Standards Comparison

    NIS2

    Mandatory
    2022

    EU directive for cybersecurity resilience in critical sectors

    VS

    ISO 27018

    Voluntary
    2019

    International code of practice for PII protection in public clouds.

    Quick Verdict

    NIS2 mandates cybersecurity resilience for EU critical sectors like energy, with strict reporting and fines up to 2% turnover. ISO 27018 provides voluntary cloud PII privacy controls via ISO 27001 audits. Companies adopt NIS2 for compliance, ISO 27018 for trust and procurement.

    Cybersecurity

    NIS2

    Directive (EU) 2022/2555 (NIS2)

    Cost
    €€€€
    Complexity
    High
    Implementation Time
    12-18 months

    Key Features

    • Expands scope with size-cap rule for medium/large entities
    • Mandates 24-hour early warning incident reporting
    • Holds senior management directly accountable for compliance
    • Requires supply chain security and risk management
    • Imposes fines up to 2% global annual turnover
    Cloud Privacy

    ISO 27018

    ISO/IEC 27018:2025 Code of practice for PII protection

    Cost
    €€€
    Complexity
    High
    Implementation Time
    6-12 months

    Key Features

    • Privacy controls for PII processors in public clouds
    • Subprocessor transparency and disclosure requirements
    • Breach notification obligations to customers
    • Prohibits marketing use of PII without consent
    • Supports data subject rights like erasure and access

    Detailed Analysis

    A comprehensive look at the specific requirements, scope, and impact of each standard.

    NIS2 Details

    What It Is

    NIS2 Directive (EU) 2022/2555 is an EU regulation expanding the original NIS Directive. It establishes a high common level of cybersecurity for critical infrastructure and digital services across member states. Primary purpose: enhance resilience against cyber threats via risk-based approach, covering essential and important entities.

    Key Components

    • Four pillars: risk management, business continuity, incident reporting, corporate accountability.
    • Strict timelines: 24-hour early warnings, 72-hour notifications, one-month final reports to CSIRTs.
    • Built on standards like ISO 27001, NIST CSF; no formal certification but national enforcement.
    • Applies size-cap rule: 50+ employees or €10M turnover in 18 sectors.

    Why Organizations Use It

    Mandated for covered entities to avoid fines up to 2% global turnover. Drives risk reduction, operational resilience, stakeholder trust. Enables harmonized EU-wide cooperation, competitive edge in cybersecurity maturity.

    Implementation Overview

    Proactive transformation: conduct risk assessments, secure supply chains, train staff, establish reporting. Targets medium/large firms in energy, transport, digital services; varies by member state post-2024 transposition. National authorities perform spot checks for continuous compliance. (178 words)

    ISO 27018 Details

    What It Is

    ISO/IEC 27018 is a code of practice extending ISO 27001 and ISO 27002 for protecting personally identifiable information (PII) in public clouds where providers act as PII processors. Its primary purpose is to provide privacy-specific controls and guidance for cloud environments, focusing on processor obligations in multi-tenant, cross-border settings. It uses a risk-based approach, integrating ~25-30 additional controls into an Information Security Management System (ISMS).

    Key Components

    • Core domains: transparency, consent, purpose limitation, data minimization, security safeguards, breach notification, subprocessor management.
    • Built on ISO 27001 Annex A (93 controls) with cloud-PII extensions.
    • Principles: consent/choice, accuracy, accountability.
    • Compliance model: assessed within ISO 27001 audits; no standalone certification.

    Why Organizations Use It

    • Builds customer trust and accelerates procurement.
    • Aligns with GDPR, HIPAA for processor duties.
    • Reduces risk via structured privacy controls.
    • Differentiates CSPs in competitive markets.

    Implementation Overview

    • Layer onto existing ISO 27001 ISMS via gap analysis, policy updates, training.
    • Key activities: subprocessor disclosure, breach procedures, data rights support.
    • Suited for CSPs of all sizes; global applicability.
    • Requires third-party audits integrated with ISO 27001 certification.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Common questions about NIS2 and ISO 27018

    NIS2 FAQ

    ISO 27018 FAQ

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