Is Europe building a digital fortress, or laying the foundation for an agile and resilient ecosystem? The answer lies in how organizations choose to interpret the frameworks of NIS2 and DORA.
In recent years, the European Union has introduced a series of initiatives to regulate the digital world and strengthen the security of critical infrastructures. With the implementation of the NIS2 Directive and the Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA), two key pillars of this strategy are taking shape.
The NIS2 Directive, which came into force at the end of 2024, expands the scope of the original NIS Directive (2016) by including a broader range of organizations deemed essential to society. It mandates stricter measures for risk management, incident reporting, and cybersecurity. Sectors such as energy, healthcare, and financial services now face increased obligations.
DORA, on the other hand, specifically targets the European financial sector. It establishes uniform rules to ensure digital operational resilience, with a particular focus on third-party risks (notably cloud providers), cyber incident monitoring, and crisis preparedness.
These regulatory frameworks demonstrate a clear intention: protecting Europe against increasingly sophisticated cyberattacks. However, for many organizations, this influx of regulations may appear as a bureaucratic burden—heavy and costly to implement.
Resilience as the New Strategic Compass
Beyond their mandatory nature, these regulations reflect a broader strategic ambition: making operational resilience a cornerstone of digital transformation. In a world where cyber threats are constantly evolving, a reactive approach is no longer sufficient.
In this context, resilience goes beyond the ability to withstand an attack. It encompasses preparation, the capacity to absorb shocks, adapt, and recover quickly. Achieving this requires rethinking internal processes, mapping risks, and fostering cybersecurity awareness at all levels of an organization.
One critical area is the role of third-party providers. Many companies rely on cloud infrastructures, outsourced digital services, or emerging technologies. Proactively managing these interdependencies, as mandated by DORA, is essential to mitigate systemic risks.
By leveraging frameworks like NIS2 and DORA, the European Union aims to encourage organizations to go beyond mere compliance. The goal is to instill a culture of cybersecurity and position resilience as a competitive advantage.
Regulation and Resilience: A Necessary Complementarity
While regulation establishes a common baseline for security, it should not be viewed as an end in itself. True resilience requires a proactive and continuous approach, where organizations go beyond the minimum requirements.
Consider crisis simulation exercises, now encouraged under both regulatory frameworks. These exercises should not be treated as a box-ticking exercise to satisfy regulators. Instead, they offer a chance to identify vulnerabilities, improve response times, and strengthen internal coordination.
Similarly, investing in robust governance, advanced automation tools, and rigorous data management can transform regulatory obligations into strategic opportunities.
In essence, regulation sets the foundation for security, but genuine resilience is a mindset—a long-term commitment to adaptability and growth.
Europe: Leader or Follower?
With initiatives such as GDPR, NIS2, and DORA, Europe is positioning itself as a normative powerhouse in the digital domain. The aim is clear: protect citizens, businesses, and institutions while fostering a trusted ecosystem.
But how does this approach compare globally? In the United States, cybersecurity regulations tend to be sector-specific and decentralized. In China, the focus is on state-driven control of critical infrastructure and data.
By adopting a prescriptive yet inclusive approach, the European Union is carving out a unique path. It emphasizes transparency, collaboration, and the accountability of private actors to build systemic resilience. While ambitious, this model poses challenges: it entails significant costs and rapid adaptation in an increasingly competitive global landscape.
We are entering an era where regulation and resilience are not mutually exclusive but deeply intertwined. NIS2 and DORA are valuable tools to guide businesses toward a more secure and sustainable digital transformation.
However, their success will largely depend on how organizations choose to implement them. Will they see these frameworks as a regulatory burden or as an opportunity to build a lasting competitive edge?
The answer to this question will determine whether Europe is perceived as a rigid digital fortress or as an agile and resilient actor capable of meeting the challenges of an ever-evolving digital world.
Gilles CHEVILLON, CEO at MAET