BigFix and the NIS2 Directive

In the summer of 2016, the original NIS Directive was adopted to establish, for the first time, a high common level of security of network and information across the European Union. As with many legislative firsts, many limitations were gleaned after its enaction. Two of the critical restrictions discovered were insufficient harmonization across EU member states and an absence of an orchestrated response to cyber crises.

As a result, the revised NIS2 Directive was enacted to address these concerns. NIS2 is a set of regulations that aim to improve the security and resilience of essential services and applies to operators in two sector categories²:

Compliance with NIS2 can be challenging for operators of essential services due to the complexity of the regulations. However, BigFix can help simplify the compliance process and ensure that these organizations meet NIS2 requirements.

NIS2 spells out the requirements for compliance with the mandate. The aim of the directive is to “achieve a high common level of cybersecurity across the Union”. But as varied as industry is across Europe, so are the approaches and tactics to achieve compliance.

The mandate strives to unite these disparate union members toward a cooperative framework in:

• Identifying good practices in the Member States regarding the implementation of the NIS directive
• Supporting the EU-wide reporting process for cybersecurity incidents, by developing thresholds, templates and tools
• Agreeing on common approaches and procedures
• Helping Member States to address common cybersecurity issues

These industries must comply with NIS2 by October 17, 2024, or face significant fines and reputational damage. This is a tall order, and many of the EU business leaders are asking for help. Many EU businesses are relative newcomers to cybersecurity regulations and need an uncomplicated way to start down the path to compliance.

The HCL BigFix experts have identified the most critical and universal elements on the pathway to NIS2 compliance. Here are the top five that can directly help accelerate your journey!

1. Asset Inventory –NIS2 requires organizations to maintain an up-to-date inventory of their assets, including hardware, software, and network devices. BigFix provides real-time visibility into all endpoints, allowing OES to quickly identify all assets and their configurations. BigFix also provides detailed reports on software versions, security patches, and hardware configurations. This information helps organizations identify vulnerabilities and ensure that all endpoints are up-to-date and secure.

2. Vulnerability Management –NIS2 requires organizations to identify and manage vulnerabilities in their systems and networks. BigFix provides automated vulnerability scanning and patch management, ensuring that all endpoints are up-to-date and secure. BigFix (in alliance with major vulnerability scanners) can detect vulnerabilities and automatically remediate these vulnerabilities. It can also automate patch deployment, ensuring that all endpoints are patched quickly and efficiently.

3. Incident Response –NIS2 requires organizations to have an incident response plan in place and to be able to respond quickly and effectively to security incidents. BigFix provides real-time visibility into endpoints, allowing these organizations to quickly identify and respond to security incidents. BigFix can also automate incident response tasks, such as identifying affected endpoints and deploying patches to prevent further spread of malware.

4. Configuration Management –NIS2 requires organizations to maintain secure configurations for all endpoints. BigFix provides automated configuration management, ensuring that all endpoints are configured securely and consistently. BigFix can automate configuration tasks, such as disabling unnecessary services and enforcing password policies. It can also provide real-time alerts when configurations deviate from the desired state, allowing organizations to quickly identify and remediate any issues.

5. Compliance Reporting –NIS2 requires OES to provide regular compliance reports to the relevant authorities. BigFix provides detailed compliance reporting, allowing organizations to quickly generate reports that demonstrate compliance with NIS2. BigFix can generate reports on endpoint configurations, patch status, vulnerability management, and incident response. These reports can be customized to meet the specific requirements of NIS2 and other regulations.

To further see how BigFix can help you accelerate your path to NIS2 compliance, click here for a free guide.

Sources for further information:
Who Does NIS2 Apply To?
NIS Directive