GRC by Qfirst

Achieving NIS2 Governance with Qfirst’s Tailored GRC Solution: QIM2 – 3D ISMS management

As cyber threats evolve and regulatory standards like the NIS2 Directive (Network and Information Security 2 Directive) set increasingly stringent requirements, organizations must adopt proactive, security-centered governance practices. Qfirst’s QIM2 3D ISMS management, a custom-tailored GRC solution, offers a streamlined approach to achieving NIS2 compliance by centralizing security oversight and uniting stakeholders in a shared mission of cyber resilience. By addressing key aspects of risk management, supplier assessments, secure development, and stakeholder engagement, ISMS Online provides a comprehensive, resilient framework that both enhances security and aligns with NIS2 requirements.

Here, we explore how Qfirst’s QIM2 as 3D ISMS utilizes core pillars to strengthen NIS2 governance.


Understanding NIS2 and the Importance of GRC

The NIS2 Directive has expanded its scope, impacting a larger array of organizations across Europe and setting rigorous expectations for security and reporting. Compliance now requires robust governance, proactive risk management, secure supplier relationships, and clear communication among all stakeholders. ISMS Online by Qfirst addresses each of these requirements through a centralized, adaptable solution, enabling organizations to monitor, assess, and improve their cybersecurity stance.

Key Pillars of the Qfirst’s 3D ISMS system

Each pillar of ISMS Online is designed to provide a focused and integrated approach to security, ensuring compliance with NIS2 while fostering a culture of continuous improvement and resilience.


Pillar 1: Centralized Communication and Efficiency

Effective communication is a cornerstone of NIS2 compliance. ISMS Online centralizes communication, reducing time spent by stakeholders on security and compliance tasks by providing direct links for action items, feedback, and approvals:

  • Streamlined Response Times: Stakeholders can immediately respond to actions by clicking on a link, significantly reducing follow-up time. Qfirst customers see measurable ROI within 12 months through enhanced response times and collaborative efficiencies.
  • Clear Accountability and Action Tracking: Every action is tracked, ensuring stakeholders remain accountable and that progress toward compliance goals is measurable and transparent.

Centralized communication thus serves as a force multiplier for security compliance, allowing stakeholders to engage more effectively, meet deadlines, and collectively contribute to NIS2 objectives.


Pillar 2: Centralized Supplier Assessment and Risk Mitigation

Under NIS2, assessing supplier security is critical, especially for business-critical assets. ISMS Online’s centralized supplier assessment feature offers a streamlined, automated method for evaluating third-party resilience:

  • Automated NIS2 Baseline Surveys: Suppliers receive a survey link for filling out a NIS2-compliant security assessment. AI, along with an internal review panel, evaluates survey results, ensuring suppliers meet baseline security requirements.
  • Continuous Oversight: Suppliers flagged with minor or major non-conformities enter the organization’s risk assessment framework and are monitored annually until all issues are resolved, promoting a high standard of security in the supply chain.

By eliminating manual assessment processes and automating follow-up surveys, QIM2 3D ISMS management strengthens supply chain security, helping organizations meet NIS2’s rigorous supplier governance requirements.


Pillar 3: Secure by Design Development Lifecycle

Qfirst’s ISMS Online includes a Secure by Design Development Lifecycle, a unique framework that offers development teams continuous insight into secure development processes. This lifecycle approach, aligned with NIS2, fosters a collaborative culture where all stakeholders are unified on the journey to cyber resilience:

  • Security-Integrated Development Phases: Each phase of development, from design to deployment, includes security considerations, ensuring that vulnerabilities are identified and mitigated early.
  • Cross-Functional Stakeholder Involvement: By involving all stakeholders in the development journey, QIM2 3D ISMS management promotes accountability, knowledge-sharing, and alignment with NIS2’s secure development requirements.

This lifecycle approach supports NIS2 by embedding security practices into every phase of development, resulting in software that is more resilient to threats.


