The NIS 2 Directive has been a key topic of discussion in recent years, and its cybersecurity requirements are now well understood across the business landscape. The critical challenge for organizations today is how to achieve compliance without compromising operational efficiency—ideally, even enhancing it. This was the central focus of the “NIS 2 Directive: Compliance and Operational Efficiency with Cisco Solutions” webinar, hosted by Datanet Systems in February.

The recent event provided valuable insights into how Cisco technologies can help organizations transform compliance from a regulatory obligation into a strategic operational advantage.

 

Clarifying mandatory risk management measures under NIS 2

The webinar featured George Laurențiu, Presales Consultant at Datanet Systems, who provided a practical roadmap for aligning with NIS 2 requirements. The session covered key updates from NIS 1 to NIS 2, an analysis of the Directive’s regulatory framework, and a structured approach to implementation. A core focus was on mandatory risk management measures, a crucial aspect where NIS 2 provides greater clarity. These measures fall into three key categories: technical, operational, and organizational.

 

During the discussion, the Datanet Systems consultant outlined specific compliance strategies:

• Organizational measures: Risk assessment and management, incident response and reporting (including CSIRT notifications), crisis management (industry-specific response plans tailored to deployed infrastructure), and governance frameworks (policies and procedures designed to mitigate incident impact).
• Technical measures: Comprehensive asset management (ensuring visibility across IT and OT environments), zero-trust access controls, multi-factor authentication, and cryptographic safeguards.
• Operational measures: Cybersecurity best practices, vulnerability management (tools that provide clear risk assessment across the network), supply chain security, and ongoing workforce training (mandatory annual cybersecurity awareness programs).

By leveraging a structured, technology-driven approach, organizations can not only meet NIS 2 compliance requirements but also strengthen their overall security posture, operational resilience, and business continuity.

 

Cisco Solutions for Seamless NIS 2 Compliance

In the second part of the webinar, George Laurențiu highlighted a suite of Cisco technologies designed to streamline NIS 2 compliance. As Romania’s leading Cisco partner and integrator, Datanet Systems recommends proven, globally adopted solutions that not only ensure regulatory alignment but also drive greater security, efficiency, and resilience. Key Cisco Solutions for NIS 2 Compliance:

• Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) – Enables policy-driven security and access control across all connected devices, serving as a core component of zero-trust architecture.
• Cisco Secure Endpoint – Provides continuous threat monitoring and automated response, quickly detecting and containing malicious files and activities.
• Cisco Secure Network Analytics (SNA) – Offers real-time network monitoring and analytics to identify anomalies and potential security threats across the enterprise.
• Cisco Secure Firewall – Delivers next-generation firewall protection and intrusion prevention, safeguarding organizations against external cyber threats.
• Cisco Duo – Ensures strong multi-factor authentication (MFA) and secure single sign-on (SSO), allowing only authorized users to access critical systems.
• Splunk Enterprise Security – Provides real-time visibility, advanced threat detection, and simplified compliance reporting, enhancing security operations.
• Extended Detection and Response (XDR) – A comprehensive, AI-driven security solution that integrates multiple detection capabilities, automates threat response, and offers a holistic view of cyber risks across networks, endpoints, and cloud environments.
• Cisco Vulnerability Management (Kenna Security) – A risk-based vulnerability management platform that prioritizes and remediates the most critical security gaps, helping organizations maintain NIS 2 compliance.
• Cisco Secure Equipment Access – Enables secure remote access to industrial networks using Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) policies, ensuring safe vendor and contractor interactions for ICS and OT environments.
• Cisco Secure Email – Defends against email-based threats, including phishing, malware, and business email compromise (BEC), ensuring secure communication.
• Cisco Secure Malware Analytics – Provides advanced malware analysis and real-time threat intelligence, helping organizations identify and mitigate sophisticated cyberattacks.

By integrating these proven security solutions, organizations can achieve seamless NIS 2 compliance while enhancing their cyber resilience, risk management, and operational efficiency.

 

Cisco Cyber Vision: Complete Visibility and Security for Industrial Networks

A key focus of the Datanet Systems webinar was the presentation of Cisco Cyber Vision, a purpose-built solution for industrial cybersecurity—one of the most heavily regulated areas under NIS 2. Designed to provide real-time asset visibility and risk assessment, Cyber Vision enables organizations to safeguard industrial control systems (ICS) and operational technology (OT) environments by detecting vulnerabilities and security threats before they impact operations.

Cisco Cyber Vision delivers deep visibility into connected industrial assets, their security posture, and communication flows. Key capabilities include – real-time monitoring of ICS and OT environments, providing granular insights into device communications, protocols used, and operational status; automated risk assessment, detecting known vulnerabilities and assigning risk scores to help security teams prioritize remediation efforts; industrial network segmentation, allowing organizations to group assets into logical security zones and enforce tailored access policies.

To demonstrate these capabilities, George Laurențiu led a live demo, showcasing the intuitive interface and effectiveness of Cisco Cyber Vision in securing critical industrial infrastructure.

 

How Datanet Systems Can Support Your Organization?

Datanet Systems offers specialized cybersecurity services to help organizations assess vulnerabilities, enhance security posture, and ensure compliance with NIS 2 and industry standards. Our services include:

• Comprehensive risk assessments, leveraging industry best practices and in-depth workshops with key stakeholders.
• Tailored security strategies, addressing organizational, process, architectural, and technological risks.
• Compliance-driven evaluations, aligned with ISO 27000 standards.
• Advanced penetration testing (Red Team & Blue Team) to identify security gaps and validate defenses.
• Security Health Checks, ensuring systems meet best-practice security benchmarks.
• Proactive vulnerability scanning, delivering detailed risk reports and remediation recommendations.

For a deeper look at Cisco Cyber Vision in action, we invite you to watch the full webinar recording: