Don't see NIS2 and DORA as a problem, it is there to help!

As an IT Manager, designing, managing, and controlling your backup environment is critical to ensuring operational resilience, regulatory compliance, and data integrity. The NIS2 Directive (Network and Information Security Directive) and the DORA Regulation (Digital Operational Resilience Act) offer a structured framework for enhancing your backup strategy. By leveraging these regulations effectively, you can ensure that your organisation's backup environment meets stringent requirements for cybersecurity and operational resilience. Here’s how you can utilise NIS2 and DORA to achieve these goals.

1. Understanding NIS2 and DORA Regulations

NIS2 Directive:

The NIS2 Directive is an EU-wide regulatory framework aimed at improving the cybersecurity of critical infrastructure and essential services. It mandates organizations to adopt stringent security measures, including risk management, incident reporting, and business continuity planning.

DORA Regulation:

DORA focuses on ensuring the operational resilience of financial institutions and critical third parties. It emphasizes the need for robust ICT (Information and Communication Technology) systems, incident response mechanisms, and testing strategies.

Both regulations share common objectives of enhancing security, operational resilience, and preparedness for cyber threats. By aligning your backup strategy with these frameworks, you can mitigate risks and enhance your organization’s resilience.

2. Key Aspects of Designing a Backup Environment Using NIS2 and DORA

a. Risk Assessment and Business Impact Analysis (BIA):

Both NIS2 and DORA emphasize understanding and managing risks. As an IT Manager, start by conducting a comprehensive risk assessment and BIA:

• Identify critical data and systems: Classify systems and data based on their importance to business operations and compliance.

• Assess risks: Evaluate potential threats, including cyberattacks, natural disasters, and human errors, that could impact your backup environment.

• Set Recovery Objectives: Define Recovery Time Objectives (RTOs) and Recovery Point Objectives (RPOs) to ensure alignment with organizational resilience goals.

b. Multi-Layered Backup Strategies:

To meet NIS2 and DORA requirements, implement a multi-layered backup approach:

• On-Site Backups: Store backups on-premises for quick recovery of data and systems.

• Off-Site Backups: Use geographically separate locations for disaster recovery.

• Cloud Backups: Leverage secure cloud services to ensure scalability and redundancy.

• Immutable Backups: Implement backups that cannot be altered or deleted to protect against ransomware.

• 3-2-1 Rule: Maintain three copies of your data on two different media types, with one copy stored off-site.

c. Data Encryption and Integrity:

Both regulations require robust data security. Apply the following practices:

• Encryption: Encrypt data both in transit and at rest to safeguard against unauthorized access.

• Integrity Checks: Implement regular data integrity checks to ensure backups are accurate and complete.

• Access Controls: Use role-based access control (RBAC) and multifactor authentication (MFA) to restrict access to backups.

3. Managing the Backup Environment with NIS2 and DORA

a. Governance and Policies:

Develop comprehensive backup policies and governance structures:

• Define Roles and Responsibilities: Clearly assign responsibilities for backup management and oversight.

• Regulatory Alignment: Ensure backup policies align with NIS2 and DORA requirements for risk management and operational resilience.

• Incident Response Integration: Integrate backup processes with your incident response plan to enable rapid recovery from cyber incidents.

b. Monitoring and Auditing:

Both regulations stress the importance of continuous monitoring and auditing:

• Real-Time Monitoring: Use monitoring tools to track backup operations and identify anomalies.

• Regular Audits: Conduct periodic audits to verify compliance with regulatory requirements and internal policies.

• Test Restores: Perform regular backup restoration tests to validate the integrity and reliability of backups.

c. Third-Party Management:

DORA emphasizes the need for managing third-party risks. If you rely on external providers for backup services:

• Vendor Assessment: Evaluate providers’ compliance with NIS2 and DORA requirements.

• SLAs and Contracts: Include clear service level agreements (SLAs) that define backup frequency, retention, and recovery times.

• Supply Chain Risk Management: Continuously monitor third-party providers for vulnerabilities and ensure they adhere to security standards.

4. Controlling the Backup Environment with NIS2 and DORA

a. Incident Response and Recovery:

Both regulations require robust incident response and recovery mechanisms:

• Automated Recovery: Implement automated backup restoration processes to minimize downtime during incidents.

• Incident Documentation: Maintain detailed records of incidents, including root cause analyses and recovery actions.

• Scenario Testing: Conduct tabletop exercises and simulated attacks to test your backup and recovery plans.

b. Compliance Reporting:

NIS2 and DORA require transparent reporting:

• Incident Reporting: Establish processes to report incidents affecting backups to regulatory authorities within mandated timelines.

• Compliance Documentation: Maintain comprehensive records of backup policies, audits, and test results to demonstrate compliance.

• Continuous Improvement: Use lessons learned from incidents and audits to enhance your backup environment.

c. Cyber Resilience Testing:

Regular testing is crucial to ensure compliance and readiness:

• Penetration Testing: Identify vulnerabilities in your backup environment through simulated attacks.

• Disaster Recovery Testing: Validate that your disaster recovery plans meet RTOs and RPOs.

• Red Team Exercises: Test the resilience of your backups against sophisticated threats.

5. Benefits of Leveraging NIS2 and DORA for Backup Management

By aligning your backup strategy with NIS2 and DORA, you can achieve:

a. Enhanced Security:

• Strong encryption and access controls reduce the risk of unauthorized access.

• Immutable backups protect against ransomware and data tampering.

b. Improved Resilience:

• Redundant backups ensure business continuity during disruptions.

• Clear recovery objectives minimize downtime and data loss.

c. Regulatory Compliance:

• Meeting NIS2 and DORA requirements ensures you avoid fines and reputational damage.

• Comprehensive documentation and reporting demonstrate accountability.

d. Streamlined Operations:

• Automated processes and regular testing improve efficiency.

• Well-defined roles and policies reduce complexity in backup management.

e. Risk Mitigation:

• Proactive risk assessment and monitoring help prevent incidents.

• Continuous improvement ensures your backup environment evolves with emerging threats.

Conclusion

NIS2 and DORA provide a robust framework for designing, managing, and controlling your backup environment. By integrating the principles of these regulations, you can enhance your organization’s operational resilience, ensure compliance, and safeguard critical data. As an IT Manager, this approach not only strengthens your organization’s cybersecurity posture but also builds trust with stakeholders and regulatory bodies.

How can IssTech help

If you think NIS2 and DORA are just creating a headache, even if you agree this is really good to have, we at IssTech have the knowledge and the tools to help you with both regulations. 

With IssProtect for DevOps, CSP and Cloud you can then fulfil all the recommendations that both regulations recommend. 

Book a meeting with one of our experts to see how we can help you to implement a robust and NIS2/DORA compliance solution for all your modern workload in the Cloud or Kubernetes environment.