Implementing the Incident Notification Mechanism of NIS2: Operational Challenges and Solutions

Introduction:

With our digital world getting more connected, strong cybersecurity is super important. The EU’s NIS2 plan is all about making its countries better at cybersecurity. It sets up a plan for how important industries should report when they have security problems. This plan is a good way to help everyone fight cyber threats together, but it’s not easy for companies to make it work. They have to follow new rules and add new tech, which can be hard. As companies and governments try to keep up with the changing cybersecurity rules, reporting incidents the right way is a big challenge. Companies need to have ways to quickly report problems and make sure those ways fit what NIS2 wants. This means working with different people, changing their current computer systems, and teaching their employees to care about security. This paper is about the problems companies have when they try to report incidents the way NIS2 wants them to, and it gives some simple ways to fix those problems. By learning from what others have done well, looking at examples, and hearing from experts, we want to give people the info they need to follow the rules. This should help them be ready for any cyberattacks that might come their way. We encourage companies to take action and not only do what the rules say but also to make their cybersecurity stronger overall.

Detailed description of the incident notification obligations introduced by NIS2

The NIS2 Directive—officially the Directive on Security of Network and Information Systems—is a big deal for the EU’s cybersecurity efforts. Cyber threats are getting worse, so we needed tougher rules that push companies to actually do something about cyberattacks. The first NIS Directive tried to boost cybersecurity and set a baseline for network and info security in the EU. But things changed, digital stuff got more connected, and that’s why we got NIS2. A main point of NIS2 is better rules for reporting attacks. It spells out how companies need to respond to and report cyber incidents, encouraging openness and working with regulators. One key thing about NIS2’s incident reporting is it covers way more companies. The old NIS Directive mostly focused on essential services and digital providers. NIS2 takes a wider view, making more sectors and industries report incidents. This means companies in areas like energy, transport, health, and digital stuff now have to help guard against cyber threats. By including medium and large businesses, NIS2 wants to raise the cybersecurity bar across the board. The directive says that if something bad happens and really messes with their services, companies have to report it. This means looking at how badly services were disrupted, the money lost, or if anyone’s safety or health was at risk. Companies need to think about how incidents could hurt users and society as a whole. This way of thinking about attacks helps companies understand threats better and take steps to protect their systems and people. NIS2 says reports should be made ASAP, ideally within 24 hours of finding out about an incident. This fast reporting helps countries and authorities respond and work together quickly. But, companies should still take the time to figure out what happened and make sure their reports have enough detail for a good investigation and teamwork. That 24-hour thing is important for cutting down the damage from an incident, sharing info fast, and improving how the EU handles cybersecurity together. The directive lists what needs to be in those incident reports. This is so authorities get a full picture of what went down. Companies have to give info on what kind of incident it was, how bad it was, what they did right away, and any weak spots that were taken advantage of. This detailed reporting helps with understanding and responding to incidents that could affect more than one country. Adding tech details to these reports helps fix the immediate problem and spot trends and potential threats across Europe. NIS2 pushes companies to improve how they handle incidents internally. By getting ready for cyber incidents, companies can make their processes smoother and cut down on downtime. The directive says it’s important to run tests, make incident response plans, and train employees, so everyone knows what to do and how to report stuff. This helps companies respond to incidents faster, reducing the chances of things getting worse. Besides reporting incidents, NIS2 sets up a way for countries to work together and share info. This helps create a united approach to cyber incidents that cross borders. Cyber threats don’t stop at borders, so we need countries to share skills and resources. To make communication easier, NIS2 wants each country to have Computer Security Incident Response Teams (CSIRTs). These teams keep an eye on cyber incidents and respond to them. They’re important for sharing info quickly and helping companies handle incidents. CSIRTs not only give tech help but also help everyone understand the threats and weak spots facing the EU. Having these networks creates feedback that improves both how we respond to incidents and how resilient we are in the long run. When CSIRTs analyze incident reports, they can spot trends and problems that lots of companies are facing. As more incidents get reported, authorities can create better plans and resources that deal with the changing cybersecurity scene. At the same time, companies benefit from the shared knowledge and practices, which boosts security awareness and readiness. NIS2 also knows that the private sector needs to be involved. Companies are supposed to talk to authorities and share info on incidents. This helps spread word about weak spots and new threats fast, improving everyone’s defense. Including private companies in talks about incident reporting and response makes things more accountable and helps create policies that deal with real-world cybersecurity issues. Beyond just reporting incidents, NIS2 also covers basic incident preparedness. The directive says companies need to assess risks and put in place cybersecurity measures based on those assessments. This means always trying to get better and adapt cybersecurity practices. Companies shouldn’t just respond to incidents. They should also learn from past incidents, threat info, and risks they see in their own operations. Following NIS2’s incident reporting rules isn’t just about checking off boxes; it’s about companies taking care of their customers, partners, and the public. People trust companies to handle data and essential services responsibly, and that means being able to respond to incidents, keep people informed, and take steps to protect against cyberattacks. Companies should see that good incident reporting can give them an edge. If you’re open about cybersecurity incidents, it can build trust with customers and partners, showing you’re serious about staying secure. In a world where messing up incident management can wreck the reputation, following NIS2’s reporting rules can help you stay credible and keep customers happy.

Criteria for incident severity, timelines, and reporting obligations

Back in December 2020, the European Commission came up with the NIS2 Directive as an update to the original NIS Directive from 2016. The idea behind NIS2 is to make cybersecurity stronger all over the European Union by setting security rules that everyone has to follow for their networks and computer systems. This could hit a lot of different industries – like energy, transportation, banks, healthcare, and digital stuff – because if something goes wrong in one area, it can mess things up in others. NIS2 spells out exactly how serious incidents are, how fast you need to act, and what you need to report. This is super important for getting everyone on the same page about cybersecurity in the EU. Figuring out how bad an incident is helps to come up with good ways to fix things after a cyberattack. NIS2 says incidents should be sorted by how much damage they cause and how urgent they are. This helps companies use their resources wisely and get the right people involved. How bad things are depends on whether services are down, how many people are affected, and how important the service is. NIS2 is pretty clear about how companies should figure out how bad incidents are. It says businesses need to check for risks regularly and when incidents happen. This sorting thing isn’t just for internal use; it also really matters for what you have to tell government folks and anyone else affected. Incident management might also mean working with other companies and sharing stuff about threats, weak spots, and how to fix them. This way, everyone’s open and helping each other stay safe from cyber problems. The directive breaks incidents into three levels: minor, serious, and critical. Minor ones might not totally wreck the services, but you should still keep track of them to stop them from getting worse. Serious incidents are riskier and could stop services for a bunch of people. Critical incidents are a big deal, causing big problems for public safety, business, and even national security. Breaking things down like this means resources go where they’re needed most, and the really bad stuff gets attention fast, maybe changing policies.

