Enhancing NIS2/DORA Compliance: A Business-Centric Approach

The cybersecurity landscape is evolving with the arrival of the European Union’s NIS2 Directive and the Digital Operational Resilience Act DORA). These regulations elevate the standards for how organisations across various sectors manage and mitigate cyber risks. NIS2 and DORA reinforce existing best practices and standards, ensuring all organisations prioritize cybersecurity at a level playing field. This means that organisations that have not been adhering to these standards will now be required to do so. This is where the Alert Readiness Framework (ARF) comes in. The ARF provides a bridge between business priorities and cybersecurity operations.

Understanding NIS2 and DORA

Before exploring how the Alert Readiness Framework (ARF) can help with compliance, it’s crucial to understand the core principles of NIS2 and DORA. These regulations are distinct. However, they share a common goal: to strengthen the security and resilience of critical services and infrastructure within the EU.

What is NIS2 Compliance?

The NIS2 Directive significantly expands the scope of its predecessor, the NIS Directive. It encompasses a wider range of sectors vital to the economy and society. These include healthcare, energy, transport, digital providers, and public administration. Read this e-book to Ensure compliance with the directive SRI2/NIS2

• Scope and Objectives: NIS2 aims to establish a common level of cybersecurity across these sectors. It mandates organisations to take proactive steps to manage cyber risks and ensure the continuity of essential services. It emphasises risk management, incident reporting, and robust security measures.
• Key Requirements: NIS2 requires organisations to implement appropriate security policies, conduct regular risk assessments, implement measures to prevent and manage security incidents, and report significant incidents to relevant authorities.

What is DORA Compliance?

DORA focuses specifically on the financial sector. It aims to enhance the resilience of financial entities against operational disruptions arising from ICT-related incidents. This includes banks, investment firms, insurance companies, and cryptocurrency service providers. Read this e-book to achieve DORA Compliance Now and strengthen your cybersecurity.

• Scope and Objectives: DORA seeks to ensure that financial entities can withstand cyberattacks, IT failures, and other disruptions that could impact the stability of the financial system. It mandates a comprehensive framework for ICT risk management, incident reporting, and third-party risk management.
• Key Requirements: DORA requires financial entities to implement ICT risk management frameworks. Additionally conduct regular risk assessments, implement measures to manage ICT-related incidents, and report major incidents to supervisory authorities. It also strongly emphasises managing risks associated with third-party ICT service providers.

The Business Challenges Addressed by the Alert Readiness Framework

NIS2 and DORA (and NCA, for that matter)  provide a robust regulatory framework for cybersecurity. However, their successful implementation hinges on addressing the underlying business challenges that often hinder effective cybersecurity practices. This is where the ARF proves invaluable.

• Lack of Shared Understanding of Cyber Risks: Business and IT teams often have different perspectives on cybersecurity risks, leading to misaligned priorities and ineffective risk management.
• Difficulty in Prioritising Cybersecurity Investments: Limited resources and countless potential threats make it challenging to determine where to allocate cybersecurity investments for maximum impact.
• Ineffective Communication and Collaboration: Siloed operations and poor communication between business and IT teams can block incident response and overall cybersecurity efforts.
• Siloed Operations and Decision-Making: Cybersecurity is often treated as an IT issue rather than a business-wide concern, leading to fragmented decision-making and a lack of holistic risk management.
• Reactive Instead of Proactive Security Posture: Many organisations adopt a reactive approach to cybersecurity. They focus on responding to incidents rather than proactively mitigating risks.

The ARF tackles these challenges head-on by providing a framework for:

• Establishing a Common Language for Cyber Risks: ARF provides a common vocabulary and framework for understanding and communicating cyber risks across the organisation. Its goal? Ensuring that business and IT teams are on the same page.
• Facilitating Risk Assessment and Prioritisation: ARF helps organisations systematically assess and prioritise cyber risks based on their potential impact on business objectives. It enables informed decision-making about cybersecurity investments.
• Improving Communication and Collaboration: ARF fosters a collaborative approach to cybersecurity. The ARF breaks down silos between business and IT teams and ensures effective communication channels for incident response and risk management.
• Enabling Proactive Risk Management: ARF encourages a proactive approach to cybersecurity, empowering organisations to anticipate and mitigate risks before they impact business operations.

