When the NIS2 Directive was announced, many businesses asked the same question: “We’re already GDPR compliant. Do we really need to worry about NIS2?”
It’s a fair question, one that reveals how these two major European regulations often get mixed up. Both aim to strengthen digital safety across the EU, but they do so from very different angles.
The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), introduced in 2018, was built to protect personal data: ensuring that individuals’ privacy is respected, controlled, and transparent.
The NIS2 Directive, on the other hand, is about digital resilience: protecting systems, networks, and infrastructures that keep Europe’s essential services running.
In other words:
→ GDPR = privacy
→ NIS2 = security
Many companies assume that if they’re GDPR compliant, they automatically meet NIS2 requirements. Unfortunately, that’s a misconception.
While there’s some overlap, NIS2 adds a new layer of operational and technical responsibility. It demands not just policies, but proof of protection: continuous monitoring, audits, and active cyber defense.
The goal, however, is shared. Both frameworks exist to build trust and accountability in Europe’s digital space. Together, they mark a shift from reactive to proactive protection, where privacy and security work hand in hand to protect both people and systems.
The Core Difference: Security vs. Privacy
To understand how NIS2 and GDPR work together, it’s essential to first see how they differ at the core.
- GDPR focuses on the privacy of individuals. It defines how organizations collect, process, and protect personal data, and what happens if they misuse it.
- NIS2 focuses on the security of organizations. It defines how companies safeguard their IT infrastructure, prevent cyber incidents, and maintain the continuity of essential services.
Think of it this way. If we were to compare these two requirements with a vault…
- GDPR protects what’s inside the vault (the personal data)
- NIS2 protects the vault itself (the systems and controls that prevent unauthorized access or damage)
Both regulations overlap in practice. A cyberattack that leaks personal information triggers a GDPR violation, while the same event can also expose weaknesses under NIS2 for failing to maintain adequate security.
This is why forward-thinking organizations treat data protection and information security as two sides of the same strategy. They appoint both a Data Protection Officer (DPO) and a Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), roles that must collaborate closely, not operate separately.
Performing a cybersecurity audit helps unify these efforts by identifying where privacy and security intersect, and where gaps might still remain.
Overlapping Requirements
Like we’ve already established, GDPR and NIS2 have different scopes. However, their compliance frameworks share a common DNA: both require organizations to think in terms of risk, prevention, and accountability.
Key overlapping areas include:
- Risk assessments: Both regulations require documented risk analyses, tailored to your organization’s size and sector.
- Incident response: Both demand that companies report major incidents promptly and have recovery plans in place.
- Employee awareness and training: People remain the first line of defense in both privacy and security.
- Vendor and supply chain management: Accountability extends beyond your own systems.
Implementing an ISO/IEC 27001 compliance framework is one of the most efficient ways to meet both sets of requirements. The standard provides a structured approach to managing information security, aligning with the NIS2 EU Directive while reinforcing GDPR principles on data confidentiality and integrity.
In other words, with one strategic investment, you strengthen both your cybersecurity posture and your privacy compliance.
The Cost of Non-Compliance
The financial penalties associated with both regulations can be severe:
- Under GDPR, fines can reach €20 million or 4% of global annual turnover, whichever is higher for more severe violations, and up to €10 million or 2% of global annual turnover for less severe violations.
- Under the NIS2 Regulation, penalties can reach €10 million or 2% of turnover, and management can be held personally accountable for failures in governance.
But beyond the numbers, the real cost of non-compliance lies in the damage to trust, reputation, and operational stability. A single cyber incident can lead to service outages, regulatory investigations, client loss, and lasting brand harm.
Performing a proactive audit securitate cibernetica (cybersecurity audit) or audit cyber security helps identify weaknesses before regulators or attackers do.
These audits are no longer optional: they are a business necessity.
Building a Unified Compliance Strategy
The smartest companies no longer treat NIS2 and GDPR as separate requirements. Instead, they build integrated compliance ecosystems where data protection and cybersecurity reinforce one another.
A unified compliance strategy should include:
- Governance and accountability: clear ownership of both privacy and security roles.
- Risk-based controls: adaptive safeguards proportionate to the organization’s threat level.
- Incident response and monitoring: 24/7 visibility through SOC or managed cybersecurity services.
- Third-party risk management: due diligence on suppliers and service providers.
- Continuous improvement: regular compliance monitoring and alignment with ISO/IEC 27001.
This approach transforms compliance from a legal obligation into a competitive advantage.
When customers and partners trust your resilience, they trust your business.
How Fort Can Help You Become More Resilient
Compliance doesn’t stop once the paperwork is filed. On the contrary, it’s reflected in the way your business operates every day.
Our NIS2 compliance services and general cybersecurity services help companies meet legal requirements, but also long-lasting protection.
We support your team with:
- GAP Assessment:
We protect your business by identifying and closing security vulnerabilities before they’re exploited. - Compliance Audit:
We help you avoid costly penalties and maintain stakeholder trust through verified regulatory adherence. - Penetration Testing:
We give you confidence in your security posture through real-world attack simulation and actionable remediation. - Compliance Support and Consultancy:
We reduce complexity and resource drain while ensuring continuous alignment with regulatory standards. - Incident Response:
We minimize breach impact and recovery time through expert-led crisis containment and investigation. - Awareness Training and Assessment:
We transform employees into your strongest security asset by reducing human-error incidents. - Security Operations Center (SOC):
We deliver 24/7 threat detection and rapid response capabilities without the cost of an in-house security team.
When your organization meets both NIS2 and GDPR requirements, you show more than compliance: Your company demonstrates responsibility, reliability, and respect for the trust your clients and partners place in you.
At Fort, we believe resilience is not built by reacting to threats, but by anticipating them. We help you protect your systems and data, but most importantly, the reputation and confidence your business depends on.
Let us help you secure your data, and consequently, the trust that keeps your business running.
