How to Prepare Your Company for NIS 2 – Without Drowning in Documents
The EU’s NIS 2 Directive is about to change the game for cybersecurity across Europe. The requirements are stricter, more organizations are covered – and management accountability is clearer than ever. But that doesn’t mean you have to build a new jungle of documents or hire expensive consultants. On the contrary. With a smart and practical approach, you can achieve both compliance and business value – at the same time.
What is NIS 2 – and Why Does It Matter to You?
NIS 2 is the second-generation EU directive on network and information security. Its goal is to strengthen society’s resilience against cyber threats by imposing common security requirements on essential and digitally dependent services.
If your organization operates in energy, transport, healthcare, digital infrastructure, water supply, public administration – or if you’re a key supplier to any of these – you’re most likely affected.
But this isn’t just about compliance. NIS 2 is an opportunity to build robust processes for security, risk management, and governance – for real.
1. Start With Management – Not the IT Department
A common misconception is that NIS 2 is an “IT problem.” But the directive clearly places requirements on boards and executive management: risk-based governance, incident reporting, oversight, and accountability for compliance. This is a leadership issue – not just a technical one.
Tip:
Start by educating your leadership team on what NIS 2 means and why it matters to your business. Show the link between cybersecurity and business continuity, reputation, and growth. Use our in-app graphs and visualizations to make highlights!
2. Think Risk-Based – Not Checklist-Based
NIS 2 requires you to identify, assess, and manage security risks – based on your own operations. It’s not about ticking off standard controls, but understanding which threats could actually impact your ability to deliver services.
How to do it:
- Connect your risk assessment to your business goals and dependencies.
- Use a simple method to evaluate threats, consequences, and actions.
- Document what’s relevant and easy to understand.
3. Focus on the Practical – Start Small, Improve Iteratively
It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by all the legal articles. But the truth is, you don’t need to do everything at once. The most important thing is to get started – with the right focus: actions that create real security in your daily operations.
Examples of first steps:
- Review which information and IT systems are business-critical.
- Ensure you have basic security measures in place (e.g., multi-factor authentication, backups, access control). Riskely’s control libraries are perfect to use and adapt!
- Establish a simple process for detecting, reporting, and managing incidents.
4. Make Documentation a Tool – Not a Burden
Yes, NIS 2 requires you to demonstrate procedures, risk assessments, and technical measures. But that doesn’t mean you need to produce hundreds of pages. Good documentation is clear, living, and useful.
Tips:
- Use visual templates, checklists, and simple process flows.
- Follow a “minimum bureaucracy” principle – but cover what matters.
- Digitize what you can – ideally in a GRC or risk management tool.
5. Make NIS 2 Part of Something Bigger
NIS 2 is not a one-off project. It’s part of building a resilient, sustainable, and trustworthy organization. Those who work systematically with information security and risk management don’t just satisfy regulators – they also build stronger customer relationships, better decision-making support, and higher readiness for the unexpected.
Want to get started with NIS 2 without getting stuck in bureaucracy?
Start with a risk-based approach, focus on what matters – and choose tools that help, not hinder. It doesn’t have to be hard. It just has to be smart. Read more on our solutions for Regulated Industries