What is cyber-compliance? Definition, stakes and best practices for GDPR, NIS 2, DORA

Why is cyber-compliance so important?

With the multiplication of cyberattacks, companies must make sure that their systems comply with the strictest security standards. The aim is to protect not only internal data, but also that of customers and partners. Poor compliance management can lead to severe sanctions, including large fines, or to data breaches likely to damage the company’s reputation.

Cyber-compliance is essential for several reasons:

• Protecting data: companies must guarantee the security of sensitive information, in line with the regulations in force.
• Avoiding sanctions: failure to comply with rules such as GDPR or the NIS 2 Directive can lead to substantial fines and legal sanctions.
• Strengthening trust: a compliant company strengthens the trust of its customers, partners and investors, which is essential for sustainable growth.
• Ensuring resilience: by being compliant, the company gives itself a better capacity to react to security incidents, thereby ensuring business continuity.

The main cyber-compliance regulations

To ensure their compliance, companies must meet a set of strict regulations aimed at protecting data and strengthening system security. These regulations vary by sector and geographical area, but some are unavoidable for any organisation. Here is an overview of the main cyber-compliance regulations:

GDPR: protecting personal data

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is arguably one of the best-known regulations in the field of data protection. It applies to any company that collects, processes or stores personal data of European Union residents, whatever its sector or size.

The main GDPR requirements include:

• Legal basis: every processing operation must rely on one of the six legal bases of Article 6, consent being one of them. Explicit consent is only required in certain cases, for instance for sensitive data.
• Right to be forgotten: individuals have the right to request the erasure of their data at any time.
• Transparency: companies must be transparent about how they use the data they collect.
• Appointment of a DPO (Data Protection Officer): for some companies, it is mandatory to appoint a data protection officer who makes sure of GDPR compliance.

Failing to comply with GDPR can lead to fines of up to 4% of worldwide annual turnover or 20 million euros, whichever is higher.

NIS 2: strengthening information system security

The NIS 2 Directive is an extension of the NIS (Network and Information Systems) Directive adopted in 2016, aimed at improving the level of security of networks and information systems throughout the European Union. It targets essential and important entities, classified according to their sector and size, in critical sectors such as digital providers, banks, hospitals and other essential infrastructure.

Here are the key points of NIS 2:

• Incident management: companies must put in place mechanisms to detect, manage and notify security incidents to a competent authority.
• Incident response plan: companies must have clear procedures to react quickly and effectively to security incidents.
• International cooperation: NIS 2 fosters cooperation between Member States to share information on threats and incidents.

Non-compliance with NIS 2 can lead to sanctions and, in some cases, criminal sanctions for company executives in the event of gross negligence.

ISO 27001: an international standard for information security

ISO 27001 is an international standard that sets the requirements for implementing an Information Security Management System (ISMS). This standard has become a global benchmark for guaranteeing that companies manage information security risks in an effective and systematic way.

ISO 27001 includes:

• Risk assessment: companies must identify and assess the potential threats to their information systems.
• Security measures: they must then put in place security controls to mitigate these risks.
• Compliance audit: companies wishing to be ISO 27001 certified must undergo regular audits to verify their compliance with the requirements of the standard.

Being ISO 27001 certified offers a competitive advantage, because it proves that the organisation takes information security and risk management seriously.

DORA: operational resilience in the financial sector

The DORA regulation (Digital Operational Resilience Act) is specifically aimed at companies in the financial sector, a sector particularly exposed to cyber threats. Its objective is to guarantee that European financial institutions are able to withstand and respond to cybersecurity incidents without disrupting their operations.

The key DORA requirements include:

• Resilience testing: companies must regularly test their ability to withstand cyberattacks and service interruptions.
• Supplier monitoring: financial institutions must continuously audit and monitor their IT service providers to make sure they also meet DORA requirements.
• Compliance reports: regular reports must be submitted to regulators to demonstrate that companies meet the resilience requirements.

