What is NIS2 and why will it impact your backup strategy?

The NIS2 regulation is a European directive to protect businesses and organisations from cyber threats and the loss of critical data. Europe wants to ensure that systems and data remain reliable, available and secure, even when something goes wrong.

An important part of this is your backup strategy. After all, what good is fancy security if there is no well-thought-out way to restore data quickly when it is really needed? This is exactly what it is all about: not just making backups, but doing so in a robust, tested and secure way.

The new regulations require organisations to structural measures for business continuity, including:

• Regular and secure data backups
• Demonstrable recoverability in case of incidents
• Documentation and testing of procedures

Which companies are affected by NIS2?

The legislation distinguishes between key and important sectors. Both groups are obligated to keep their cyber security and continuity thoroughly, including a thoughtful back-up strategy. Below is an overview of the sectors as defined by the European Commission:

Whether you as an organisation have to comply with NIS2, besides your sector, also depends on your size (at least 50 employees or €10 million turnover). But there are exceptions: smaller companies that provide crucial services, for example a DNS operator or a managed service provider, can also fall under the law.

What this means? Organisations must demonstrate that they not only minimise cyber risks, but also that they can recover data and continue to function in the event of incidents. And that brings us to the heart of this blog: your backup solutions and backup strategy.

What does NIS2 ask of your backup strategy?

NIS2 demands more than just ‘backing up’. Your strategy must be demonstrably reliable. Key requirements are:

Secure and regular backups

Backups should not only exist but also be actively protected, for example with encryption and protection against ransomware that specifically targets backup files.

Clear backup windows

What is your backup window? How often do you make backups? How much time do you take for this? NIS2 wants you to be able to substantiate this and that it fits your business continuity.

Recovery procedures tested

A backup is only good if you can restore it quickly. NIS2 explicitly asks that you run regular restore tests and record that. This makes your backup strategy demonstrably reliable.

Documentation and logging

You need to be able to demonstrate what is happening, when and how. That requires good monitoring, logging and reporting.

How can VanRoey help you with this?

Making the most of your backup strategy requires expertise, experience and technology. That is exactly what we at VanRoey excel at:

• 30 years of experience in thousands of diverse environments
• Complete backup solutions from on-premises to off-site
• Backup for your entire IT environment: cloud, VMs, endpoints and more
• Strong partnerships with Microsoft, Veeam, HPE, Fortinet
• Compliance-focused approach matching NIS2

Whether you want to take the first step or optimise your existing solution: we think with you. With a warm, personal approach so you can have peace of mind about your data.

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The NIS2 regulations are changing the way organisations look at data protection and continuity. With a well-thought-out backup strategy and robust backup solutions, you will ensure that your business is not only compliant, but also ready for the future.

Want to know how your organisation will become NIS2-proof with the right backup solutions? Contact us without obligation. Together, we will build a future where your data is truly secure.