The Next Era of European Cybersecurity and the Essential Function of Network Observability – Dr. Erdal Ozkaya

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The Next Era of European Cybersecurity and the Essential Function of Network Observability

During the upcoming implementation of the Network and Information Systems Directive 2 (NIS2) in the European Union (EU), organizations throughout the continent are getting ready for a significant transformation in cybersecurity regulations.

Emphasizing the strengthening of the resilience of critical infrastructure and essential services, NIS2 brings in stricter mandates for risk management, incident reporting, and supply chain security. Amid these alterations, network observability arises as a critical instrument for compliance and proactive threat identification.

NIS2: An Innovation in Cybersecurity

NIS2 represents a thorough upgrade to the existing NIS Directive, with the aim of tackling the evolving cyber threat environment and fortifying the EU’s overall cybersecurity stance. Essential adjustments under NIS2 encompass:

• Extended Reach: NIS2 pertains to a broader array of sectors, including energy, transportation, healthcare, financial services, and digital infrastructure.
• More Stringent Demands: Organizations will need to adopt more rigorous risk management practices, incident reporting procedures, and supply chain security measures.
• Heightened Penalties: Non-compliance with NIS2 can lead to substantial financial penalties and harm to reputation.

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF NETWORK OBSERVABILITY

Network observability plays a vital role in meeting the requirements of NIS2. By offering thorough visibility into network traffic, performance, and security, organizations are empowered to:

• Recognize and Alleviate Risks: Network observability allows organizations to pinpoint vulnerabilities and potential threats promptly, facilitating proactive risk mitigation.
• Optimize Incident Response: In case of a security breach, network observability aids organizations in swiftly identifying, examining, and responding to the threat, thereby reducing damage and downtime.
• Ensure Adherence to Regulations: Through continuous monitoring of network activity, organizations can exhibit compliance with the stringent reporting and incident management regulations of NIS2.
• Bolster Supply Chain Security: Network observability assists organizations in overseeing the security readiness of their supply chain collaborators, ensuring their alignment with the needed standards.

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF NETWORK OBSERVABILITY

Network observability plays a pivotal role in meeting the demands of NIS2. By providing comprehensive visibility into network traffic, performance, and security, organizations can:

• Recognize and Alleviate Risks: Network observability enables organizations to pinpoint vulnerabilities and potential threats promptly, facilitating proactive risk mitigation.
• Optimize Incident Response: In case of a security breach, network observability aids organizations in swiftly identifying, examining, and responding to the threat, thereby reducing damage and downtime.
• Ensure Adherence to Regulations: Through continuous monitoring of network activity, organizations can exhibit compliance with the stringent reporting and incident management regulations of NIS2.
• Bolster Supply Chain Security: Network observability assists organizations in overseeing the security readiness of their supply chain collaborators, ensuring their alignment with the needed standards.

TOWARDS THE FUTURE OF CYBERSECURITY IN EUROPE

NIS2 marks a substantial stride in European cybersecurity. By embracing network observability and investing in appropriate tools and technologies, organizations can not only meet NIS2’s requisites but also proactively shield themselves from the perpetually changing cyber threat landscape.

HOW CAN NEOX NETWORKS SUPPORT YOU WITH YOUR NIS2

NEOX NETWORKS can aid you in adhering to the NIS2 Directive by delivering professional data extraction tools for monitoring, analysis, and security in crucial infrastructures. Their solutions guarantee a dependable source of network data, crucial for the ongoing monitoring and safeguarding of corporate networks, whether IT or OT. Leveraging our proficiency, we can provide sturdy assistance to your organization to fulfill the comprehensive measures mandated by the NIS2 Directive.

