NIS 2 Training for the Energy Sector, Gas Subsector
Overview
The NIS 2 Directive of the European Union entered into force the 16th of January, 2023.
In Article 1 (subject matter of the NIS 2 Directive), we learn that NIS 2 lays down cybersecurity risk management measures and reporting obligations for entities of a type referred to in Annex I or II.
In Annex I (Sectors of High Criticality), we find that "Supply undertakings", "Distribution system operators", "Transmission system operators", "Storage system operators", "LNG system operators", "Natural gas undertakings", and "Operators of natural gas refining and treatment facilities" in the Gas Subsector are in the scope of the NIS 2 Directive.
More about the scope of the NIS 2 Directive
In Annex I, we find:
Sector: Energy.
Subsector: Gas.
- Supply undertakings.
Note: ‘Supply undertaking’ means any natural or legal person who carries out the function of supply.
- Distribution system operators.
Note: ‘Distribution system operator’ means a natural or legal person who carries out the function of distribution and is responsible for operating, ensuring the maintenance of, and, if necessary, developing the distribution system in a given area and, where applicable, its interconnections with other systems, and for ensuring the long-term ability of the system to meet reasonable demands for the distribution of gas.
- Transmission system operators.
Note: ‘Transmission system operator’ means a natural or legal person who carries out the function of transmission and is responsible for operating, ensuring the maintenance of, and, if necessary, developing the transmission system in a given area and, where applicable, its interconnections with other systems, and for ensuring the long-term ability of the system to meet reasonable demands for the transport of gas.
- Storage system operators.
Note: ‘Storage system operator’ means a natural or legal person who carries out the function of storage and is responsible for operating a storage facility.
- LNG system operators.
Note: ‘LNG system operator’ means a natural or legal person who carries out the function of liquefaction of natural gas, or the importation, offloading, and regasification of LNG, and is responsible for operating a LNG facility.
- Natural gas undertakings.
Note: ‘Natural gas undertaking’ means a natural or legal person carrying out at least one of the following functions: production, transmission, distribution, supply, purchase or storage of natural gas, including LNG, which is responsible for the commercial, technical and/or maintenance tasks related to those functions, but shall not include final customers.
- Operators of natural gas refining and treatment facilities.
What does it mean for entities in the scope of the NIS 2 Directive?
According to Article 20 (Governance), the management bodies of essential and important entities must approve the cybersecurity risk-management measures taken by those entities, oversee its implementation, and can be held liable for infringements.
According to Article 20, Member States shall ensure that the members of the management bodies of essential and important entities are required to follow training, and shall encourage essential and important entities to offer similar training to their employees on a regular basis, in order that they gain sufficient knowledge and skills to enable them to identify risks and assess cybersecurity risk-management practices and their impact on the services provided by the entity.
According to Article 21 (Cybersecurity risk-management measures), essential and important entities must take appropriate and proportionate technical, operational and organisational measures to manage the risks posed to the security of network and information systems which those entities use for their operations or for the provision of their services, and to prevent or minimise the impact of incidents on recipients of their services and on other services.
Taking into account the "state-of-the-art" and, where applicable, relevant European and international standards, as well as the cost of implementation, the measures referred shall ensure a level of security of network and information systems appropriate to the risks posed. When assessing the proportionality of those measures, due account shall be taken of the degree of the entity’s exposure to risks, the entity’s size and the likelihood of occurrence of incidents and their severity, including their societal and economic impact.
The measures shall be based on an "all-hazards approach" that aims to protect network and information systems and the physical environment of those systems from incidents, and shall include "at least" the following:
(a) policies on risk analysis and information system security;
(b) incident handling;
(c) business continuity, such as backup management and disaster recovery, and crisis management;
(d) supply chain security, including security-related aspects concerning the relationships between each entity and its direct suppliers or service providers;
(e) security in network and information systems acquisition, development and maintenance, including vulnerability handling and disclosure;
(f) policies and procedures to assess the effectiveness of cybersecurity risk-management measures;
(g) basic cyber hygiene practices and cybersecurity training;
(h) policies and procedures regarding the use of cryptography and, where appropriate, encryption;
(i) human resources security, access control policies and asset management;
(j) the use of multi-factor authentication or continuous authentication solutions, secured voice, video and text communications and secured emergency communication systems within the entity, where appropriate.
