Network & Information Security Directive (NIS2)
Network & Information Security Directive (NIS2)
Network & Information Security Directive (NIS2)
As the world becomes more interconnected, the lines between Information Technology (IT) and Operational Technology (OT) environments are blurring. While this convergence offers many benefits, such as enhanced efficiency and flexibility, it also opens the door to increased cybersecurity risks. Cyber threats can now move more freely between IT and OT environments, expanding the attack surface and amplifying the potential impact of cyber incidents. These attacks are not just digital; they can lead to physical damage, such as human injury, environmental harm, or worse.
Historically, IT and OT systems were isolated from one another. However, as organizations increasingly adopt smart technologies and integrated systems, the risks associated with cyber threats migrating from IT to OT systems (and vice versa) are growing. Unfortunately, many OT-operating organizations have historically prioritized operational safety and performance over cybersecurity. OT professionals often have limited cybersecurity expertise, and the lack of communication between IT and OT teams makes it difficult to identify weaknesses and establish a comprehensive security approach.
The NIS2 Directive directly addresses the need to secure both IT and OT systems, highlighting the importance of protecting critical infrastructure against cybersecurity risks that could impact people and the environment. By converging IT and OT systems securely, organizations can move closer to NIS2 compliance and significantly improve their cybersecurity posture. However, this requires a proactive approach—investing in the right technologies, training staff, and ensuring effective collaboration between IT and OT teams.
What is NIS2?
The NIS2 Directive is a European Union regulation designed to enhance the overall level of cybersecurity within the EU, with a focus on essential and critical entities, such as those in the energy, healthcare, and transportation sectors. The directive aims to strengthen the resilience of both IT and OT systems against cyber threats, ensuring that essential services continue to operate smoothly even in the face of cyber-attacks.
Under NIS2, organizations must take proactive measures to:
- Secure OT systems and prevent incidents that can cause harm to human life, the environment, or critical services.
- Identify and address vulnerabilities in both IT and OT systems.
- Improve communication and collaboration between traditionally siloed IT and OT teams.
- Invest in cybersecurity training, risk management, and incident response to reduce risks and enhance overall resilience.
Securing IT/OT Convergence for NIS2 Compliance
Achieving NIS2 compliance involves securely converging IT and OT systems. This requires:
- Identifying vulnerabilities in both domains.
- Ensuring effective communication between IT and OT teams.
- Training employees on cybersecurity best practices for both IT and OT environments.
- Implementing appropriate security technologies for data protection, network segmentation, and incident response.
While the NIS2 Directive provides a high-level framework, organizations can begin their journey toward compliance by adopting internationally recognized cybersecurity standards, such as the IEC 62443 series, which provides a comprehensive framework for securing OT systems.
What is IEC 62443?
The IEC 62443 series is a global standard specifically designed to secure Operational Technology (OT) and Industrial Automation and Control Systems (IACS). As OT systems become more interconnected with IT systems, securing them from cyber threats is critical for industries that rely on these systems to operate safely and efficiently, such as energy, manufacturing, and utilities.
IEC 62443 focuses on providing detailed cybersecurity controls, guidelines, and processes for OT environments. Its adoption helps organizations improve the security of industrial control systems (ICS), including SCADA systems, PLCs, and other OT devices, against evolving cyber threats.
What is IEC 27001?
In contrast, IEC 27001 is an internationally recognized standard for Information Security Management Systems (ISMS). While IEC 62443 focuses on securing OT systems, IEC 27001 addresses information security across an organization’s entire IT environment, including both digital and physical information. It provides a structured framework for identifying and managing information security risks through a series of policies, procedures, and controls, all aimed at ensuring the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of data.
IEC 27001 is broader in scope, applying to any organization, regardless of industry. It helps organizations protect sensitive information, including customer data, intellectual property, and business-critical assets.
Key Differences Between IEC 27001 and IEC 62443
| Aspect | IEC 27001 | IEC 62443 |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Information security management for IT systems | Cybersecurity for OT and industrial control systems |
| Scope | Broad, applies to all types of information (IT) | Focuses on industrial and operational technology (OT) |
| Risk Management | General risk management for information assets | Specific risk management for industrial control systems |
| Industry Applicability | Any organization handling sensitive information | Critical industries (energy, utilities, manufacturing, etc.) |
| Certification | Yes, external certification available (ISO) | Certification available, but more complex due to OT-specific focus |
| Security Controls | General information security controls | Specialized controls for OT environments (SCADA, PLCs, etc.) |
| Lifecycle | Focus on continuous information security management | Focus on securing the full lifecycle of industrial systems (design, implementation, operation) |
Which Standard Should You Choose?
The choice between IEC 27001 and IEC 62443 depends on your organization's needs and the type of systems you are protecting:
- IEC 27001 is ideal for organizations focused on securing information systems (IT), ensuring confidentiality, integrity, and availability of data across the entire organization.
- IEC 62443 is specifically designed for organizations in industries that rely on OT systems, helping to secure industrial control systems (ICS), SCADA systems, PLCs, and other OT devices.
For organizations managing both IT and OT systems—especially those in critical infrastructure sectors—a dual approach that combines both standards is often the most effective. IEC 27001 will help protect organizational information assets, while IEC 62443 will address the cybersecurity needs of OT systems, ensuring a more comprehensive security posture across both domains.
Conclusion
The NIS2 Directive represents an important step in strengthening cybersecurity across the European Union, focusing on both IT and OT systems. While organizations wait for the full NIS2 requirements to be clarified, they can take immediate action by adopting best-in-class standards like IEC 62443 for OT cybersecurity and IEC 27001 for information security management.
Adopting these standards will not only help organizations improve their cybersecurity resilience and achieve compliance with NIS2 but also enhance their overall ability to prevent, detect, and respond to evolving cyber threats. Whether you’re securing data, IT systems, or OT environments, both IEC 27001 and IEC 62443 offer essential frameworks that can guide your cybersecurity strategy in the face of growing digital and operational risks.