With the increasing digitization of enterprises and critical infrastructures, the risk of cyber attacks has grown substantially, requiring the adoption of stricter regulations to ensure the resilience of organizations. In this scenario, the Network and Information Security Directive (NIS 2) and the international standard ISO/IEC 27001:2022 for information security management play a crucial role. While NIS 2 outlines specific obligations for EU member states and critical organizations, ISO/IEC 27001:2022 provides a consolidated framework for implementing an information security management system (ISMS).
This article explores how the provisions of NIS Directive 2 can be mapped to the controls and requirements of ISO/IEC 27001:2022, facilitating an integrated approach to cybersecurity risk management.
NIS Directive 2: An Overview
Released in December 2022, NIS 2 updates the previous NIS Directive (2016/1148), introducing new security requirements for essential and important entities. It applies to critical sectors such as energy, transportation, healthcare, digital services and others. The main objectives of NIS 2 include:
- Improve the security of networks and information systems.
- Strengthen cyber resilience of critical infrastructure.
- Promoting cooperation among EU member states on cybersecurity.
NIS 2 addresses several areas, such as cybersecurity governance, risk management, incident reporting and business continuity.
ISO/IEC 27001:2022: a robust framework
ISO/IEC 27001:2022 provides a systematic model for the implementation, monitoring and continuous improvement of an ISMS. Version 2022 introduced significant updates, particularly in the security controls in Annex A, aligning them with emerging cybersecurity, privacy and risk management requirements. The standard includes a number of requirements covering various aspects of information security, from risk assessment to resource management, physical and logical protections, and incident response.
Mapping between NIS 2 and ISO/IEC 27001:2022
The integration of NIS 2 with ISO/IEC 27001:2022 helps organizations meet the regulatory requirements of the European directive while ensuring a robust and internationally recognized information security management system. The following illustrates the correspondence between some key areas covered by NIS 2 and ISO/IEC 27001:2022:
- Cybersecurity governance (NIS 2 Article 21).
NIS 2 requires organizations to implement cybersecurity management policies at the executive level. This is in line with Article 5 of ISO/IEC 27001:2022, which emphasizes the importance of leadership and commitment to information security management. - Risk assessment and management (Article 22 NIS 2).
The directive requires organizations to adopt a systematic approach to risk management. Similarly, Article 6 of ISO/IEC 27001:2022 requires organizations to develop and implement processes to assess and address information security risks. - Incident reporting (NIS 2 Article 23).
NIS 2 imposes strict requirements on timely incident reporting. This requirement is reflected in Article 16 of ISO/IEC 27001:2022, which addresses the management of information security incidents and the need for appropriate reporting. - Protection of networks and information systems (NIS 2 Article 18).
This article of NIS 2 focuses on protecting networks and information systems from cyber threats. ISO/IEC 27001:2022 addresses this with the security controls listed in Annex A, which include measures to protect networks, data, and IT systems. - Business Continuity (NIS 2 Article 20).
NIS 2 requires organizations to have business continuity plans in place to ensure resilience during and after an incident. This corresponds to Article 17 of ISO/IEC 27001:2022, which requires business continuity and disaster recovery planning. - Training and awareness (NIS Article 25 2).
Employee training is a key component of both NIS 2 and ISO/IEC 27001:2022. Article 7 of ISO/IEC 27001:2022 ensures that organizations ensure staff competence in information security and promote awareness through training programs.
Conclusion
Adopting an integrated approach that aligns the requirements of NIS 2 with ISO/IEC 27001:2022 enables organizations to significantly improve their cybersecurity posture. This not only ensures regulatory compliance, but also strengthens organizations’ ability to manage risks and respond effectively to security incidents.
Mapping these two frameworks is a strategic tool for cybersecurity leaders who want to implement a comprehensive and resilient management system that meets both regulatory and operational requirements. By implementing an ISMS based on ISO/IEC 27001:2022, organizations can effectively meet the requirements of NIS 2, building a robust security infrastructure and ensuring a more secure digital environment for their operations.