With the rise of cyber threats, the NIS2 Directive was introduced to strengthen cybersecurity across the EU. It demands stricter security requirements, risk management measures, and incident reporting obligations for essential and important entities.
A key aspect of NIS2 compliance is ensuring secure authentication and data protection, where Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) and digital certificates play a crucial role. Proper certificate management is essential to maintaining security and regulatory compliance.
But what happens when certificates expire? How can expired certificates lead to NIS2 non-compliance?
One of the fundamental security principles outlined in NIS2 is ensuring secure communication and authentication. Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) and digital certificates serve as the backbone of secure digital identity verification, encryption, and data integrity. They help organizations authenticate users and devices, encrypt sensitive information, and prevent unauthorized access – aligning directly with NIS2 security mandates
Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) certificates play a crucial role in securing multiple aspects of an organization's digital ecosystem. Some of the most critical use cases for certificates usage to ensure NIS2 compliance include:
By implementing these security measures, organizations can reduce cybersecurity risks, protect critical infrastructure, and meet NIS2 compliance obligations.
To comply with NIS2, organizations must fulfill several key security obligations, including:
Failure to manage PKI certificates properly – such as allowing them to expire – can lead to security vulnerabilities and regulatory violations, potentially resulting in fines and reputational damage.
To avoid NIS2 non-compliance and strengthen their cybersecurity posture, organizations should follow best practices in PKI and certificate management:
By integrating PKI best practices and automation tools, organizations can enhance security, maintain compliance with NIS2, and prevent disruptions caused by expired or mismanaged certificates.
NIS2 sets strict guidelines for security, risk management, and compliance. PKI certificates play an important role in fulfilling these requirements by enabling secure communications, authenticating identities, and protecting sensitive data.
Also, compliance is not just about implementing certificates—it’s about managing them properly. Expired or misconfigured certificates can lead to security vulnerabilities, service disruptions, and regulatory penalties. Organizations must take a proactive approach by automating certificate lifecycle management, enforcing strict security policies, and conducting regular audits.
By implementing PKI best practices and automation tools, businesses can not only meet NIS2 obligations but also strengthen their overall cybersecurity posture. The question is: Is your organization prepared to manage its certificates effectively and stay compliant?