DORA aims to create a harmonised framework to guarantee that all financial entities within the European Union apply rigorous cybersecurity practices.

Cyber-compliance challenges for CISOs and DPOs

Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) and Data Protection Officers (DPOs) are at the heart of the cyber-compliance strategy of companies. These roles, although distinct, share a common objective: ensuring the security of data and systems while meeting regulatory requirements. The pressure on these professionals is constant, because they have to manage, all at the same time, cyber threats, complex regulations and diverse teams within the organisation.

Reducing cyber risks and sanctions

One of the main missions of CISOs and DPOs is to reduce the risks of data breaches and security incidents. A serious incident can have disastrous consequences, both financially and for the company’s reputation. Here are the main challenges:

• Avoiding fines: failure to comply with regulations such as GDPR can lead to heavy fines, up to 4% of annual turnover. This underlines the importance of constant vigilance on compliance.
• Preventing reputational damage: a data breach or a cybersecurity incident can seriously harm a company’s brand image. In a world where customer trust is paramount, data protection is an absolute priority.
• Ensuring business continuity: CISOs must make sure that information systems are protected against cyber threats, so that the company can keep operating even in the event of an incident. Putting in place continuity plans, and a Supplier Security Assurance Plan (SSA) with the providers that host or operate these systems, is crucial to limit the impact of disruptions.

Managing internal and external stakeholders

CISOs and DPOs must also navigate a complex environment in which they interact with many stakeholders, whether internal or external to the organisation. Poor management of supplier relationships or poor collaboration with internal teams can complicate the implementation of compliance measures. Here are a few points to remember:

• Internal collaboration: business, IT and legal teams must work hand in hand to ensure compliance. The CISO and the DPO act as conductors, facilitating communication and collaboration between the different teams.
• Supplier verification: companies often depend on external providers for their IT services or infrastructure. It is essential to audit these suppliers regularly to make sure they also meet cybersecurity compliance standards. This includes building compliance clauses into contracts, as well as regular audits.

Keeping a constant watch on new regulations

Cybersecurity regulations are constantly evolving, and it is crucial for CISOs and DPOs to maintain a legal and technological watch in order to stay informed of the latest requirements. For example, the NIS 2 Directive and the DORA regulation are new texts that companies must quickly build into their compliance strategies.

• Adapting to new requirements: each new directive or regulatory update requires an adjustment of the company’s processes and technologies. This can involve policy updates, infrastructure changes or additional training for teams.
• Anticipating future regulations: in addition to existing regulations, more recent texts, such as the AI Act on artificial intelligence, applicable in stages since 2025, or others related to health data, may impose new security and compliance requirements. CISOs and DPOs must be ready to adapt their approach to these changes.

How to put an effective cyber-compliance strategy in place

To guarantee lasting cyber-compliance, companies must adopt a well-defined strategy that covers all the regulations applicable to their sector of activity. A systematic, well-thought-out approach makes it possible to manage risks better, reduce the costs of incidents and ensure data protection over the long term. Here are the key steps to put an effective cyber-compliance strategy in place.

Mapping risks and points of non-compliance

The first step is to map all the risks related to cybersecurity and compliance. This means taking stock of the organisation’s IT security, identifying the points of vulnerability that could lead to data breaches or non-compliance.

Here is how to proceed:

• Carry out a security audit: an in-depth audit of information systems identifies potential vulnerabilities. It can include security tests, such as penetration tests, to assess the robustness of defences.
• Assess the risks: risk assessment consists of measuring the potential impact of each vulnerability on the organisation. This includes the risks related to third-party suppliers and external partners.
• Prioritise actions: once the risks have been identified, it is essential to prioritise corrective actions according to their potential impact. The most critical risks must be dealt with first to avoid major incidents.

Integrating security into every project (ISP)

Integrating IT security into projects, often called Security by Design, is a good practice that consists of including security measures from the design phase of any new project or system. It guarantees that security aspects are built in from the start, rather than added after the fact, which reduces costs and lead times.