Pillar 4: Incident Response and Reporting

Effective incident response is essential under NIS2, which mandates timely and transparent reporting. ISMS Online supports this with automated incident tracking, root cause analysis, and compliance reporting:

  • Automated Incident Reporting and Classification: Incidents are automatically tracked and classified by severity, allowing administrators to focus on high-priority events.
  • Immediate Regulatory Reporting: Automated workflows streamline the regulatory reporting process, enabling organizations to meet NIS2’s stringent response timelines with accuracy.

This proactive approach ensures swift action and compliance, reducing the potential impact of security incidents.


Pillar 5: Data Protection and Privacy

NIS2 requires that organizations treat sensitive data, including audit information, with the utmost confidentiality. QIM2 3D ISMS management incorporates a high level of data classification and DLP (Data Loss Prevention) controls:

  • Audit Data Confidentiality: Sensitive audit information, especially gaps and vulnerabilities, is treated with the same level of confidentiality as medical data, with restricted access and stringent data handling protocols.
  • Advanced Data Encryption and Access Controls: ISMS Online provides encryption for data both at rest and in transit, ensuring only authorized individuals can access sensitive information.

This high level of data protection aligns with NIS2’s focus on data security, enhancing both compliance and trust.


Pillar 6: Proactive Governance and Policy Management

A secure governance framework is essential for effective NIS2 compliance. ISMS Online provides centralized governance tools, including policy management, role-based access, and mandatory policy acknowledgment:

  • Policy Library and Access Controls: All policies are stored centrally, with role-based access ensuring only authorized users can view or modify them.
  • Employee Training and Acknowledgment Tracking: Automated workflows ensure that all stakeholders understand and acknowledge key security policies, fostering a culture of security awareness.

By centralizing governance processes, ISMS Online supports NIS2’s requirements for robust organizational security policies.


Pillar 7: Continuous Security Improvement and Customer Alignment

ISMS Online emphasizes a proactive, continuous improvement approach, keeping organizations aligned with evolving security requirements:

  • Annual Secure-by-Design Roadmap: GPS publishes an annual roadmap that outlines planned security enhancements, reflects customer feedback, and incorporates lessons learned from the previous year.
  • High-Level Threat Models: Threat models are published annually, improving transparency around security risks and countermeasures for both internal teams and customers.

Through these initiatives, ISMS Online ensures that organizations remain adaptable and responsive to new security challenges, promoting a culture of continuous improvement and alignment with NIS2.


Pillar 8: Building a Resilient Security Culture

ISMS Online’s approach goes beyond technology to emphasize the importance of people in achieving security resilience. Inspired by the Greek phalanx—a collaborative formation known for its strength and coordination—Qfirst’s advisory framework fosters teamwork and individual accountability:

  • Personalized Advisory Services: Qfirst’s implementation advisory service focuses on empowering each stakeholder to be a strong team player. This personalized approach ensures that all employees are motivated and equipped to contribute to a secure-by-design culture.
  • Empowering Cyber Resilient Teams: Through ongoing engagement, stakeholders are encouraged to continuously improve and align with NIS2’s security standards, resulting in a united, security-focused organization.

By cultivating a security-first mindset across the organization, QIM2 3D ISMS management builds a resilient, collaborative defense against cybersecurity threats.


Conclusion: Qfirst’s GRC Solution for NIS2 Compliance

Through its structured pillars—centralized communication, supplier assessment, secure development, incident response, data protection, continuous improvement, and a collaborative security culture—Qfirst’s QIM2 3D ISMS management provides a comprehensive framework for achieving NIS2 compliance. By aligning technical solutions with a culture of security-first thinking, ISMS Online enables organizations to not only meet regulatory requirements but also build a proactive, resilient cybersecurity posture.

For organizations striving to adapt to the new standards set by the NIS2 Directive, Qfirst’s QIM2 3D ISMS management offers a clear, actionable path to compliance and resilience, ensuring both regulatory alignment and a robust defense against ever-evolving cyber threats.

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