When incidents are sorted into levels, it sets clear rules for what needs to be reported and how fast. The worse the incident, the quicker you need to tell the right people – like Computer Security Incident Response Teams (CSIRTs) and cybersecurity agencies. NIS2 says you have 24 hours to report serious incidents and critical ones, so you’d better have good monitoring and response plans in place. To handle incidents well, companies need rules for spotting, escalating, and reporting them. Under NIS2, companies need solid incident response plans that are written down, tested a lot, and have the right people and tech ready to go. This means training people, updating defenses, running tests, and making sure everyone knows their job. Reporting fast is key because it can stop an incident from getting worse. NIS2 says you need to report what happened, what damage it did, what you’re doing about it, and what else needs to happen. NIS2 is all about being open, which builds trust and helps everyone work together when needed. Companies are grouped into different categories based on what they do, and they need to keep their specific timelines and rules in mind. This way, while critical industries get more attention, it’s understood that even less critical ones can still play a huge part in keeping a network safe and steady. So, a healthcare issue might need a faster, stronger response because lives could be at risk, while something in a less critical area gets handled in a way that makes sense for the situation. The directive pushes for a more ready-for-anything approach to cybersecurity instead of just reacting to problems. Companies should check for weak spots, plan out incident scenarios, and always try to get better at their cybersecurity game. Doing audits and drills helps employees stay sharp and keeps everyone working toward the NIS2 goals for managing incidents. How a company chats with national CSIRTs after something happens is also a big deal. Good teamwork can boost security for everyone, meaning this directive doesn’t just protect one company but helps the EU’s whole cybersecurity setup. NIS2 stresses the need for companies and governments to sync up their actions and share info, making an environment where everyone’s watching, learning, and backing each other up against new threats. The European Union Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA) is super important for making NIS2 work. They give advice, best practices, and help to countries and companies trying to figure out the directive. By making incident reporting similar across the board, ENISA makes things smoother for everyone, cutting down on mix-ups when it comes to sorting out and responding to incidents. When everyone’s on the same page with NIS2, there’s a better chance of a united and real incident management plan. NIS2 is more than just following the rules; it sparks a talk about what cybersecurity toughness really means for how businesses run and make money. So, companies should see following the rules as something crucial for their business. By adding NIS2 to how they handle risks, companies can get better at bouncing back from cyber incidents, which saves money, protects their reputation, and reassures everyone involved.

    Comparison with previous directive (NIS1) requirements

Back in July 2016, the European Commission put out the Network and Information Systems Directive (NIS Directive), like, NIS1, to try and get everyone in the EU to up their cybersecurity game. It was all about countries working together to handle risks to computer systems. NIS1 set rules for important services and digital companies, telling them what security to have and what to report when things went wrong. But stuff changes fast, right? So the EU came out with NIS2, which kicked in at the start of 2023. This article is all about comparing NIS2 to the old NIS1, pointing out what’s new and how it fits into the whole cybersecurity world. One of the biggest things with NIS2 is that it covers way more ground. NIS1 was mostly focused on important stuff, like energy, transportation, banks, healthcare, and the internet. But after seeing how things went with NIS1, it was clear that it didn’t cover enough. NIS2 fixes that by adding things like manufacturing, food, mail, and even waste management. It’s like they realized that everything’s connecte. NIS2 also looks at who’s covered in a broader way. NIS1 said that important services were just those tied to sectors. NIS2 is flexible and covers both public and private companies. Since everyone uses digital services now, this makes sense. By bringing more businesses into the mix, NIS2 wants everyone to be responsible for keeping things safe online.

Another change is the security requirements. NIS1 had general rules, but it let countries decide how to make them happen. NIS2 is stricter, with clear rules for handling risks and reacting to problems. Now companies have to use things like coding tools, and safe log-ins. This is because cyber threats are getting crazy, and organizations need to be ready. Besides better security, NIS2 changes how incidents are reported. Both versions want fast reporting, but NIS2 wants things reported even faster. Under NIS1, companies had 72 hours to report something big. NIS2 shortens that to 24 hours. This is all about being quick when something goes wrong, so others can jump in and help. NIS2 brings the idea of supply chain security. Since threats can come from anywhere, NIS2 makes sure companies check the security of their suppliers. NIS1 was mostly about a company’s own security, so this is a big shift. Now, organizations need to think about the whole chain of supply and make sure everyone’s got security covered. For how things are run, NIS2 spells out what each country should be doing, they double down on cybersecurity plans, telling countries to assign who will oversee the directive locally. There will also be security incident teams so the countries can share information. This way there is cybersecurity communication across the EU! NIS2 focuses on training for people within companies. NIS1 talked about security, but NIS2 says companies need to actually train their people. This means teaching employees the basics of cybersecurity, so they can spot trouble. Transparency is where NIS2 is better than the first! NIS1 had some reports, but NIS2 is pushing for more public transparency. It says countries need to share things like their cybersecurity plans and incident reports. This openness should create trust and encourage companies to do the right thing. NIS2 is about European countries cooperating to improve on cybersecurity across member states. The updated directive supports working together across borders by creating a European Cybersecurity Incident Response Team (ECSIRT) and making it easier for countries to share information. This helps them learn from each other and be ready for anything. NIS2 has teeth, the old rules didn’t have the best penalties if broken, but NIS2 requires countries to penalize those violations of guidelines set in place. With NIS1, it was a slow process to get everyone to comply with the laws so NIS2 enforces a timeline. This time around, there is a lot of urgency when it comes to being ready for cybersecurity attacks to digital strategies being brought up!

