At a time when cyber-attacks are becoming increasingly frequent and sophisticated, the NIS2 and DORA regulations represent key steps towards greater security for digital infrastructures and the financial sector, on a European scale. At the heart of this compliance process, effective digital identity management is a major strategic challenge, helping to strengthen the security of organizations.
NIS2 and DORA: framework and objectives
- NIS2: Directive on the security of networks and information systems
Adopted to reinforce the level of IT security within the European Union, NIS2 extends security requirements and incident reporting obligations to a wider range of business sectors. It also harmonizes security measures across the European Union, boosting resilience to cyberattacks.
- DORA: Digital Operational Resilience Act
The DORA regulation applies specifically to the financial sector. It aims to ensure the digital operational resilience of a particularly exposed sector, with recurring sensitive digital practices. New risks, new services and cloud providers: DORA also aims to raise the level of security on a European scale!
Digital identity management: the key to compliance?
The implementation of NIS2 and DORA, in October 2024 and January 2025 respectively, is now imminent. To meet the expected requirements, organizations need to put in place a controlled, agile and scalable digital identity and access management system.
- Protection against cyber-attacks
Effective identity management precisely defines roles, rights and access. This means that only authorized users or systems can access a network, an application, etc. This granularity effectively restricts unauthorized access, and therefore attack possibilities. Similarly, in the event of an intrusion, it helps to rapidly contain the threat and provide an effective, controlled incident response.
- Optimized detection
Real-time analysis of logs and operations ensures an optimum degree of control, and immediate alert in the event of unusual or suspicious behavior. This enhances the security of operations and interactions, in line with regulatory requirements.
- Demonstrating compliance
Regular audits are an essential component of NIS2 and DORA, as is the requirement for rigorous access control to protect sensitive data. In the coming months, organizations will need to be able to demonstrate their compliance. The advanced analyses and reports provided by Identity Factory platforms will substantiate the steps taken and the various policies (security, provision of logs, access controls, etc.) implemented.
Where to start?
If we've convinced you that effective, robust identity management can become the heart of your NIS2 and DORA compliance process, here are three practical tips to get you started!
- Map your access and data
NIS2 and DORA require strict access control to protect critical infrastructures. Establishing - or validating if it already exists - a precise mapping of accesses and identities, according to their importance and sensitivity, will enable you to:
-> build (or confirm) your identity and access level management policy (especially for sensitive data)
-> deploy a strategy that is consistent with your challenges and meets new European requirements, thanks to an IDaaS solution - and in particular an Identity Factory!
- Deploying an Identity Factory approach
The use of an Identity Factory solution is an essential part of your compliance strategy.
In particular, it enables you to :
-> protect by granting access according to the principles of least privilege
-> recertify authorizations
-> adapt access control according to risk
-> use strong authentication technologies (MFA)
-> visualize accesses and identities as a whole
-> real-time monitoring and reporting of your activity
The Identity Factory ensures that only authorized people can access critical resources, a central element of NIS2 compliance.
- Raise awareness among your staff and partners
Regular training and awareness-raising for your teams in identity security and access management is essential. This training must disseminate and embed security best practices, internal policies and the specific regulatory requirements of NIS2 and DORA. By strengthening the security culture within your organization, you improve both your compliance, and your staff's ability to respond effectively to security incidents.
In conclusion :
Memority, the Identity Factory solution for successful compliance!
The Identity Factory Memority offers three complementary solutions on a single platform to meet the challenges posed by NIS2 and DORA:
- MY-Identity to manage the lifecycle of all digital identities (employees, partners, customers, companies, individuals, citizens and connected objects), while propagating access rights on the information system and verifying compliance at all times.
- MY-Access to manage access to IS applications, offering a fluid, secure experience based on the access context
- MY-Keys to manage second-factor user authentication, and thus secure your organization!
NB: As a supplier and manager of sensitive data, Memority is also subject to NIS2, as many companies will be.
