in all EU countries until October 18, 2024.

What other standards like ISO or SOC2 can be used as foundation?

In addition to the NIS2 Directive, there are a number of other standards that data centers can use as a foundation for their cybersecurity practices. These standards include:

• ISO/IEC 27001:2013 is an international standard for information security management. It provides a framework for organizations to manage their information security risks.
• SOC 2 is a type of report that assesses an organization's security controls. It is often used by organizations that process sensitive data, such as financial or healthcare data.
• PCI DSS is a set of security standards for organizations that process credit card data. It is enforced by the Payment Card Industry (PCI) Security Standards Council.

These standards can help data centers to implement the security measures required by the NIS2 Directive, and they can also help to ensure that data centers are compliant with other regulations, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

How can data centers prepare for the NIS2 Directive?

Data centers that are subject to the NIS2 Directive should start preparing now to ensure that they are compliant with the directive. Here are some steps that data centers can take:

1. Conduct a risk assessment: This will help data centers to identify and assess the cybersecurity risks they face.
2. Develop an incident response plan: This will detail how the data center will respond to a cybersecurity incident.
3. Train staff on cybersecurity best practices: This will help staff to understand the importance of cybersecurity and how to protect data.
4. Implement technical security measures: This will help to protect data centers from cyberattacks.
5. Know what you have: This will ensure that no asset is missed from protection.
6. Report certain types of cybersecurity incidents to national cybersecurity authorities: This will help to ensure that cybersecurity incidents are investigated and that lessons are learned.
7. Cooperate with national cybersecurity authorities in the event of a cybersecurity incident: This will help to ensure that the incident is resolved as quickly and effectively as possible.

By taking these steps, data centers can help to protect themselves from cyberattacks and keep their data safe.

Conclusion

The NIS2 Directive is a significant piece of legislation that will have a major impact on data centers. Data centers that are subject to the directive should start preparing now to ensure that they are compliant with the directive. By taking steps to comply with the NIS2 Directive, data centers can help to protect themselves from cyberattacks and keep their data safe.

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