Identification and categorization of incidents

The NIS2 Directive is like an updated version of the old NIS Directive. It’s not just about spotting risks but also about countries teaming up better. To be sure everyone’s following the rules and keeping important stuff safe, NIS2 makes a system for reporting and handling incidents, so companies have to get involved. The main thing is figuring out what incidents are and putting them in the right groups – that is really important for dealing with them. Finding an incident means seeing when something’s not normal, which could cause problems. In NIS2, this covers all types of cyber stuff, like data leaks, system crashes, and bigger attacks like ransomware. Companies need to keep an eye on their systems for any warning signs. Once you spot something, you have to put it in a category. NIS2 says to sort incidents by how bad they are, what type they are, and how they could mess up important services. This helps decide what to do first and where to put resources. Spotting and sorting incidents means using both automatic tools and people’s brains. Automated systems like intrusion detection systems and threat intelligence platforms help find weird stuff early. These things use machine learning and AI to look at tons of info and find patterns. But, sometimes these tools get it wrong, so you need cyber experts to double-check. After you find an incident, you need to categorize it using set rules. NIS2 wants everyone to use the same method to categorize incidents so countries can share info. This helps spot new trends and common threats. For example, incidents can be grouped by whether they’re from inside or outside, who’s doing it (like a government, activists, or criminals), and what the impact is (like losing data or crashing systems). NIS2 also says companies need to work together and share info, especially when attacks cross borders. This is important for understanding what’s happening and improving security. To follow NIS2, companies need to be ready to spot and sort incidents. One way to do this is by having a cyber threat intelligence program that gathers info from everywhere. This way, companies can see problems before they happen and take steps to prevent them. Training is also important. Everyone should know how to spot an incident and how to report it. People should feel safe reporting anything suspicious. Companies should also make sure their incident practices match up with other cybersecurity guides, like the NIST Cybersecurity Framework. This helps companies improve their security in every area, including risk management.

Good governance is key in this area. Clear plans should be in place detailing who does what when handling incidents, including how to escalate situations. Also, it’s important to have key performance indicators (KPIs) to know if practices are any good at all. You need to look at how quick you are at finding incidents, how correct you are at placing them into categories, and how well the responses work. One tricky part about sorting incidents is finding the right balance to be specific enough without being too much. If you are too specific, you may slow down the operational efficiency. This means figuring out how to respond in an appropriate manner. New tech like blockchain and machine learning can also help! Blockchain can keep a secure record of incidents, while machine learning can check old data to predict what might happen next. Because cyber threats keep changing, we need to keep learning how to spot and sort incidents. By working together, we can all understand threats better and get better at preventing them. With more and more Internet of Things (IoT) devices popping up, it’s getting harder to handle incidents. These devices are very vulnerable. Companies need to change their incident plans to deal with these devices, using tools to keep an eye on everything.

    Timely reporting challenges and thresholds for notification

NIS2 Directive, which is part of the EU’s plan for cybersecurity, wants to make sure networks and info systems are more secure across all member countries. It’s like an update to the old NIS Directive. NIS2 says that more groups need to have strong cybersecurity and report any incidents ASAP.

Following NIS2 can be tough. One issue is figuring out when to actually report something and how quickly you need to tell everyone. This article takes a look at why reporting fast is important and why setting those reporting limits can be tricky. Why is quick reporting such a big deal? Well, it helps everyone fight cyber threats together. If an incident is reported fast, orgs, governments, and other involved parties can jump on it, stop more damage, and fix what’s broken. But what fast means changes depending on the situation. One of the main problems with NIS2 is deciding when an incident is big enough to report. Cyber teams often struggle to see the difference between something small that isn’t a huge risk and something major that messes with important stuff. You don’t want to cry wolf every time. But, at the same time, you don’t want to miss anything big. NIS2 gives some basic rules but lets each org decide what works best for them. It says that important orgs have to report incidents that mess with their services. But it kind of leaves it up to each place to decide what’s a big deal. This can cause problems because everyone does things differently, which makes it hard to have one strong defense. Organizations also need the tech to spot and report incidents quickly. That means having good monitoring setups and incident response plans. This can be hard, especially for smaller places that don’t have a lot of money to spend on cybersecurity. Plus, attacks can be confusing, with many systems involved. It can take time to figure out exactly what happened. Legal stuff makes it even more complicated. Orgs need to think about data protection and privacy laws, especially GDPR. A cyberattack that involves personal info might trigger both NIS2 and GDPR rules. Trying to follow all these rules can take time, which defeats the purpose of quick reporting. The world of cyber threats is always changing. If orgs don’t update their reporting practices, they might not be ready for the next big attack. Regularly looking at and improving incident reporting is super important for staying compliant with NIS2 and staying safe. If you’re an org that operates in different EU countries, that complicates things. Although NIS2 is trying to harmonize everything, there are still national laws. An org needs to know all this to stay compliant. It’s also important to communicate incidents to the public. An org needs to consider the potential reputation damage. To make all this work, orgs need to create a culture of cybersecurity. Training can teach employees to spot threats and report them quickly. Clear rules for reporting incidents internally also help. Partnering with national cybersecurity groups and sharing info is also a plus. Orgs can adapt what they learn from others. By working together, everyone improves their ability to respond to incidents.

    Resource constraints and technical capacity issues

NIS2 Directive really expands on the old one. It’s trying to get way more industries to up their cybersecurity game. We’re talking about making sure everyone from energy companies to hospitals and internet providers has a basic level of security. Sounds good, but getting there won’t be easy.

One big problem is money. Putting these security measures in place and keeping them running costs a lot. You need new tech, and sometimes you basically have to rebuild old computer systems. Small businesses especially might struggle since they don’t have a ton of extra cash. It could mean they have to take money away from important stuff like growing their business. Another issue is finding people who actually know cybersecurity. Everyone’s trying to hire these experts. But there aren’t enough to go around. Schools aren’t pumping out enough grads to fill the jobs. So companies end up fighting over the same people. This drives up salaries and makes things even harder on the budget. Outsourcing might seem like a fix, but then you have to worry about whether the company you hire is any good. Tech is another problem. Things are changing so fast that a lot of companies can’t keep up. A lot of old systems were never designed to handle today’s attacks. Upgrading these systems is a huge job. It costs a fortune and can mess up how the whole business works. And even when you get new tech, you have to be careful. It can create new problems if you don’t set it up right. Cloud services are both good and bad here. They provide ways to store data and process information, which can help with security. But they also make things complicated. If a company uses a bunch of different cloud platforms, it’s hard to keep track of everything and make sure all the data is safe. NIS2 wants companies to focus on managing risks and reporting when things go wrong. But some companies just don’t have the tools or knowledge to do that well. Figuring out the risks means knowing the systems, weaknesses, and what threats are out there. Then, reporting requires knowing the rules and being able to quickly figure out what happened and how to fix it. Cyber threats are always changing, so you have to stay on the toes. Companies need to constantly watch for threats. It costs money and effort. You have to be ready to both attack and defend. A lot of companies just can’t keep up. And some companies that haven’t had problems before might think it’s not that important and not bother investing the time and money. Working together is key. Sharing advice, information about threats, and even resources can help everyone stay secure. Governments can also help by giving smaller companies money, advice, or access to experts. But this only works if there’s a good system for everyone to share. Regulators should be careful about how hard they push companies to follow the NIS2 rules. They could let smaller companies have a little more flexibility. It means letting them make changes at a pace they can handle, while still keeping a baseline level of security. Training is super important. If you teach everyone at a company about cybersecurity, you can make them way more resistant to attacks. Training helps people spot threats, understand the rules, and know how to respond when something happens. Problem is, again, that costs money. Companies need to see NIS2 compliance as a chance to improve their security, not just a pain. Spending on cybersecurity can improve the reputation, get customers to trust you, and give you an edge over the competition. These money and tech problems are big, but they can be solved. If company leaders take action and spend money wisely, they can turn NIS2 compliance into a way to grow and be resilient.

