NIS2: A Cybersecurity Earthquake Shakes Up EMEA Backup Strategies

Summary

The EU’s NIS2 directive has sent ripples through the EMEA business landscape, forcing organizations to reassess their cybersecurity and backup strategies. While many acknowledge the importance of NIS2, financial constraints and other barriers pose significant challenges to full compliance. This article delves into the impacts of NIS2, focusing on the critical role of robust backup and recovery solutions in navigating this new era of cybersecurity.

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Main Story

The European Union’s NIS2 directive? It’s a game changer, really, ushering in a new era of cybersecurity across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Think of it as NIS on steroids, significantly expanding the scope of the original directive. It’s pulling in more sectors than ever before and, well, demanding a whole lot more from businesses when it comes to cyber resilience.

While most organizations get why NIS2 is important for the EU’s collective cybersecurity, getting compliant? That’s where things get tricky.

One of the biggest things with NIS2 is this push for better backup and recovery.

• Organizations, it says, need to have “appropriate and proportionate” ways to handle cybersecurity risks, and that definitely includes backing up your data and being able to get it back.

Secure backups? They’re not just about ticking boxes for compliance. It’s about keeping your business running when, not if, a cyberattack or some other disaster hits. If you can get your data back fast, and you know it’s safe, you can cut down on downtime, financial losses, and, of course, the hit to your reputation.

However, getting there, achieving NIS2 compliance, is proving to be a real uphill battle for many. Trust me, I know, I was talking to a client just last week and it’s keeping them up at night.

Several things are getting in the way. You’ve got:

• Budget constraints.
• Legacy tech that’s a nightmare to update.
• A lack of understanding from leadership (that one stings, doesn’t it?).
• And the sheer complexity of squeezing NIS2 requirements into what you’re already doing.

I even heard of one company who had to move money away from their marketing budget just to try and get a grip on NIS2. That financial pressure, as a result, means that any backup and recovery solution needs to be efficient and, frankly, not break the bank.

But even with the hurdles, the whole point of NIS2 is to raise the bar for cybersecurity across the EU. It’s not just about technical stuff, though that’s important. It’s also about building a culture where everyone understands cybersecurity and takes responsibility.

And NIS2 makes it clear: top management is on the hook for managing cybersecurity risks and reporting incidents. Forget to comply and the penalties? They’re hefty. So, it’s not just an IT problem, it’s a business problem and needs to be baked into your core strategy.

With NIS2 shaping the landscape, it’s essential to invest in solid backup and recovery solutions. But don’t just think of them as a checkmark on a compliance list, view it as a key part of a bigger cybersecurity plan. Modern backup solutions come with some cool features that fit nicely with NIS2, like:

• Data that can’t be changed (immutability).
• Encryption to keep things safe.
• The ability to restore specific files or folders (granular recovery).
• And tools that automatically test your backups.

By using these technologies and being proactive, you can not only meet NIS2 but also get stronger against the evolving threats that are out there.

In fact, investing in the right backup and disaster recovery solutions, can actually make your business more efficient, streamline how you handle data, and keep things running smoothly even when bad things happen. And let’s be honest, wouldn’t that be nice? If you’re struggling to find the resources or expertise, you’re not alone. Plenty of managed service providers (MSPs) can help with security assessments, audits, and getting the right tools in place. However, when picking a solution, don’t forget to consider things like:

• Where your data is stored and who has access.
• Whether you’re still following other rules, like GDPR.
• The vendor’s security credentials.
• And how quickly you can recover your data in a disaster (recovery time objectives).

Making sure the solution you choose really fits your specific needs and legal requirements.

Honestly, the challenge of NIS2 compliance may seem daunting at first. But, with the right strategy and tools, it can also be an opportunity to mature your overall security posture and better protect your business.