Training program 1: Preparing for the NIS 2 Directive in the Gas Subsector.
Possible modules of the tailor-made training program
Introduction.
- Subject matter and scope.
- Essential and important entities.
- The "high common level of cybersecurity across the Union".
- Member States adopt national cybersecurity strategies and designate or establish competent authorities, cyber crisis management authorities, single points of contact on cybersecurity, and computer security incident response teams (CSIRTs).
- The new cybersecurity risk-management measures and reporting obligations.
- The new cybersecurity information sharing obligations.
Understanding the important definitions, including ‘near miss’, ‘large-scale cybersecurity incident’, ‘significant cyber threat’, ‘internet exchange point’, etc.
National cybersecurity strategy - objectives, resources, regulatory measures.
- Competent authorities and single points of contact.
- National cyber crisis management frameworks.
- Computer security incident response teams (CSIRTs).
- Coordinated vulnerability disclosure and a European vulnerability database.
- The new Cooperation Group that facilitate strategic cooperation and the exchange of information.
- The new network of national CSIRTs.
- The new European cyber crisis liaison organisation network (EU-CyCLONe) for large-scale cybersecurity incidents and crises.
- International cooperation.
- Peer reviews.
Cybersecurity risk management measures and reporting obligations.
- Governance.
- The management bodies of essential and important entities approve the cybersecurity risk-management measures.
- The management bodies of essential and important entities are required to follow training, and encourage essential and important entities to offer similar training to their employees.
- Cybersecurity risk-management measures.
- Reporting obligations.
Jurisdiction and territoriality.
- Entities are considered to fall under the jurisdiction of the Member State in which they are established.
- Entities are considered to have their main establishment in the Union in the Member State where the decisions related to the cybersecurity risk-management measures are predominantly taken.
- Entities not established in the EU, but offer services within the EU, must designate a representative in the EU.
- The tasks of the representative.
Cybersecurity information-sharing arrangements.
General aspects concerning supervision and enforcement.
- Supervisory and enforcement measures in relation to essential entities.
- Supervisory and enforcement measures in relation to important entities.
- General conditions for imposing administrative fines on essential and important entities.
- Infringements entailing a personal data breach.
- Penalties.
- What is next: Delegated and Implementing Acts.
- Review.
- Transposition.
What is extraterritoriality?
- Extraterritorial application of EU law.
- Risk and compliance management challenges for firms established in non-EU countries.
- Master plan and list of immediate actions, for firms established in EU and non-EU countries.
- Other new EU directives and regulations that introduce compliance challenges to EU and non-EU firms: The European Cyber Resilience Act, the Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA), the Critical Entities Resilience Directive (CER) etc.
- Closing remarks.
Target Audience, duration.
We offer a 60-minute overview for the board of directors and senior management of entities in the Gas Subsector, tailored to their needs. We also offer one hour to half day training for risk and compliance teams, responsible for the implementation of the EU directives and regulations.
Delivery format of the training program
a. In-House Instructor-Led Training,
b. Online Live Training, or
c. Video-Recorded Training.
Instructor.
Our instructors are working professionals that have the necessary knowledge and experience in the fields in which they teach. They can lead full-time, part-time, and short-form programs that are tailored to your needs. You will always know up front who the instructor of the training program will be.
George Lekatis, General Manager of Cyber Risk GmbH, can also lead these training sessions. His background and some testimonials: https://www.cyber-risk-gmbh.com/George_Lekatis_Testimonials.pdf
Terms and conditions.
