As organizations work to comply with NIS2 and manage their cybersecurity risks, I consider two aspects fundamental: security monitoring and asset management. These components are not just regulatory requirements but essential for defending against increasingly sophisticated cyber threats.

The Role of Security Monitoring

When addressing cybersecurity monitoring, adopting a proactive approach that guarantees constant vigilance, backed by systems capable of analyzing and interpreting data in depth, alerting any anomalous behavior is essential. The goal is to see what is happening at any given time and anticipate and mitigate possible threats before they materialize.

Modern threats are often characterized by their stealth and persistence: in many cases, malicious actors remain inside systems for weeks or even months before executing an attack. Faced with this reality, it is essential to have tools that:

• Detect anomalous behavior and alert security teams before threats escalate.
• Identify patterns that go beyond known cyberattack signatures.
• Understand railway-specific protocols and operational contexts to ensure effective threat detection.

​​Strengthening Security Through Processes

For cybersecurity monitoring to be truly effective, organizations must integrate it into structured processes that align with clear policies, procedures, and controls. A well-defined cybersecurity framework ensures that companies react to threats and proactively strengthen their security posture.

Asset management is essential for monitoring to be truly effective. This involves:

1. Maintaining a detailed inventory of all connected devices, their location, the software they use, and how they interact.
2. Anomaly detection, identifying unknown devices or outdated applications, and acting quickly to correct them. 
3. Contextual understanding meaning knowing how assets interact within the railway infrastructure to prioritize risk management efforts better.

Despite its importance, many organizations lack complete visibility into their connected assets. Without precise knowledge of what is part of the network, it is impossible to secure it effectively.

Integrating Security Monitoring and Asset Management

Ultimately, balancing these two key areas is necessary: monitoring provides real-time information about what is happening, while asset management provides the framework to interpret and address those events. 

Both are interdependent, and neither can function properly without the other. Therefore, beyond regulatory compliance with NIS2, organically integrating monitoring and asset management into the daily security routine is essential for solid and sustainable protection. 

To fully integrate NIS2 compliance into their operations, organizations should:

• Develop clear security policies and procedures that align with the directive.
• Implement security awareness training for employees and leadership teams.
• Establish dedicated teams responsible for cybersecurity governance and risk management.

The Future of NIS2 Compliance

Beyond meeting regulatory requirements, NIS2 allows businesses to enhance their cybersecurity posture and build greater resilience against cyber threats. By combining continuous monitoring with rigorous asset management, organizations can achieve compliance and secure their operations against evolving risks.

NIS2 is more than just a regulation, it’s a call to action for businesses to prioritize cybersecurity as a core component of their operations. Those who proactively embrace these changes will be better prepared to navigate the evolving cyber landscape while ensuring the security and continuity of their services.

Want to understand what NIS2 means for your rail environment? Speak to our experts.

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