Why Mid-Market Companies Need PAM to Comply with NIS2

The NIS2 directive has raised cybersecurity standards across the European Union, focusing on protecting critical infrastructure. It calls for stricter measures to defend against growing cyber threats.

For mid-market companies, compliance isn’t just about avoiding penalties — it’s about ensuring smooth operations and protecting critical data, with Privileged Access Management (PAM) playing a very important role.

Read on to find out why PAM is essential and how it simplifies compliance for mid-market businesses.

In short, the NIS2 directive is an updated EU-wide cybersecurity framework (with a compliance deadline of October 17, 2024!). It builds on the original NIS directive, broadening its scope and enforcing stricter requirements for essential and important entities, including mid-market businesses in sectors like manufacturing, healthcare, logistics, and more.

Key elements of NIS2 include:

• Access controls: Companies must identify, restrict, track, and audit access to critical systems and data.
• Incident reporting: Security incidents must be reported to authorities within 24 hours.
• Risk management: Businesses must implement continuous processes to identify and mitigate cybersecurity risks.

So, non-compliance isn’t just about regulatory penalties — it can lead to data breaches, costly operational disruptions, and lasting damage to a company’s reputation.

Why is PAM important for NIS2 compliance?

PAM is a cornerstone of cybersecurity, especially for businesses managing sensitive operations and data. Here’s why it’s essential for meeting the NIS2 directive requirements:

• Enhanced access control: NIS2 emphasises the need for strict control over who can access critical systems. PAM ensures that only authorized personnel have access to sensitive assets, and only when they need it. PrivX offers Just-in-Time (JIT) access, providing temporary access based on roles and tasks, drastically reducing the risk of unauthorized access.
• Auditability and transparency: 
Compliance also involves proving the measures are in place. PAM tracks all privileged access activities, creating an auditable trail that meets NIS2’s requirements for accountability. PrivX makes it easy to monitor, log, and report access to critical systems, ensuring full transparency.
• Minimized attack surface: With cyber threats becoming more sophisticated, every privileged account is a potential target. PAM eliminates the need for permanent credentials and reduces the attack surface by providing temporary, task-specific access.
• Seamless integration: Mid-market businesses often operate with diverse IT environments, including hybrid and multi-cloud setups. PrivX integrates seamlessly with directory services and IAM systems, automatically mapping identities to roles and ensuring consistency across the board.
• Cost-effectiveness: Unlike legacy PAM solutions, modern PAM tools like PrivX are designed for efficiency. PrivX is agentless, meaning no complex installations, and quick to deploy, saving both time and money. This makes compliance achievable even for mid-market companies with limited IT resources.
• Simplified operations: Maintaining compliance can feel like a moving target. PAM simplifies ongoing compliance efforts by automating critical security processes, such as access provisioning and de-provisioning, reducing the burden on IT teams.

PrivX: A modern PAM tool fit for mid-market needs - starting price at 7000€

At SSH Communications Security, we understand the unique challenges mid-market businesses face. That’s why we offer PrivX, a modern PAM solution that makes NIS2 compliance straightforward and effective. Our new mid-market offering ensures you have the tools you need to secure critical systems and protect your business.

• Agentless deployment: Quick and painless implementation, without the need for a massive IT overhaul.
• JIT access control: Temporary, role-based access to sensitive systems in hybrid and multi-cloud environments.
• Integration-ready: Works with your existing directory services and IAM for seamless identity management.
• Affordable and low-maintenance: Robust security without the complexity or high costs.

Learn more about PrivX and how we can help >>>