ENHANCED NETWORK VISIBILITY AND MONITORING:

• Network TAPs: FPGA-based NEOXPacketRaven Network TAPs ensure lossless and, thanks to data diode functionality, unidirectional routing of network traffic in order to make it available to security and monitoring tools.
• Network Packet Brokers (NPBs): NEOX NETWORKS’ NPBs are responsible for equipping analysis and monitoring systems with all data streams of the Network TAPs or other data sources distributed in the network, reliably and aggregated. By utilizing dedicated ASIC hardware, present in every NPB, both simple and complex filter rules can be established to ensure an optimized data flow towards the analysis systems.
• Network Traffic Analysis (NTA): NEOX NETWORKS’ NTA solutions offer profound insights into network traffic, facilitating real-time monitoring and analysis. This assists organizations in spotting anomalies, suspicious activities, and potential security breaches promptly, essential for early threat detection and incident response under NIS2.
• Network Monitoring Solutions: NEOX NETWORKS delivers network monitoring solutions that compile and analyze network data in real-time. These solutions provide visibility into network performance, bandwidth usage, latency, and other crucial metrics, aiding organizations in promptly identifying and resolving network issues.

SUPPLY CHAIN SECURITY:

Network Segmentation: NEOX NETWORKS can aid organizations in implementing network segmentation, establishing isolated zones within the network to restrict the spread of threats and safeguard critical assets. This is especially vitalcrucial in the management of supply chain risks, NIS2 underlines the necessity to safeguard interconnected systems and services.

COMPLIANCE AND REGULATION:

• Data Documentation and Preservation: NEOX NETWORKS’ solutions empower organizations to document and uphold network traffic data for compliance and investigative purposes. This ensures organizations can adhere to regulatory mandates for data retention and provide proof in the event of security incidents.
• ENHANCED NETWORK PERFORMANCE AND DEBUGGING
• Application Performance Monitoring (APM): NEOX NETWORKS’ APM solutions oversee the performance of crucial applications and services operating on the network. This aids organizations in pinpointing bottlenecks, enhancing application performance, and ensuring a seamless user experience.
• Network Forensics: During a security incident or network disruption, NEOX NETWORKS’ solutions can offer detailed forensic data to aid investigators in comprehending the root cause and determining the accountable parties.

CALL TO ACTION

With the approaching implementation of NIS2, it is paramount for organizations to evaluate their cybersecurity stance and invest in network visibility solutions. This will enable them to ensure compliance, safeguard their crucial assets, and retain the confidence of their customers and stakeholders.

NIS2: The next stage of European Cybersecurity and the vital role of Network Observability

As the European Union (EU) prepares for the enforcement of the Network and Information Systems Directive 2 (NIS2), organizations across the continent are gearing up for significant changes in cybersecurity regulations.
With a focus on strengthening the resilience of vital services and critical infrastructures, NIS2 introduces stricter requirements for risk management, incident reporting, and supply chain security. Amidst these transformations, network observability becomes a pivotal tool for regulatory compliance and proactive threat detection.

NIS2: A NEW ERA OF CYBERSECURITY

NIS2 is a comprehensive update to the existing NIS Directive, aiming to address the evolving cyber threat landscape and enhance the overall cybersecurity posture of the EU. Key changes introduced by NIS2 include:

• Extended Scope: NIS2 applies to a broader range of sectors including energy, transportation, healthcare, financial services, and digital infrastructure.
• Tighter Requirements: Businesses are required to implement stricter risk management practices, incident reporting procedures, and measures to secure the supply chain.
• Increased Penalties: Non-compliance with NIS2 can lead to significant financial penalties and reputational damage.

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF NETWORK OBSERVABILITY

Network observability plays a critical role in meeting the requirements of NIS2. By providing comprehensive insights into network traffic, performance, and security, companies can:

• Identify and Mitigate Risks: Network observability allows businesses to pinpoint vulnerabilities and potential threats in real-time, thereby proactively minimizing risks.
• Streamline Incident Response: In the event of a security incident, network observability assists businesses in swiftly detecting, investigating, and responding to the threat to minimize damage and downtime.
• Ensure Compliance with Regulatory Requirements: Through continuous monitoring of network activities, companies can demonstrate compliance with the stringent reporting and incident management requirements of NIS2.
• Enhance Supply Chain Security: By monitoring network activities, companies can oversee the security posture of their partners in the supply chain, ensuring they also meet the required standards.