Communication and coordination between involved stakeholders

The NIS2 Directive makes the original NIS Directive bigger by including more organizations, adding tougher ways to keep an eye on things, and boosting teamwork between EU countries. Getting everyone involved – from businesses to governments to regular users – is super important for NIS2 to work. People involved are essential service operators, digital service providers, national groups, Computer Security Incident Response Teams, and EU teams. Good talks between them all can really help in knowing what’s up, understanding dangers, and responding to problems together. Sharing info is a main thing in NIS2. When everyone shares what they know quickly, we can spot new dangers and weaknesses sooner, which helps us handle risks ahead of time. Like, if a CSIRT finds a cyberattack, they should not just protect themselves, but also tell others so they can get ready too. This shows how cybersecurity is joined up – if one place isn’t safe, others can be at risk too. So, having ways to talk and share info is a must. And trust is key for all this. People need to trust each other to share private info without worry. This comes from talking often, being open, and doing what we say we’ll do for cybersecurity. Teamwork can grow when we do exercises, workshops, and training together, so everyone can meet, share stories, and get along. Trust also gets organizations to share stuff like danger info or work together when something goes wrong. Besides sharing info, how we respond when things go wrong is also a big part of how we talk to each other. NIS2 says everyone needs to have plans for responding to problems that say who does what, what to do, and how to talk to each other when a cyberattack happens. Having clear ways to talk is super important for getting help, checking things out, and fixing things fast. These plans should have people to contact and ways to get things moving quickly, so everyone can work together when things are tough. Teamwork improves how we all handle things with plans like sharing danger info, working together on investigations, and practicing what to do in attacks. Like, having groups that work across countries helps when cyberattacks go beyond borders. By working together in our countries and in the EU, we can share what we have – resources, knowledge, and info – which makes us all stronger and safer. Even though talking and teamwork are important, there are still problems we have to sort out. One big issue is that not everyone is at the same level. Some are better ready than others, so it’s hard for everyone to work together well. Smaller organizations might not have the stuff, know-how, or even realize there are dangers. To fix this, NIS2 helps build up skills and creates a supportive system to grow cybersecurity skills for everyone. Rules and laws also make it tough to talk and team up. Worries about privacy, data rules, and keeping info safe can stop people from sharing important stuff. We need to find a balance between keeping things private and sharing enough to stay safe from cyberattacks. Following rules like the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) along with NIS2 is important to handle this tricky area. Also, using the same words and ways to measure things helps everyone understand each other better, which reduces confusion. Another problem is that cyberattacks change fast. Dangers can pop up and change quickly, so we have to react fast too. This means having good ways to talk and a promise to keep learning and changing. People should try to know what new threats are popping up and check things often. By doing this, we can be sure our talking and teamwork stay helpful in a world that’s always changing. To get past these problems, making a culture of teamwork is important. Groups that connect people can really help everyone talk better. Plans like the European Cybersecurity Competence Centre and the Cybersecurity Strategy for the Digital Decade help EU countries work together by sharing what they know and making connections. Also, having meetings, workshops, and cybersecurity exercises helps people get involved, prepares them for real attacks, and builds trust. Training and teaching people also helps close gaps in communication. By giving people the skills to talk about cybersecurity dangers and problems, organizations can be more prepared. Training should include how to report problems, know what’s happening, and talk to each other when attacks happen. Getting all team members involved makes sure everyone knows what to do, which makes cybersecurity a priority. Also, new tech can help everyone talk and team up better. New tools and ways to share info, like automatic danger info feeds or security platforms, can make it easier to share important stuff. These things not only improve talking in real-time but also help deal with too much info by showing the important details clearly.

Analysis of selected EU member states’ approaches to incident notification

Digital tech is everywhere, which is cool, but it also means we’re all easier targets for cyberattacks. The European Union is trying to fix this by making its cybersecurity rules stronger for all member countries. They’ve got laws like the NIS Directive (now NIS2) to make sure everyone’s on the same page. This article looks at how different EU countries are telling each other about cyber incidents because NIS2 says they have to. I want to see how they’re doing it, if it’s working, and what it means for keeping the whole EU safe from cyber threats. NIS2 wants to make cybersecurity better across the EU. It does this by covering way more stuff than the old NIS Directive did – basically, any service that’s important to how our economies and societies work. NIS2 says it’s super important to report incidents quickly; that way, everyone can respond faster and stop things from getting worse. The rules say each EU country needs its own cybersecurity plan, a group in charge of keeping things safe, and a way to report incidents that fits what’s happening locally. One part of NIS2 is that important companies need to report when things go wrong with their security. Looking at different countries, you see it’s all a bit different. They don’t all agree on what counts as a big incident, how quickly they need to report it, or how they should talk to each other about it. Take Germany, for example. Their Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) is in charge of incident reports. Companies have to tell the BSI about any bad incidents that could mess up important infrastructure. The thing with Germany is they really need to define what exactly they mean by ‘big’ incidents. They need to think about the type of incident, the impact it will have and the chances of it affecting public safety.

France does things differently. They have a National Cybersecurity Agency (ANSSI), and basically, anyone who provides an essential service needs to tell ANSSI about any incident that could stop them from doing their job. The important thing is to tell them fast, like within 24 hours. France really pushes getting information moving quickly between the government and companies to fix things fast and stop services from going down. The Netherlands is an interesting example. They have a Computer Security Incident Response Team (CSIRT) that tries to get everyone to work together on cybersecurity. They want companies and public groups to share what they know about incidents. Their rules under NIS2 say you have to report incidents within 72 hours, but they want all the details. This gives companies time to figure out how bad things are before they report them. Italy is yet another example. They deal with a lot of sector-specific regulations for energy, healthcare and transport. Each sector has to have specific incident reporting requirements that are in line with the risks an operational dynamics that sector faces. The Italian National Cybersecurity Agency (ACN) tells companies they need to report incidents, but what counts as big depends on the sector. It gives everyone flexibility, but you start to wonder if things are consistent across the board. Even though the UK isn’t in the EU anymore, what they’re doing with cybersecurity after Brexit is helpful to look at. They’re still talking to everyone about cybersecurity and have set up the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) to help manage incidents across all industries. Like NIS2, the UK wants people to report incidents to the NCSC right away and the whole thing is about sharing information and working together. Even though everyone in the EU is doing incident reporting differently, there are some common problems and good ideas that keep popping up. One problem is that no one can agree on when an incident is big enough to report. NIS2 is trying to make things the same for everyone, but different interpretations can make it hard to work together and can cause incidents to be reported in different ways. Coming up with clear rules would make reporting easier and help everyone work together. Another thing is that sometimes you need to report incidentssuper fast, while other times, you can wait a bit to assess the situation before reporting. While countries need flexibility, making the reporting windows smaller means incidents are resolved faster, meaning attackers have less time to abuse vulnerabilities. It’s good to have public and private groups talk to each other and work together. Joint training, sharing information and public awareness campaigns can create better bonds and improve the ability to respond to incidents. The Netherlands embodies an environment where everyone is encouraged to support each other, so that their cybersecurity preparedness is enhanced.