Here are some good practices for integrating security into your projects:

• Assess risks from the outset: even before launching a project, it is essential to carry out a risk assessment to make sure that the appropriate security measures will be built in from the start.
• Train teams: the teams in charge of developing and implementing projects must be made aware of and trained in security best practices. This includes access management, data encryption and API security.
• Regular checks: regular compliance audits must be carried out to make sure that the systems in place continue to meet security requirements.

Tracking and steering compliance actions

Once cyber-compliance measures are in place, it is crucial to track and steer them regularly to make sure they are still effective and in line with new requirements. This involves using compliance tracking dashboards, which centralise all the information and quickly identify gaps.

• Compliance dashboards: these tools allow CISOs and DPOs to track the progress of action plans in real time, generate reports and adjust measures in line with new regulations or incidents that have occurred.
• Regular updates: action plans must be regularly updated to make sure they take into account changes in regulations (such as the NIS 2 Directive or DORA), but also new risks detected during audits.
• Compliance reports: regular reports must be produced to demonstrate to the authorities and internal stakeholders that the company complies with regulatory requirements.

This tracking step is crucial to guarantee continuous compliance and avoid the sanctions that come with negligence or a failure in risk management.

Best practices for staying compliant over the long term

Maintaining cyber-compliance over the long term requires a proactive approach and continuous management. It is not only about being compliant at a given moment, but about guaranteeing that the organisation stays compliant despite changing threats, technologies and regulations. Here are some essential best practices for ensuring lasting compliance.

Ongoing awareness and training for teams

Employees play a key role in a company’s security. Even with the best technologies and processes in place, a simple human error can compromise cyber-compliance. It is therefore crucial to put in place awareness programmes and ongoing training for all members of the organisation, not only those in IT.

• Risk awareness: every employee must understand the risks associated with cybersecurity, such as phishing or data leaks. Workshops or online training can be set up to inform them of good practices.
• Regular training: regular training sessions must be organised to make sure employees are up to date on internal security policies, as well as on the latest threats and attack techniques.
• Roles and responsibilities: teams must be clearly informed of their roles and responsibilities in terms of compliance and cybersecurity. Every player in the company, from employees to senior executives, must understand their role in order to minimise risks.

Updating your strategy as regulations change

Regulations on cybersecurity and data protection are constantly evolving. It is therefore essential to adapt your compliance strategy to these changes. An organisation that does not update its processes risks not only sanctions, but also becoming vulnerable to new threats.

• Regulatory watch: it is important to maintain a legal and technological watch in order to anticipate changes in regulations such as the NIS 2 Directive, DORA or other emerging texts. Companies can rely on internal or external experts to ensure continuous updating.
• Policy updates: with each new piece of legislation, internal policies on security and data management must be adjusted. This can include changes to risk management, incident reporting or access management processes.
• Anticipating future regulations: some legislation comes into application in stages, such as the AI Act on artificial intelligence, while other legislation is still being drafted, such as that concerning the protection of health data. It is essential to anticipate these changes so as not to be caught off guard when new rules come into force.

Regular audits and checks

To make sure compliance processes remain effective, it is important to carry out regular audits. These audits make it possible to verify that the practices in place comply with current standards and regulations, and to identify points of non-compliance before they become major problems.

• Internal audits: these checks are carried out in-house to verify that security policies are properly applied. They must be performed regularly and include system tests, as well as assessments of business processes.
• External audits: calling on independent experts provides an objective assessment of the company’s compliance. This is particularly relevant for obtaining certifications such as ISO 27001.
• Continuous monitoring: beyond one-off audits, setting up continuous monitoring of systems makes it possible to quickly identify any security incidents or compliance breaches.

Cyber-compliance is no longer an option but a necessity for any organisation that wants to ensure the security of its systems, protect its data and comply with the regulations in force. By putting an appropriate strategy in place and using the right tools, companies can not only meet legal requirements, but also strengthen their reputation and earn the trust of their customers and partners.