Affected Sectors
Essential Sectors
The Regulation (EU) 2023/2450 supplements Directive (EU) 2022/2557 and establishes a non-exhaustive list of essential services within the European Union. The regulation aims to enhance the resilience of critical entities by providing a framework for identifying and protecting services vital to societal functions and economic activities. This regulation outlines the specific sectors and subsectors deemed essential, ensuring that Member States have a clear reference for safeguarding these critical infrastructures against potential threats and disruptions. By doing so, the regulation contributes to the overall security and stability of the EU’s internal market, ensuring that essential services remain operational and resilient in the face of various challenges.
Important Sectors
The Impact on MSPs and IT Companies as Digital Providers
Managed Service Providers (MSPs) and IT companies, classified as Digital Providers under the EU NIS 2 Directive, face significant new responsibilities. They are now required to enhance their cybersecurity measures and ensure compliance with stricter regulations. This includes implementing robust security practices, conducting regular riskRisk Means the potential for loss or disruption caused by an incident and is to be expressed as a combination of the magnitude of such loss or disruption and the likelihood of occurrence of the incident. - Definition according Article 6 Directive (EU) 2022/2555 (NIS2 Directive) assessments, and reporting incidents promptly.
The directive also significantly increases the accountability of these companies, making them directly liable for any failures or lapses in their services that lead to cybersecurity breaches in their clients’ systems. This shift demands a much higher level of vigilance, transparency, resilience, and proactive security management across all operations.
MSPs and IT companies must also invest in advanced technologies and training to meet the directive’s requirements. This may include adopting sophisticated monitoring tools, improving incidentIncident Means an event compromising the availability, authenticity, integrity or confidentiality of stored, transmitted or processed data or of the services offered by, or accessible via, network and information systems. - Definition according Article 6 Directive (EU) 2022/2555 (NIS2 Directive) response capabilities, and ensuring that their staff is well-versed in the latest cybersecurity practices. Failure to comply can result in substantial fines and damage to their reputation.
These companies must prepare for increased scrutiny from regulators and clients. The directive mandates that they maintain transparency in their operations and security protocols, which could lead to more frequent audits and assessments. This necessitates a comprehensive approach to cybersecurity that aligns with the stringent standards set by the NIS 2 Directive.