By addressing these challenges, the ARF enhances NIS2/DORA compliance and strengthens the organisation’s overall cybersecurity posture.

How ARF Enhances NIS2/DORA Compliance

The ARF provides a practical framework for organisations to not only comply with NIS2/DORA but to exceed the basic requirements and build a truly robust cybersecurity posture. Here’s how:

• Establishing a Common Language for Cyber Risks: ARF helps bridge the communication gap between business and IT by providing a common language for discussing and understanding cyber risks. This shared understanding is essential for effective risk management and decision-making.  This can be further read in our whitepaper “People-first – A new Paradigm in Cyber Resilience”
• Facilitating Risk Assessment and Prioritisation: ARF provides a structured approach to risk assessment, enabling organisations to identify, analyse, and prioritise cyber risks based on their potential impact on business operations. This facilitates informed decision-making about security investments and ensures that resources are allocated effectively.  
• Improving Communication and Collaboration: ARF fosters cross-functional collaboration between business and IT teams, breaking down silos and promoting a shared responsibility for cybersecurity. This enhanced communication and collaboration are crucial for effective incident response and risk mitigation.  
• Enabling Proactive Risk Management: ARF promotes a proactive approach to cybersecurity, encouraging organisations to anticipate and mitigate risks before they can impact business operations. This proactive stance is essential for maintaining operational resilience and complying with NIS2/DORA’s requirements for ICT risk management.  
• Streamlining Compliance Processes: ARF provides a framework for documenting and monitoring cybersecurity controls, policies, and procedures, streamlining the process of demonstrating compliance with NIS2/DORA’s requirements.

Integrating ARF into NIS2/DORA Implementation Projects

Organisations undergoing NIS2/DORA implementation projects can leverage the ARF to effectively integrate cybersecurity into their business operations and enhance their overall security posture.

• Leveraging ARF for Risk Identification and Assessment: ARF can be used to conduct comprehensive risk assessments, identifying critical assets, threats, and vulnerabilities. This information can then be used to develop and prioritise security controls in line with NIS2/DORA requirements.  
• Using ARF to Develop and Implement Security Controls: ARF can guide the selection and implementation of appropriate security controls to mitigate identified risks. This ensures that security measures are aligned with business objectives and regulatory requirements.
• Monitoring and Reporting with ARF: ARF provides a framework for monitoring the effectiveness of security controls and reporting on cybersecurity performance. This facilitates ongoing compliance with NIS2/DORA and enables continuous improvement of the organisation’s security posture.
• Continuous Improvement with ARF: ARF’s focus on continuous improvement aligns perfectly with NIS2/DORA’s dynamic approach to cybersecurity. By regularly reviewing and updating the ARF, organisations can ensure that their security practices remain effective and relevant in the face of evolving threats and regulatory changes.  

NIS2 and DORA: a Step Forward to Strengthen Cybersecurity

NIS2 and DORA are significant steps toward strengthening European cybersecurity. However, compliance extends beyond regulations; it’s about building a resilient organisation. The Alert Readiness Framework (ARF) bridges the gap between business and IT, enabling compliance and embedding cybersecurity into your organisation’s DNA.

Looking Ahead: The ARF is more than a compliance tool—it’s a step ahead. While NIS2 and DORA set the baseline for cybersecurity resilience, ARF equips organisations to go further, addressing challenges proactively. By adopting ARF now, organisations benefit from reduced risk, enhanced operational resilience, and position themselves as frontrunners, prepared for future regulatory advancements. The measures within ARF are likely to become standard in future regulations, making early adoption a strategic advantage.

Devoteam, a leading digital transformation consultancy, has extensive experience in helping organisations navigate the complexities of NIS2 and DORA compliance. Our experts can guide you through the implementation of the Alert Readiness Framework and your compliance journey, ensuring that your organisation is well-prepared for the challenges ahead. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you achieve cyber resilience.