    Lessons learned and common difficulties faced

one big takeaway from switching from NIS to NIS2 is how important it is to get everyone on board. The old NIS was mostly about important stuff like energy and transportation. But NIS2? It’s way bigger, covering things like digital stuff and public services. That means we gotta be more inclusive and realize everyone’s connected. Getting different groups involved lets us see all the different problems and weak spots, which helps us make better plans to fight cyber threats that are specific to each area.

But, NIS2’s wider scope also makes things tough when it comes to following the rules. Companies in these newer areas might struggle with the rules because they’re new and kinda hard. One issue is that some industries are better at cybersecurity than others. For those that haven’t focused on it much, NIS2 means they gotta seriously upgrade their policies and tech. This can be hard, especially for smaller businesses that don’t have a ton of money or expertise. Giving these guys some easy-to-understand advice and resources is super important, but it’s still a problem for the people in charge and the industry.

Another big deal is that NIS2 says you gotta report cyber incidents quickly. The idea is to be open and work together when something bad happens. But, some companies that aren’t used to this might find it hard. A lot of them don’t even know what counts as a big incident, so they’re not sure if they need to report it. Plus, they might worry about looking bad if they announce they got hacked. Finding the right balance between being open and keeping things private is still up for debate. Also, cyber threats keep changing, which makes NIS2 really tricky. Hackers are always finding new ways to mess things up. So, companies gotta follow the rules and stay flexible with their security. Sharing info about threats and teaming up can help everyone stay informed and do things the right way. But, getting rivals to trust each other and work together can be tough. A lot of companies might not want to share info about weak spots or breaches because they’re worried about losing their edge. Something else is that NIS2 wants companies to check their risks and handle them. You need to look at the security, think about what could go wrong, and figure out how bad it could be. A lot of companies struggle with this because they don’t have good ways to do it. It’s not just about finding the risks, but also figuring out how serious they are and making sure they fit with the business goals. You gotta include security in the overall risk plans, which means training people and changing the way you think about things. NIS2 also puts a lot of weight on supply chain security. Businesses are so connected these days that weak spots can spread through suppliers and partners. So, you gotta protect the own stuff and also check how secure the partners are. But, it’s hard for many companies to keep tabs on all their suppliers, especially if they’re all over the world. Plus, it can be tough to set clear security rules in contracts, which can lead to slip-ups. NIS2 needs to be tweaked to fit different regions and be put into action at the national level. The directive gives a basic plan, but each country needs to make its own laws that match NIS2. If the rules are interpreted differently or enforced differently, it can be hard for companies that work in multiple countries to keep up. They might not know who’s in charge of what, which can cause confusion. Another worry is that if some countries take longer than others to implement NIS2, it could make the EU’s security uneven. Companies gotta build a security-focused culture from top to bottom to really make NIS2 work. Employees need to know about security and understand their role in protecting the company. But, a lot of companies struggle to create training that works for everyone, no matter their job or tech skills. They might not have the resources for regular training or know how to measure if it’s actually helping.

Best and worst practices identified

Getting NIS2 right is super important. It makes cybersecurity stronger and gets EU countries working together. One of the smartest things you can do is look at risk first. Instead of doing the same thing for everyone, companies should figure out what their own risks are. That way, they can focus on the stuff that matters most. Doing regular risk checks helps find the weak spots and lets companies spend their money wisely to deal with real threats. It’s great that NIS2 covers a lot of ground, including key stuff like energy, transportation, healthcare, and the internet. This means everyone has to up their game, even in new industries that are vital now. If companies jump on board with NIS2 and get their act together, people will trust them more, and they might even get ahead of the competition.

Another smart move in NIS2 is keeping an eye on things all the time and reporting when something goes wrong. You need to watch things closely and stay up-to-date on new dangers. If companies have plans ready for when things happen and tell people about problems, they’ll be way better at fixing things and learning from mistakes. When everyone reports stuff quickly, we all get smarter about stopping threats. It also helps when countries and different industries work together. NIS2 wants groups to share info about threats, good ideas, and how to handle problems. When everyone chips in, we’re all safer because threats don’t stop at one company’s door. Places that share info usually know more about what’s coming and are ready to deal with it. Training employees and getting them aware is key to succeeding with NIS2. Companies should teach their people about cybersecurity regularly. If employees know what to watch out for, why security is important, and what they need to do, it makes a huge difference. People messing up is still a big problem when it comes to security, so this can really cut down on risks. On the flip side, some things can mess up NIS2. One issue is that different countries interpret the rules in different ways. This can be confusing for companies that work in several places. The changing can cause companies to either not prepare enough, or go way overboard, wasting money that could have been spent on actually improving security. Some companies just see NIS2 as something they have to do to check a box, not as a chance to get better. They just do the bare minimum and don’t really try to improve security overall. These companies might not be ready for new threats and could get hit hard with breaches and a bad reputation. A common mistake is not paying enough attention to the risks that come from other companies you work with. A lot of companies only worry about their own systems and forget that their partners and suppliers could be a weak spot. You need to check out the security of those you work with and make sure the whole chain is strong. If you don’t, you could have big problems if one of the suppliers gets hacked. Not having enough money and people is also a big deal. Smaller companies might find it hard to spend what they need to on security. This can create a split, where bigger companies are safe and smaller ones are not. Luckily, there are plans to help smaller companies get better at cybersecurity. One of the worst things a company can do is ignore the government and security agencies. NIS2 says you need to talk to them and work together. If you don’t, you’ll miss out on advice, info about threats, and help. Talking openly helps you stay informed about new rules, threats specific to the industry, and good ways to stay safe.

