The Impact of NIS2 on Your Daily Life

1. What is NIS2?

The NIS2 Directive is the latest version of the European cybersecurity regulation. Basically, it’s an update of the original NIS Directive (NIS stands for Network and Information Systems) adopted in 2016, with even stricter requirements. Its goal? To strengthen the security of digital infrastructure and essential services across Europe, ensuring that everything we rely on daily—electricity, water, transportation, etc.—is better protected against cyberattacks.

2. Who is affected by NIS2?

NIS2 doesn’t only target large companies. This directive applies to a wide range of organizations that provide essential services to our society. We’re talking about sectors like energy, transportation, banking, healthcare, and even digital services such as online platforms and cloud providers. In short, if an organization plays a key role in our everyday lives, it’s likely within the scope of NIS2.

3. Why should citizens be informed, and not just companies?

You might think NIS2 only concerns businesses, but that’s far from the truth. Citizens need to be informed because this directive will have both direct and indirect impacts on their daily lives. Think about it: the services you use every day—water, electricity, transport, healthcare, financial services—will be strengthened in terms of security. This means fewer risks of outages or disruptions, and better protection of your personal data. But that’s not all…

Implementing NIS2 will come at a cost for businesses. They’ll have to make significant investments in cybersecurity to comply with the new rules. That means more security checks, increased transparency, and faster responses to cyberattacks. But let’s be honest: those costs won’t magically disappear…

4. The impact on citizens: the hidden costs

And here’s the crux of the matter: the impact on you, the citizen. Sure, you’ll benefit from better protection of essential services and your personal data. But there’s a catch: these cybersecurity investments are expensive for businesses, and guess what? You’re likely to feel those costs, even if no one talks about it much. For example, you might see higher electricity bills, increased internet subscription fees, or additional charges on banking services.

These hidden costs are often brushed under the rug, but they’re very real—and they’ll probably affect your wallet.

Summary

NIS2 is a major step forward for digital security in Europe, but we must not forget that this security comes at a cost. And that cost? You’re going to help pay for it, indirectly.