You may visit: https://www.cyber-risk-gmbh.com/Terms.html
Training program 2: NIS 2 Directive Trained Professional (NIS2DTP) program (Distance Learning with Certificate of Completion program).
Course Synopsis
The European Union (EU) - key institutions, the EU legislative process, the roles.
- The European Commission, the European Council, the Council of the European Union, the European Parliament, the Court of Justice of the European Union, the European Central Bank, the European Court of Auditors.
- How does the legislative process work in the EU?
- The European System of Financial Supervision.
- The major changes after the Lisbon Treaty.
- Delegated acts - supplementing or amending certain non-essential elements of a basic act.
- Implementing acts.
- Regulatory technical standards (RTS), Implementing technical standards (ITS).
- The Committee of European Auditing Oversight Bodies (CEAOB).
- The European External Action Service.
- Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP).
- The European Cyber Defence Policy Framework (CDPF).
- The EU's Cybersecurity Strategy for the Digital Decade.
The first NIS Directive.
- “An Open, Safe and Secure Cyberspace”.
- The NIS Cooperation Group.
- The NIS Directive, important parts.
- Subject matter and scope.
- Important definitions.
- Identification of operators of essential services.
- Significant disruptive effect.
- National strategy on the security of network and information systems.
- National competent authorities and single point of contact.
- Computer security incident response teams (CSIRTs).
- The CSIRTs network.
- International cooperation.
- Security requirements and incident notification.
- Jurisdiction and territoriality.
- Penalties.
- Transposition of the NIS Directive.
The need for a NIS 2 Directive.
- The NIS Directive significantly increased the European Union’s level of cyber security and resilience.
- The review of the NIS Directive also revealed inherent shortcomings that prevented it from addressing effectively current and emerging cybersecurity challenges.
- Member States, and their very wide discretion to decide the scope of NIS.
- The world we live today is very different.
The NIS 2 Directive.
- Which one, DORA or NIS 2, applies to financial entities?
- The “lex specialis derogat legi generali” (special law repeals general laws) doctrine, accepted by the EU and international law.
- NIS 2 is lex generalis, a general law.
- NIS 2 is a legal obligation only when there is no special law for a sector.
- NIS 2 and Regulation (EU) 2022/2554 (the Digital Operational Resilience Act - DORA).
- NIS 2 and Directive (EU) 2022/2557 (the Critical Entities Resilience Directive - CER).
- NIS 2 and Directive 95/46/EC (General Data Protection Regulation - GDPR).
The NIS 2 Directive, important parts.
- Before discussing Article 1 of the NIS 2 Directive.
- Entities of a type referred to in Annex I or II.
- Entities identified as critical entities under Directive (EU) 2022/2557.
- NACE Rev. 2
- Subject matter.
- Scope.
- Essential and important entities.
- Sector-specific Union legal acts.
- Minimum harmonisation.
- Definitions.
- National cybersecurity strategy.
- Competent authorities and single points of contact.
- National cyber crisis management frameworks.
- Computer security incident response teams (CSIRTs).
- Requirements, technical capabilities and tasks of CSIRTs.
- Coordinated vulnerability disclosure and a European vulnerability database.
- Cooperation at national level.
- Cooperation Group.
- CSIRTs network.
- European cyber crisis liaison organisation network (EU-CyCLONe).
- International cooperation.
- Report on the state of cybersecurity in the Union.
- Peer reviews.
- Governance.
- Cybersecurity risk-management measures.
- Union level coordinated security risk assessments of critical supply chains.
- Reporting obligations.
- Use of European cybersecurity certification schemes.
- Standardisation.
- Jurisdiction and territoriality.
- Registry of entities.
- Database of domain name registration data.
- Cybersecurity information-sharing arrangements.
- Voluntary notification of relevant information.
- General aspects concerning supervision and enforcement.
- Supervisory and enforcement measures in relation to essential entities.
- Supervisory and enforcement measures in relation to important entities.
- General conditions for imposing administrative fines on essential and important entities.
- Infringements entailing a personal data breach.