Developing clear guidelines and internal protocols for incident notification

NIS2 tries to fix the problems with the old system. It covers more organizations, calling them either ‘essential’ or ‘important,’ which shows we know how much everything relies on each other these days, especially when it comes to computers and important stuff like power grids. Because of this, we need simple rules for reporting when things go wrong, so everyone knows what they need to do if there’s a problem. Having these rules is super important because it helps organizations be ready and able to handle problems that could mess up their computer systems and data. First, to make these reporting rules work, we have to decide what counts as something you need to report. Organizations should figure out what’s a small issue to discuss inside and what’s a big deal that needs to be reported to the authorities. If we draw a clear line, organizations can use their resources wisely when something happens, instead of getting confused. NIS2 says we need to report things in a similar way, which means creating forms and guides for organizations to use. If everyone reports the same way, it’s easier to keep records, study what happened, and tell the authorities. Plus, governments can see what’s happening overall, figure out what’s weak, and create better plans to fight cyber threats. A standard way of reporting also lets organizations see how well they’re doing compared to others, which pushes everyone to get better at cybersecurity. Another key thing is setting deadlines for reporting incidents. NIS2 says organizations have to tell the authorities about incidents within a certain time. This helps everyone share information faster so we can work together. If we’re quick about reporting, we can stop things from getting worse because fast reporting means we can jump in, stop, and fix things before they get out of hand. Organizations should have ways to quickly check incidents and meet those deadlines. This helps them be ready for anything and makes overall cybersecurity stronger. Internal rules for reporting incidents also have to deal with the fact that some information is secret. Organizations need to be open but also protect their private data. The rules should say how to classify data and handle secret info when reporting incidents. That way, the authorities know what’s going on, but the organization’s secrets and user data are safe. Good communication is a must when reporting and handling incidents. NIS2 rules should explain how communication works inside organizations, spelling out who does what during an incident. plans can help information flow smoothly between tech people, managers, and people outside the company. Setting up internal incident response teams, with people in charge and people who handle communication, can speed up information sharing inside and outside the organization. That way, everyone stays clear on what’s happening, which prevents problems from getting worse due to bad info. To make incident reporting rules work, people need training to know what to do if something happens. Basic cybersecurity, like knowing what threats look like and how to report them, should be normal in the company. Practicing incident response can show where people are lacking knowledge and help improve response plans. That lets organizations tweak their internal rules and get better at being prepared. It’s also super important for different groups to work together when reporting incidents under NIS2. Organizations should connect with cybersecurity agencies and others in their field. If they work together, they can share what they know and get better at handling incidents. Working together can also lead to rules that fit specific fields, tackling problems that are unique to those industries. NIS2 also understands that we need to work together internationally to fight cyber threats. Since these threats cross borders, incident reporting should encourage teamwork not just locally but also in Europe and around the world. This is especially true since countries’ computer systems and important infrastructure are all connected. Organizations need to think about how their rules fit with stuff that happens across borders, so everyone can talk to each other and work together when those incidents happen. In the end, making NIS2’s incident reporting rules successful means changing how organizations think, from just reacting to problems to actively managing cybersecurity. Organizations should understand that incidents aren’t just failures but chances to learn and get better at being ready. If an organization makes it okay to report incidents openly and study them constructively, it can build a stronger cybersecurity system.

    Technical tools and systems to streamline reporting

The establishment of NIS2 addresses a critical gap identified in the original NIS Directive, particularly the requirement for member states to adopt a coordinated approach to handling cybersecurity incidents. Under NIS2, entities deemed “essential” (such as energy, transport, and health sectors) and “important” (such as digital service providers) face stricter obligations regarding incident reporting, risk management, and cybersecurity governance. A fundamental aspect of these obligations centers around the efficiency of reporting systems, which need to align with the directive’s overarching goals of resilience and responsiveness. To comply with NIS2, organizations must deploy technical tools capable of automating and simplifying the reporting process. One such tool is Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) systems, which aggregate and analyze security data from across an organization’s network. SIEM systems can provide real-time monitoring and alerting capabilities, enabling organizations to identify and respond to threats swiftly. With advanced features like automated incident detection, these systems can significantly reduce the time it takes to identify a reportable incident under NIS2, thus facilitating compliance by ensuring timely reporting to the relevant authorities. Incident response platforms play a crucial role in streamlining reporting under NIS2. These systems enable organizations to manage the lifecycle of an incident, from detection through remediation. By standardizing the reporting process and integrating with existing SIEM solutions, incident response platforms facilitate seamless communication between various stakeholders, ensuring that accurate and necessary information is shared expeditiously. This level of integration is pivotal in meeting the obligatory reporting timelines stipulated by NIS2, which generally require that certain incidents be reported within 24 hours. Effective communication channels are also essential for incident reporting. Technical tools such as secure messaging platforms and collaborative workspaces can streamline communication between departments within an organization and with external parties, such as law enforcement or regulatory agencies. By utilizing secure communication tools, organizations can share incident-related information rapidly and safely, reducing the risk of breaches during information exchange and enhancing the overall incident response process. Incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) technologies into the reporting systems further augments the capabilities of organizations in fulfilling NIS2 requirements. AI and ML can analyze vast quantities of network data, identifying anomalies that signify potential security incidents. By employing predictive analytics, organizations can foresee and prepare for emerging threats, allowing them to report incidents that may evolve into larger security breaches. The automation capabilities provided by these technologies reduce human error in identifying and documenting incidents, thus supporting adherence to the meticulous reporting requirements outlined in NIS2. Integration of threat intelligence feeds into reporting systems is another critical aspect of streamlining compliance with NIS2. Organizations need to leverage real-time data regarding known threats and vulnerabilities in their environments. By integrating threat intelligence, organizations can enhance their situational awareness, making them better equipped to identify incidents that warrant reporting. Such intelligence can provide context around incidents, helping organizations accurately assess the severity and impact, which is vital for prioritized response and informative incident reporting to authorities. Furthermore, data analytics tools can support organizations in analyzing incident patterns over time, which can be instrumental in refining incident reporting practices. Through continuous learning and improvement, organizations can adapt their response strategies and reporting mechanisms based on historical data insights. This enables them to respond more effectively under similar future circumstances and ensures that their reporting processes remain relevant and compliant with evolving NIS2 requirements. Training and awareness programs are another foundational element that supports the technical tools and systems whereby organizations can streamline their reporting processes under NIS2. Even the most advanced tools cannot be effective without knowledgeable personnel who understand the importance of timely and accurate incident reporting. Organizations must foster a culture of cybersecurity awareness and ensure regular training on incident reporting protocols among employees. By implementing comprehensive training programs, organizations can ensure that staff is well-equipped to recognize and respond to incidents promptly, ensuring compliance with reporting requirements and minimizing potential risks associated with delayed reporting. The collaboration among private and public sectors can lead to the creation of shared reporting frameworks and resources. Private organizations can share best practices and technical solutions that enhance their reporting processes, which, in a collective ecosystem, leads to improved incident handling across sectors. Public authorities could also play a facilitating role by providing resources and platforms that ease the reporting burden on organizations while ensuring the security and privacy of shared information.

