Glossary

NIS2 Directive Compliance

Compliance and Regulations

What is NIS2 Directive Compliance?

NIS2 Directive compliance refers to adherence with the cybersecurity requirements set forth in the EU Directive (EU) 2022/2555, commonly known as the NIS2 Directive. As the successor to the original NIS Directive, NIS2 establishes baseline cybersecurity and risk management standards for essential and important entities across the EU, including operators in energy, transport, water, health, manufacturing, and digital infrastructure.

Why is NIS2 Directive Compliance Important?

NIS2 expands the scope and enforcement mechanisms of the original NIS Directive to improve cybersecurity resilience and incident preparedness across the EU. It applies to both public and private entities that provide essential or important services, with an emphasis on risk-based controls, supply chain security, and incident response readiness.

To comply with NIS2, organizations must implement and document:

Access control policies based on least privilege and role separation.
Multi-factor authentication (MFA) for remote and privileged access.
Secure remote access mechanisms with activity logging.
Supply chain cybersecurity measures, including vendor access governance.
Incident detection, reporting, and recovery plans.

Non-compliance with NIS2 can result in regulatory fines, reputational damage, and operational disruptions. The directive also introduces executive accountability for cybersecurity governance, making implementation a board-level concern.

How Does Xona Help with NIS2 Directive Compliance?

Xona helps organizations meet NIS2 access control requirements by enforcing secure, auditable remote access to critical systems without relying on VPNs or shared credentials. The platform supports:

Identity-based, role-based and time-based access controls.
MFA enforcement and credential injection.
Protocol isolation via browser-based sessions.
Full session logging and video recording.
Policy-driven vendor access governance.

By enabling identity-based access to operational technology (OT) and IT assets, Xona helps organizations demonstrate technical control over remote and privileged access, key compliance areas under NIS2 Articles 21 and 23.

In addition, Xona’s audit trails and real-time oversight features support incident response and executive accountability requirements outlined in the directive.

Frequently Asked Questions

What types of organizations are required to comply with the NIS2 Directive?

NIS2 applies to public and private entities classified as essential or important across sectors such as energy, transport, health, water, manufacturing, financial services, and digital infrastructure. If your organization operates in a sector deemed critical to societal or economic stability within the EU, it is likely subject to NIS2 obligations.

What are the key cybersecurity controls required under NIS2?

NIS2 mandates risk-based implementation of cybersecurity practices, including least privilege access controls, role separation, multi-factor authentication (MFA), secure remote access, supply chain risk management, and comprehensive incident response planning. The directive also emphasizes activity logging and technical enforcement of access control policies under Articles 21 and 23 of the directive.

How does NIS2 address third-party and supply chain cybersecurity risks?

NIS2 places strong emphasis on supply chain cybersecurity, requiring organizations to assess, manage, and govern the security posture of third-party vendors and contractors. This includes controlling their access to critical systems, ensuring accountability, and monitoring activity to prevent supply chain-based attacks.

How does Xona help organizations comply with NIS2 remote and privileged access requirements?

Xona enforces secure, policy-driven access to IT and OT systems via identity-, role-, and time-based controls. It eliminates shared accounts through credential injection, requires MFA, and protocol isolates remote access via browser-based sessions, meeting technical access requirements in NIS2 while reducing attack surface and operational risk.

Can Xona provide audit evidence to support TSA SD02E compliance inspections?

Yes. Xona stores session logs and full video recordings in an immutable format, tied to individual user identities and actions. These records can be exported to SIEM, GRC, or TSA auditors as evidence of compliance with access control, logging, and monitoring requirements outlined in SD02E.

How does Xona help organizations implement board-level cybersecurity accountability under NIS2?

Xona provides real-time visibility into user access and behavior, giving CISOs and executives the ability to oversee compliance and detect violations proactively. These insights support executive responsibilities defined under NIS2 and help demonstrate governance to regulators and internal stakeholders.