- Penalties.
- Mutual assistance.
- Transposition.
- Entry into force.
Overview of other new EU Directives and Regulations that must be implemented.
- The European Cyber Resilience Act.
- The Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA).
- The Critical Entities Resilience Directive (CER).
- The Digital Services Act (DSA).
- The Digital Markets Act (DMA).
- The European Health Data Space (EHDS).
- The European Chips Act.
- The European Data Act.
- The European Data Governance Act (DGA).
- The Artificial Intelligence Act.
- The European ePrivacy Regulation.
Closing remarks.
Become a NIS 2 Directive Trained Professional (NIS2DTP)
This is a Distance Learning with Certificate of Completion program, provided by Cyber Risk GmbH. The General Terms and Conditions for all legal transactions made through the Cyber Risk GmbH websites (hereinafter “GTC”) can be found at: https://www.cyber-risk-gmbh.com/Impressum.html
Each Distance Learning with Certificate of Completion program (hereinafter referred to as “distance learning program”) is provided at a fixed price, that includes VAT. There is no additional cost, now or in the future, for any reason.
We will send the distance learning program via email up to 24 hours after the payment (working days). Please remember to check the spam folder of your email client too, as emails with attachments are often landed in the spam folder.
You have the option to ask for a full refund up to 60 days after the payment. If you do not want one of our distance learning programs for any reason, all you must do is to send us an email, and we will refund the payment, no questions asked.
Your payment will be received by Cyber Risk GmbH (Dammstrasse 16, 8810 Horgen, Switzerland, Handelsregister des Kantons Zürich, Firmennummer: CHE-244.099.341). Cyber Risk GmbH will also send the certificates of completion to all persons that will pass the exam.
The all-inclusive cost is 297 USD (US Dollars). There is no additional cost, now or in the future, for this program.
First option: You can purchase the NIS 2 Directive Trained Professional (NIS2DTP) program with VISA, MASTERCARD, AMEX, Apple Pay, Google Pay etc.
Purchase the NIS2DTP program here (VISA, MASTERCARD, AMEX, Apple Pay, Google Pay etc.)
Second option: QR code payment.
i. Open the camera app or the QR app on your phone.
ii. Scan the QR code and possibly wait for a few seconds.
iii. Click on the link that appears, open your browser, and make the payment.
Third option: You can purchase the NIS 2 Directive Trained Professional (NIS2DTP) program with PayPal
When you click "PayPal" below, you will be redirected to the PayPal web site. If you prefer to pay with a card, you can click "Debit or Credit Card" that is also powered by PayPal.
What is included in the cost of the distance learning program:
A. The official presentations (878 slides).
The presentations are effective and appropriate to study online or offline. Busy professionals have full control over their own learning and are able to study at their own speed. They are able to move faster through areas of the course they feel comfortable with, but slower through those that they need a little more time on.
B. Up to 3 online exam attempts per year.
Candidates must pass only one exam. If they fail, they must study the official presentations and retake the exam. Candidates are entitled to 3 exam attempts every year.
If candidates do not achieve a passing score on the exam the first time, they can retake the exam a second time.
If they do not achieve a passing score the second time, they can retake the exam a third time.
If candidates do not achieve a passing score the third time, they must wait at least one year before retaking the exam. There is no additional cost for additional exam attempts.
To learn more, you may visit:
https://www.nis-2-directive.com/Distance_Learning_Programs_Exam_Certificate_of_Completion.pdf
C. The certificate of completion, with a scannable QR code for verification.
We will send it via email in Adobe Acrobat format (pdf). You will receive it up to 7 working days after you pass the exam.
D. Cyber Risk GmbH will develop a web page dedicated to each certified professional (https://www.cyber-risk-gmbh.com/Your_Name.htm).
When third parties scan the QR code on your certificate, they will visit this web page (https://www.cyber-risk-gmbh.com/Your_Name.htm), and they will be able to verify that you are a certified professional, and your certificates are valid and legitimate.
