Navigating NIS2 Compliance: Why now is the time to build internal expertise
As the EU works to strengthen digital resilience, the NIS2 Directive has become one of the most important cybersecurity regulations in Europe. Replacing the original NIS Directive, NIS2 expands both the number and types of organisations that fall under mandatory cybersecurity obligations, including sectors such as energy, transport, healthcare, drinking water, telecom, waste management, manufacturing of critical products, and managed IT/OT service providers. With over 100,000 organisations directly in scope, and many more affected through supply chain dependencies, understanding NIS2 is now essential to maintaining operational trust and regulatory compliance.
Navigating NIS2 Compliance: Why now is the time to build internal expertise
What makes NIS2 different?
Unlike previous cybersecurity frameworks, NIS2 explicitly links cybersecurity to organisational governance and accountability:
- Senior management is directly accountable for cybersecurity governance and can face sanctions for failing to fulfil their oversight responsibilities, depending on national law.
- Organisations must be able to demonstrate risk-based controls, not only implement them.
- Dependencies and suppliers must be evaluated for risk, cybersecurity is no longer limited to internal systems.
Where many organisations struggle
Many companies assume that certification to ISO/IEC 27001 or alignment with the NIST Cybersecurity Framework is enough. These frameworks are helpful foundations, but NIS2 requires additional measures, including:
- Documented risk governance at board level
- Supply chain due diligence and contractual assurances
- Clear incident reporting timelines (within 24 hours for early warning)
- Continuity and crisis management planning, not only security controls
- Mandatory training for executive leadership
These requirements mean that both technical teams and senior decision-makers need shared understanding and coordinated action.
A practical path forward: The NIS2 Professional Course
To support this need, Pink Elephant offers the NIS2 Professional e-learning programme. Developed in the EU, the course translates regulatory language into clear, practical steps organisations can apply immediately.
Participants learn how to:
- Interpret NIS2 obligations for their organisation
- Conduct a readiness or gap assessment
- Align existing frameworks (ISO/NIST) with NIS2 expectations
- Support leadership and stakeholders for compliance responsibilities
“Becoming NIS2 certified isn’t just about compliance, it’s about building a safer, more resilient digital Europe, one organisation at a time.”
— Maurits van der Plas, Van Haren Publishing Group
Why building NIS2 expertise matters
NIS2 is not just a cybersecurity upgrade, it is a shift toward resilient governance. Organisations that develop internal knowledge now will not only avoid fines and regulatory risks but will also strengthen trust with customers, partners, and national authorities.
Click here for more information about the Pink Elephant EMEA’s NIS2 Professional e-learning course.