5 ways IAM supports NIS2 compliance

The NIS2 Directive introduces stricter cybersecurity requirements for organizations across Europe. Identity and Access Management (IAM) plays a key role in helping organizations strengthen security, improve governance, and support NIS2 compliance.

What is NIS2?

The NIS2 Directive introduces stricter cybersecurity requirements for organizations across Europe. Its purpose is to strengthen resilience against cyberattacks, improve risk management, and establish a more consistent level of cybersecurity across critical sectors.

Among other things, organizations are expected to:

Maintain control over who has access to systems and data.
Detect and respond to suspicious activity.
Demonstrate compliance through documentation, reporting, and governance.

Identity and Access Management (IAM) plays a key role in helping organizations meet these requirements.

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1. Build a strong IAM foundation

Before implementing new IAM capabilities, it's important to understand your current identity landscape and how it supports your organization's NIS2 requirements.

Start by identifying which systems, identities, and business processes are in scope. Review your existing identity and access management processes, and identify gaps in governance, visibility, and access control.

A strong IAM foundation helps organizations prioritize improvements, establish a realistic roadmap, and support long-term NIS2 compliance. Even organizations that are not directly subject to NIS2 can benefit from following its principles, as they represent widely recognized cybersecurity best practices.

2. Protect privileged access with Privileged Access Management

Privileged Access Management (PAM) plays a critical role in supporting NIS2 compliance. Privileged accounts are frequent targets for cyberattacks because they provide extensive access to critical systems and sensitive data.

By implementing multi-factor authentication (MFA), real-time monitoring, and least privilege principles, organizations can significantly reduce the risk of unauthorized access and detect suspicious activity more quickly. An effective PAM strategy should also include Zero Standing Privileges (ZSP), ensuring that privileged access is only granted when needed rather than permanently assigned.

Together, these capabilities strengthen security, improve visibility into privileged activities, and help organizations demonstrate greater control over critical access.

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3. Strengthen governance with Identity Governance and Administration (IGA)

Identity Governance and Administration (IGA) is a core component of Identity and Access Management and plays an important role in supporting NIS2 compliance. It helps organizations manage digital identities and access rights throughout the entire user lifecycle while improving governance and reducing security risks.

IGA includes capabilities such as Access Governance, Entitlement Governance, User Lifecycle Management, and Identity Provisioning. Together, these help ensure that users receive the right access at the right time and that access is removed when it is no longer needed.

By improving visibility, automating identity processes, and supporting regular access reviews, IGA helps organizations strengthen security, demonstrate compliance, and maintain effective governance over time.

4. Improve access management

NIS2 requires organizations to maintain strict control over access to critical systems and data. Access Management helps ensure that only authorized identities have access to the right resources at the right time, based on the organization's security and compliance requirements.

When integrated with IGA, Access Management helps automate access throughout the user lifecycle while improving security, governance, and compliance.

5. Prioritize governance, processes, policies, and people

Technology alone is not enough to support NIS2 compliance. Organizations also need clear governance, well-defined processes, and employees who understand their responsibilities.

Establish governance for identities and access, define clear policies and processes, and provide regular security awareness training. With these organizational foundations in place, IAM technologies become significantly more effective and easier to manage over time.

Identity and Access Management plays a central role in helping organizations strengthen security, improve governance, and support NIS2 compliance. By combining the right IAM capabilities with strong organizational foundations, organizations are better equipped to reduce risk and meet evolving cybersecurity requirements.