In this web page we will have your name, all the certificates you have received from us, and pictures of your certificates.
This is an example:
https://www.cyber-risk-gmbh.com/Monika_Meier.html
You can print your certificate that you will receive in Adobe Acrobat format (pdf). With the scannable QR code, all third parties can verify the authenticity of each certificate in a matter of seconds. Professional certificates are some of the most frequently falsified documents. Employers and third parties need an easy, effective, and efficient way to check the authenticity of each certificate. QR code verification is a good response to this demand.
Frequently Asked Questions for the distance learning programs.
1. I want to know more about Cyber Risk GmbH.
“Cyber Risk GmbH” is a company incorporated in Switzerland.
Registered company name: Cyber Risk GmbH.
Registered address: Dammstrasse 16, 8810 Horgen, Switzerland.
Company number: CHE-244.099.341.
Cantonal Register of Commerce: Canton of Zürich.
Swiss VAT number: CHE-244.099.341 MWST.
EU VAT number: EU276036462. Cyber Risk GmbH is registered for EU VAT purposes in Germany (Bundeszentralamt für Steuern, Dienstsitz Saarlouis, Referat St III 4, One-Stop-Shop, Ludwig-Karl-Balzer-Allee 2, 66740 Saarlouis - Verfahren One-Stop-Shop, Nicht EU-Regelung) for the sale of services in the EU. The VAT One Stop Shop (OSS) simplifies VAT obligations for non-EU businesses selling goods and services cross border to final consumers in the EU. Cyber Risk GmbH declares and pays EU VAT in a single electronic quarterly return submitted to Germany, and the German Bundeszentralamt für Steuern forwards the EU VAT due to each member State of the EU.
“Cyber Risk GmbH Training Programs” are training programs developed, updated and provided by Cyber Risk GmbH, and include:
a) In-House Instructor-Led Training programs,
b) Online Live Training programs,
c) Video-Recorded Training programs,
d) Distance Learning with Certificate of Completion programs.
“Cyber Risk GmbH websites” are all websites that belong to Cyber Risk GmbH, and include the following:
a. Sectors and Industries.
2. Social Engineering Training
12. Transport Cybersecurity Toolkit
14. Sanctions Risk
15. Travel Security
b. Understanding Cybersecurity.
4. What is Synthetic Identity Fraud?
c. Understanding Cybersecurity in the European Union.
2. The European Cyber Resilience Act
3. The Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA)
4. The Critical Entities Resilience Directive (CER)
5. The Digital Services Act (DSA)
6. The Digital Markets Act (DMA)
7. The European Health Data Space (EHDS)
10. The European Data Governance Act (DGA)
11. The EU Cyber Solidarity Act
12. The Artificial Intelligence Act
13. The Artificial Intelligence Liability Directive
14. The Framework for Artificial Intelligence Cybersecurity Practices (FAICP)
15. The European ePrivacy Regulation
16. The European Digital Identity Regulation
17. The European Cyber Defence Policy
18. The Strategic Compass of the European Union
19. The EU Cyber Diplomacy Toolbox
2. Are your training and certification programs vendor neutral?
Yes. We do not promote any products or services, and we are 100% independent.
3. I want to learn more about the exam.
You can take the exam online from your home or office, in all countries.
It is an open book exam. Risk and compliance management is something you must understand and learn, not memorize. You must acquire knowledge and skills, not commit something to memory.
You will be given 90 minutes to complete a 35-question exam. You must score 70% or higher.
The exam contains only questions that have been clearly answered in the official presentations.
All exam questions are multiple-choice, composed of two parts:
a. A stem (a question asked, or an incomplete statement to be completed).
b. Four possible responses.
In multiple-choice questions, you must not look for a correct answer, you must look for the best answer. Cross out all the answers you know are incorrect, then focus on the remaining ones. Which is the best answer? With this approach, you save time, and you greatly increase the likelihood of selecting the correct answer.