Enhancing collaboration and communication among CERTs, CSIRTs, and National Authorities

One key part of the NIS2 Directive is that it puts a big emphasis on countries working together. Cyberattacks don’t stop at borders, so solid teamwork and easy ways for computer emergency response teams (CERTs) and computer security incident response teams (CSIRTs) all through the EU to talk to each other are super important. These teams usually work in their own countries, but now they need to start working together to defend against attacks. That means sharing info on threats, using the same ways to respond to problems, and teaming up to handle crises. NIS2 wants to make this easier by improving how these teams work, building trust between countries, and bringing different skills and resources together to combat harder and harder cyberattacks. Sharing info is key to this teamwork, both before and after attacks happen. NIS2 says that CERTs and CSIRTs need to get better at sharing info in real-time, not just inside their own country but with other countries too. Doing this helps everyone know what’s going on so they can be ready for what might happen next. By being open and honest, teams can share information on attack trends, how attacks are done, and clues that show an attack is happening. That way, everyone can respond faster and reduce the harm caused by cyber incidents and recover quicker. NIS2 also knows that some countries’ CERTs and CSIRTs are better equipped than others. So, it sets up a system where the teams that are doing well can help the ones that need it. The stronger teams can share their methods, tools, and resources to boost everyone’s skills. Teams can also train together, do practice drills, and work together on real tasks. This helps them learn from each other, making the whole cybersecurity system stronger. Good teamwork also means that each country’s leaders need to be involved in cybersecurity. NIS2 encourages them to coordinate the work of CERTs and CSIRTs and make sure everyone follows the rules on cybersecurity at both the national and EU levels. This kind of support from the government is important because it makes the rules clear and consistent for handling incidents and makes sure everyone is responsible. National leaders can also share best practices and set common standards for CERTs and CSIRTs to follow. This makes the response more unified across all countries, with everyone knowing their role and who to talk to. Laws and rules can be a pain when dealing with cyberattacks that cross borders. Cyberattacks often involve people in different countries, so fixing them often requires help from international law enforcement. NIS2 points out that we need a legal system that lets teams easily share information across borders while still respecting each country’s own laws on cybersecurity. By improving these legal systems, teams can share sensitive information without worrying about getting in trouble, which helps them work together in real-time. To really make teamwork work, the private sector has to be part of the cybersecurity plan too. NIS2 asks national leaders to work with private companies, since many important services are run by them. Good communication between the public and private sectors helps with sharing resources and working together on strategy. Getting the private sector involved in responding to incidents, sharing info on threats, and doing joint training helps bring in different viewpoints and new ideas to deal with attacks. By including everyone, NIS2 brings in more resources and skills, which overall makes cybersecurity stronger. New tech is super important for making communication and teamwork better, just like NIS2 wants. With more tools and setups designed for handling incidents and sharing info on threats, CERTs and CSIRTs can use these technologies to make their work easier. Using tools that offer real-time data analysis, threat info storage, and incident coordination can really speed up response times and help with making decisions. Also, using artificial intelligence and machine learning to spot threats and respond to incidents can help teams predict cyberattacks and quickly use their resources. NIS2 knows it’s important to always keep learning and growing in the world of cybersecurity, which is always changing. As cyberattacks get more complex, people in CERTs, CSIRTs, and national governments need to keep learning. Supporting cybersecurity education, certifications, and ways to share knowledge helps create a workforce that can handle today’s difficult threats. By offering chances for training and learning in other countries, security teams can get better and protect important systems from possible attacks.

    Training and awareness programs for effective notification practices

First and foremost, it is essential to understand that the NIS2 Directive mandates that entities across vital sectors—such as energy, transport, health, and digital infrastructure—must adopt stringent cybersecurity measures. Within this framework, organizations are required to report incidents that significantly impact the continuity of essential services. The successful execution of this requirement depends significantly on the preparedness of the workforce. Thus, training and awareness programs are vital for equipping employees with the necessary skills and knowledge to recognize and respond to cyber threats effectively. To begin with, training and awareness initiatives should focus on establishing a clear understanding of what constitutes a cybersecurity incident. Employees must be educated about the types of incidents that are relevant to their organizations and how these events can affect operational continuity. For example, a phishing attack may not initially seem significant, but its potential to compromise sensitive data can have far-reaching consequences. Therefore, through tailored training sessions, staff can learn to identify the indicators of such incidents and understand the importance of timely reporting. The training should extend beyond the IT department; all employees, regardless of their role, should be included to foster a culture of collective responsibility towards cybersecurity. The design of these training programs must incorporate various pedagogical approaches to accommodate different learning styles and preferences. Interactive training modules, such as workshops, simulations, and role-playing exercises, can deepen understanding and retention. For instance, running simulations of cyber incidents provides employees with real-time decision-making experiences. They can practice how to handle a notification scenario, identify points of failure, and learn the proper protocols for escalating incidents to the designated cybersecurity response team. Through such experiential learning methodologies, organizations can cultivate a workforce that is not only knowledgeable but also confident in navigating potential cybersecurity challenges. Equally important is the aspect of continuous learning. Cyber threats are not static; they evolve with technological advancements and changing attack vectors. As such, training and awareness programs should not be viewed as one-off events but rather as ongoing initiatives. Organizations need to implement regular refresher courses and updates that reflect the latest intelligence on cybersecurity threats and best practices in incident reporting. This dynamic approach ensures that employees stay informed about emerging threats and adapt their responses accordingly. In addition to formal training, fostering an organizational culture that prioritizes cybersecurity is crucial. A top-down approach in which leadership actively participates in training initiatives can significantly impact employees’ attitudes towards cybersecurity. Regular communication from management that emphasizes the importance of adhering to cybersecurity practices and protocols, including effective notification in the event of an incident, can engage employees more deeply. Leaders can share success stories from incident responses, highlighting best practices and lessons learned. This not only reinforces the training material but also helps employees feel that they play an integral role in their organization’s security posture. On the notification front, organizations must implement defined reporting protocols and ensure they are communicated effectively throughout the workforce. Employees should have a clear understanding of whom to notify in the event of a cyber incident and what information is required to facilitate an effective response. Establishing a streamlined and user-friendly reporting system can encourage prompt notifications. For instance, a designated cybersecurity liaison within each department can serve as the first point of contact for incident reporting, which can help alleviate uncertainties about whether an event is severe enough to warrant escalation. Organizations may benefit from adopting automation tools to aid in incident reporting and management. Technologies that facilitate the immediate collection of incident data can enhance the effectiveness of notifications and enable timely responses. Automated systems can assist in capturing the initial circumstances of an incident, categorizing it according to its severity, and promptly notifying the appropriate stakeholders. In this regard, training programs should also include familiarization with these tools, ensuring that employees can leverage them effectively during an incident. To maximize the effectiveness of training and awareness programs concerning notification practices, organizations should adopt a framework for measuring outcomes. This can involve tracking key performance indicators (KPIs) related to incident response times, the volume of incidents reported, employee participation in training sessions, or overall improvements in organizational resil. Regular assessments can identify gaps in knowledge, allowing for the timely adaptation of training materials and methods. Collaboration and sharing of best practices with external entities can enhance training and awareness programs. Organizations can establish partnerships with industry peers, government agencies, and cybersecurity associations to stay abreast of the latest developments and threats. Joint workshops, webinars, and knowledge-sharing platforms can foster a communal approach to cybersecurity training, whereby organizations exchange insights and lessons learned during incidents. This collaboration not only enhances individual organizational practices but also contributes to the broader cybersecurity posture of the sectors involved.

 Suggested criteria and indicators for monitoring and evaluating compliance

NIS2 aims to make network and information systems safer in key sectors, going further than NIS1. It tackles worries about online threats, making the digital world more resilient. The law applies to important services and digital providers, requiring them to follow security measures. To make sure they do, there should be ways to check and measure their security practices, looking at both how good they are and how much they do. A key part of checking if a company follows NIS2 is looking at how well they handle risk. Can they spot, judge, and lower online risks? For example, what amount of their stuff has been checked for risks in the past year? If they check regularly, they can change their plans as new threats show up. Doing checks on time can show they’re following the rules. Being ready for incidents is also important. Businesses should be ready for breaches and able to act fast and recover. We can look at how long it takes them to fix a breach and how they respond to reported incidents. Keeping track of these things will give us an idea of how ready they are and if they’re following NIS2 rules for incidents. Compliance should also include the rules around security practices, like who does what and how they talk to each other. We can check if they have a security structure and how often workers get security training. Strong rules and regular training can create a security culture, showing they care about NIS2 standards. Checking third-party risk is another must. Since companies depend on outside services and software, it’s important that these don’t cause security problems. We can look at what amount of their providers get security checks and if there are security rules in their contracts. Checking third-party risks can help companies find weak spots in their supply chain and make sure everyone follows the rules. Also, keeping data safe is super important for following NIS2. Companies should keep data private, safe, and available. We can see what amount of data is sorted by how sensitive it is, if they encrypt data, and how often they check their data. Keeping data safe lowers the chance of breaches and helps them follow NIS2 and GDPR rules. To see how well they’re doing, companies can use a security model to check their status over time. This helps them compare themselves to others in the industry, find problems, and improve. We can check their level based on systems to get a picture of their security situation regarding NIS2. When we are measuring compliance efforts, we should think about how workers act and how they use security rules. We can use fake phishing attacks or drills to see if workers are ready. We can see what amount of workers pass security tests. This shows how good the company’s training is and how aware workers are of security issues. Companies should keep clear records of their compliance and incidents, responsible and always improving. We can see how many audits they do each year, what amount of problems they find, and how long it takes them to fix them. Regular audits show they’re following NIS2 and encourage continuous improvement.

    Potential metrics for success (speed, accuracy, clarity of reports, stakeholder feedback)

How fast you can spot, deal with, and bounce back from cyberattacks is super important. Things move fast online, and threats pop up all the time. You want to be quick fixing things to keep damage from breaches to a minimum. That’s where mean time to detection (MTTD) comes in. Basically, it’s how long it takes to notice something bad is happening. The faster you spot it, the better you are at watching the stuff and keeping it safe. Mean time to respond (MTTR) matters too. It’s about how fast you can stop the problem after you’ve seen it. Ideally, you want to stop threats fast without messing up how things run. It’s a balancing act – going too fast without being careful can mess things up even more. Being correct about threats is also key. False alarms are a pain! If the security system cries wolf all the time, people stop trusting it, and you waste resources. You need to be right about what’s a threat to respond well and keep things running smoothly. Think about the false positive rate (FPR) – that’s how often the system thinks something’s a threat when it’s not. Then there’s the true positive rate (TPR) – how often you catch real threats. You want a good mix of these so the security team isn’t swamped with fake alarms, and actual threats get attention. If you sort out incidents right, it helps you look back later, learn what happened, and get better for next time. Reports need to be easy to understand. Cyber incidents can mess with if you’re following the rules and keeping things running. So, the reports need to be clear. That means technical details about what happened, what it hit, and how you fixed it. But it also means talking to different people – bosses, rule makers, and the public – in a way they understand. Clear reports help everyone make good decisions, trust you more, and get on board with security. You want reports that are easy to read and make sense. If they’re full of tech speak, they won’t help people who aren’t techy. What people think is important too. Getting input from everyone – from the people doing the work to the top dogs to partners – helps you see what they think about the security and where you can get better. You can ask for feedback in surveys, talks, groups, or reviews after something happens. This helps you see if people think the security stuff you have is working and if they understand what’s going on. For example, do they feel ready to handle an incident? Maybe that means you need better training or clearer instructions. When everyone’s involved, security gets stronger. To keep up with NIS2 rules, you need to keep an eye on these things. You can see how good the security is now and plan for making it even better. You should always be checking and tweaking these things because threats and expectations change. This way, you’re not just following rules. You’re also ready for anything that comes and keeping the business and reputation safe. Think about putting these things together in one big overview of the security work. That way, you can see the whole and not just one thing at a time. By linking speed, correctness, clear reports, and feedback to the main goals, you can make sure the security lines up with keeping the business safe and sound, just like NIS2 wants.

getting the Incident Notification Mechanism from NIS2 up and running is proving to be tricky for both companies and regulators. The issues? Everything from tech limits and not enough resources to just figuring out how to talk to each other properly. It all makes it hard to report incidents quickly and well in our super digital world. But, if companies plan ahead, work together, and put money into cybersecurity, they can meet NIS2 rules. Not only that but they can also get better at fighting off cyberattacks in general. In the end, a good incident notification system makes everyone more open and builds trust. Plus, it helps everyone get better at cybersecurity across the board. By being open to new ideas and working as teams, everyone can head toward a strong system for handling incidents that keeps important services safe and protects the public.