The NIS2 Directive has been a hot topic in cybersecurity circles for some time now. It builds on the original NIS rules but sets tougher, more complex requirements to better protect essential services across the EU. Because of its scale and complexity, ENISA had to come up with a solid plan to help Member States meet these challenges efficiently.

A cybersecurity collaboration backed by experience to help organizations reach NIS2 compliance

The European Union Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA), dedicated to achieving a high common level of cybersecurity across Europe, launched a competitive international tender to boost cybersecurity across all EU Member States under the NIS2 Directive. Bit Sentinel won and will contribute to the NIS2 cybersecurity services catalog in Romania through its significant role in the certSIGN-led consortium alongside CybrOps. The National Directorate for Cybersecurity (DNSC) will coordinate at the national level the implementation of services for organizations affected by the NIS2 Directive. Their goal is to make sure everything fits smoothly with national priorities and existing cybersecurity systems.

The three-year agreement comes with an initial budget of up to €900,000, with room to grow depending on future needs. The goal of the project is clear: offer both proactive and reactive cybersecurity services to essential and important entities, tailored to the national context, to meet NIS2 requirements.

“This European project represents a strategic investment in Romania’s digital future. Supporting ENISA in the implementation of NIS2 cybersecurity services is both an honour and a responsibility for Bit Sentinel. We’re proud to bring our technical expertise, training platforms, and operational capabilities to the table as part of this national consortium. Together with certSIGN and CybrOps, we are helping Romania align with European standards, protect critical infrastructure, and strengthen its capacity to respond to cyber threats. This is a defining step in building a safer digital ecosystem across the EU, and Bit Sentinel is committed to being at the forefront of that mission”, Andrei Avădănei, CEO of Bit Sentinel, said.

The winning consortium combines strong technical skills with hands-on operational expertise to tackle Romania’s cybersecurity challenges head-on. certSIGN leads the effort, bringing its proven track record as a top developer and integrator of cybersecurity and cryptographic solutions. Bit Sentinel and CybrOps play key roles, delivering practical support and expert services where it matters most.

Bit Sentinel to provide cybersecurity services supporting NIS2 compliance

As a certified cybersecurity auditor for NIS compliance, we’re proud to play an essential role in this project. Our specialists bring deep technical skills and years of experience in offensive and defensive security. They’ll handle everything from assessing cybersecurity maturity and simulating attacks to managing incidents and forensic analysis. 

Bit Sentinel will lead several critical services within all areas agreed in the consortium – preparedness, training and defense -, backed by our strong track record and experience with major clients from all industries and verticals.

Defensive and operational cybersecurity importance in NIS2 compliance

Defense is a cornerstone of NIS2 compliance. Therefore, our focus will be on strengthening detection, response, and recovery capabilities across the initiative. Specifically, we will assist NIS2 organizations, sectors, and Member States in managing and recovering quickly from cyber incidents. Our goal is to minimize damage and keep business operations running smoothly.

Through Bit Sentinel’s incident response services, our team will provide expert guidance to assess incident severity, trace attack paths, and conduct forensic analyses that identify and eliminate threats effectively. Additionally, we will develop tailored incident response policies, procedures, and playbooks to boost preparedness against specific cyber threats.

CyberEDU training for NIS2 compliance

Practical training and cybersecurity exercises are a key part of the consortium’s approach to readiness. These will be delivered through CyberEDU, the training platform we designed to simulate real-world attack and defense scenarios in a safe environment. 

It’s a privilege to see CyberEDU chosen as a central instrument in this initiative, serving as the foundation and driving force behind key services such as:

• Awareness raising service development (AR-in-a-Box) – we will help organizations create custom cybersecurity awareness campaigns for their employees. A train-the-trainer approach is used, so internal teams can continue spreading knowledge and best practices. 
• Bespoke training – we will offer customized cybersecurity courses, focused on strategic and theoretical topics like NIS2 implementation or risk management. 
• Cyber exercises – we will offer custom-made scenarios that help organisations test their response to cyber incidents and crises. These exercises simulate real-world attacks in a safe environment, focusing on collaboration, strategic decision-making, and policy execution.
• Cyber defence skills validation – we will deliver hands-on, high-pressure exercises designed to test and improve the technical abilities of cybersecurity teams. Participants work in simulated breach scenarios, using realistic infrastructure and tools to detect, respond, and defend against attacks. 
• Self-paced online training (SPOT) – aligned with ENISA’s ECSF framework, SPOT helps teams develop role-specific competencies in a structured, scalable way, making it an efficient and cost-effective way to keep cybersecurity skills sharp.

Critical Bit Sentinel services for preparedness in NIS2 compliance

In addition to training, we deliver critical proactive services that help organizations identify and reduce risks before they are exploited. These include:

• Vulnerability assessments and penetration testing to uncover and address security gaps in systems, networks, and applications.
• Threat hunting and threat landscape analysis to detect hidden threats and understand evolving risks specific to each sector.
• Continuous risk monitoring, offering near real-time insights into vulnerabilities and threats through expert analysis and customized reporting.
• Crisis management plan development, supporting the creation or enhancement of response and recovery plans aligned with ENISA best practices.
• Cybersecurity maturity assessments to benchmark capabilities and guide resilience improvements.
• NIS2 gap analysis and compliance advisory to help organizations align with new requirements through structured analysis and strategic recommendations.
• Risk assessments that prioritize cybersecurity threats based on business impact, with guidance on mitigation and long-term monitoring.

A commitment to advancing NIS compliance, powered by Bit Sentinel

To meet the growing demands of the NIS2 Directive and rising cybersecurity threats is no easy task. This is why the newly formed national consortium is a joint effort that brings the necessary expertise to the table that will significantly strengthen the country’s cyber readiness. We’re counting on improving incident response capabilities, developing technical skills, and enhancing collaboration between public and private sectors.

As a certified cybersecurity auditor and trusted cybersecurity provider, Bit Sentinel brings proven practical experience to this initiative. 

With over a decade of experience in the cybersecurity field, we’ve developed and refined a comprehensive set of services to help organizations meet NIS2 requirements and build long-term resilience. Our approach is rooted in practical expertise, tailored strategies, and a deep understanding of evolving cyber threats.

Looking to strengthen your NIS2 compliance strategy?