NETWORK OBSERVABILITY TOOLS

There are a variety of network observability tools that aid companies in overcoming the challenges posed by NIS2. These tools include:

• Network Traffic Analysis (NTA): NTA tools analyze network traffic patterns to detect anomalies and potential threats.
• Intrusion Detection and Prevention Systems (IDPS): IDPS tools monitor network traffic for signs of malicious activities and can take automatic actions to defend against attacks.
• Security Information and Event Management (SIEM): SIEM tools gather and correlate security events from different sources, providing a centralized view of the company’s security posture.
• Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR): EDR tools monitor endpoints for indicators of compromise and can take automatic actions to contain threats.

THE FUTURE OF CYBERSECURITY IN EUROPE

NIS2 represents a significant advancement for European cybersecurity. By embracing network observability and investing in the right tools and technologies, companies can not only meet the requirements of NIS2 but also proactively protect themselves against the ever-evolving cyber threat landscape.

HOW CAN NEOX NETWORKS ASSIST YOU WITH NIS2?

NEOX NETWORKS can aid you in complying with the NIS2 directive by offering professional data extraction tools for monitoring, analysis, and securing critical infrastructures. NEOX NETWORKS’ solutions provide a reliable source of network data essential for the continuous monitoring and protection of enterprise networks – whether IT or OT. With our expertise, we can offer your company robust support to fulfill the comprehensive measures prescribed by the NIS2 directive.

ENHANCED NETWORK TRANSPARENCY AND MONITORING:

• Network TAPs: FPGA-based NEOXPacketRaven network TAPs ensure a lossless and, thanks to data diode functionality, non-invasive extraction of network traffic to provide this data to security and monitoring tools.
• Network Packet Broker (NPB): NEOX NETWORKS’ NPB’s allow for efficient distribution of network traffic to various security and monitoring tools, facilitating better network analysis and troubleshooting.

It is our responsibility to reliably and collectively supply analysis and monitoring systems with all data streams from the network TAPs or other data sources distributed in the network. Using the dedicated ASIC hardware deployed in each NPB, both simple and complex filter rules can be created to ensure an optimized data flow to the analysis systems.

• Network Traffic Analysis (NTA): NEOX NETWORKS’ NTA solutions provide profound insights into network traffic, enabling real-time monitoring and analysis. This aids businesses in recognizing anomalies, suspicious activities, and potential security breaches, crucial for early threat detection and incident response within the scope of NIS2.
• Network Monitoring Solutions: NEOX NETWORKS offers real-time network monitoring solutions that collect and analyze network data. These solutions provide insights into network performance, bandwidth utilization, latency, and other critical metrics, assisting businesses in promptly identifying and resolving network issues.

SECURITY IN THE SUPPLY CHAIN:

• Network Segmentation: NEOX NETWORKS can assist businesses in implementing network segmentation and creating isolated zones within the network to limit the spread of threats and protect critical assets. This is particularly crucial for supply chain risk management, as NIS2 emphasizes the need to secure interconnected systems and services.

COMPLIANCE AND REGULATION:

• Data Recording and Retention: NEOX NETWORKS solutions enable businesses to record and retain network traffic data for compliance and forensic purposes. This ensures that companies meet legal requirements for data retention and can provide necessary evidence in the event of security incidents.

ENHANCED NETWORK PERFORMANCE AND TROUBLESHOOTING

• Application Performance Monitoring (APM): NEOX NETWORKS’ APM solutions monitor the performance of critical applications and services running on the network. This helps companies identify bottlenecks, optimize application performance, and ensure a seamless user experience.
• Network Forensics: In the event of a security incident or network outage, NEOX NETWORKS solutions can provide detailed forensic data to help investigators understand the cause and identify the responsible parties.

CALL TO ACTION

As the adoption of NIS2 approaches, it is crucial for companies to assess their cybersecurity posture and invest in network monitoring solutions. This way, they can ensure regulatory compliance, safeguard their critical assets, and maintain the trust of their customers and stakeholders.