TIME LIMIT - This exam has a 90-minute time limit. You must complete this exam within this time limit, otherwise the result will be marked as an unsuccessful attempt.
BACK BUTTON - When taking this exam you are NOT permitted to move backwards to review/change prior answers. Your browser back button will refresh the current page instead of moving backward.
RESTART/RESUME – You CANNOT stop and then resume the exam. If you stop taking this exam by closing your browser, your answers will be lost, and the result will be marked as an unsuccessful attempt.
SKIP - You CANNOT skip answering questions while taking this exam. You must answer all the questions in the order the questions are presented.
We do not send sample questions or past exams. If you study the presentations, you can score 100%.
When you are ready to take the exam, you must follow the steps described at "Question h. I am ready for the exam. What must I do?", at:
https://www.nis-2-directive.com/Distance_Learning_Programs_Exam_Certificate_of_Completion.pdf
4. How comprehensive are the presentations? Are they just bullet points?
The presentations are not bullet points. They are effective and appropriate to study online or offline.
5. Do I need to buy books to pass the exam?
No. If you study the presentations, you can pass the exam. All the exam questions are clearly answered in the presentations. If you fail the first time, you must study more. Print the presentations and use Post-it to attach notes, to know where to find the answer to a question.
6. Is it an open book exam? Why?
Yes, it is an open book exam. Risk and compliance management is something you must understand and learn, not memorize. You must acquire knowledge and skills, not commit something to memory.
7. Do I have to take the exam soon after receiving the presentations?
No. You can take the exam any time. Your account never expires.
8. I want to receive a printed certificate. Can you send me one?
The cost of your certificate with a scannable QR code for verification is included in the cost of the program. We will send it via email in Adobe Acrobat format (pdf). You will receive it up to 7 working days after you pass the exam.
The cost of each printed certificate sent to your mail address is $75. It includes the administration, processing, and posting via registered mail with tracking number. Printed certificates are usually dispatched every 12 weeks. We accept payments with cards, QR, and PayPal.
You do not need to order a printed certificate. You can simply print your certificate that you will receive in Adobe Acrobat format (pdf). With the scannable QR code, all third parties can verify the authenticity of each certificate in a matter of seconds.
9. Why should I purchase this program?
Firms and organizations hire and promote “fit and proper” professionals who can provide evidence that they are qualified. Employers need assurance that employees have the knowledge and skills needed to mitigate risks and accept responsibility. Supervisors and auditors ask for independent evidence that the process owners are qualified, and that the controls can operate as designed, because the persons responsible for these controls have the necessary knowledge and experience.
There are many new Directives and Regulations in the EU, and our target audience is overwhelmed and has little time to spare. Cyber Risk GmbH has developed a program that can assist them in understanding the new requirements, and in providing evidence that they are qualified, as they must pass an exam to receive their certificate of completion.
The all-inclusive cost of our distance learning programs is very low. There is no additional cost for each program, now or in the future, for any reason.
We develop several other distance learning programs. You will have a 100 USD discount for the second and each additional program that Cyber Risk GmbH has developed. The all-inclusive cost for your second and each additional program is 197 USD.
There are 3 exam attempts per year that are included in the cost of each program, so you do not have to spend money again if you fail.
George Lekatis, a well-known expert in risk management and compliance, oversaw the development of this program. He has more than 20,000 hours experience as a seminar leader, and has provided training and executive coaching in information security and risk management to many leading global organizations, in 36 countries.
Contact us
Cyber Risk GmbH
Dammstrasse 16
8810 Horgen
Tel: +41 79 505 89 60
Email: george.lekatis@cyber-risk-gmbh.com
Web: https://www.cyber-risk-gmbh.com
We process and store data in compliance with both, the Swiss Federal Act on Data Protection (FADP) and the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The service provider is Hostpoint. The servers are located in the Interxion data center in Zürich, the data is saved exclusively in Switzerland, and the support, development and administration activities are also based entirely in Switzerland.