The greatest security paradox likely to be faced by businesses in 2025 and beyond is maintaining cybersecurity strong enough to be effective without negatively impacting user experience. Digital-first landscapes require strong measures against sophisticated threats, while customers and employees alike want ease of interaction when using online services. Finding a balance between these apparently conflicting requirements is key to maintaining industry reputation, building trust, and satisfying customers.
To address this challenge, organizations are turning to emergent technologies and forward-thinking strategies. Passwordless authentication, adaptive security models, and invisible AI-driven threat detection are just a few examples of solutions that are rewriting the way businesses secure their systems without compromising user-friendly experiences.
Why security versus usability is a growing challenge
The trade-off between security and usability is today a higher priority concern than ever before. Security needs to meet strict regulatory demands with new AI regulations on top of existing data protection laws, a continued rise in cybercrime including AI-powered attacks, and a low tolerance for breaches on the part of both businesses and their customers. For these reasons, organizations have traditionally favored strong defense, often at the expense of user experience.
But in an increasingly consumer-driven world, frustrating logins, excessive authentication, and chunky security measures can turn users off, leading to revenue loss and eroded trust. Users have little patience for friction, demanding intuitive and near-instant access whether to a banking app, e-commerce site, or corporate platform. Security measures that are too intrusive or cumbersome chase away both customers and employees while inflating support costs.
This dual pressure calls for a paradigm shift: security must be seamless, proactive, and integrated into the user journey rather than an obstructive layer.
3 practical methods for balancing security and usability
The balance between user satisfaction and security is being calibrated in the context of new technological advancements. Implementing sophisticated but user-friendly solutions can improve an organization’s security and enhance usability. Organizations can look to implement passwordless authentication, adaptive authentication and risk-based access, and AI-powered threat detection to help balance cybersecurity with customer experience.
1: Passwordless authentication
Passwords are frequently a weak link in security. Reused, forgotten, or phished credentials open businesses to a huge amount of risk. Password management creates friction for users, from frequent resets to complex requirements.
Passwordless authentication negates this problem entirely. Biometrics—such as fingerprints, facial features, hardware tokens, or single sign-on mechanisms—promise convenient and secure user authentication.
Beyond usability, passwordless systems are, by design, resistant to credential theft, phishing, and brute-force attacks. They also cut IT support costs related to password recovery. But as these systems become more widely deployed, it will be paramount for businesses to make sure that biometric data and token mechanisms uphold trust via secure storage and transmission.
2: Adaptive authentication and risk-based access
Not all users or actions are created equal, and not all are worthy of the same amount of scrutiny. Adaptive authentication dynamically adjusts security measures in real time based on context. For example, a user accessing an account from their usual device and location may only need to take a single login step. If the user logs in from an unfamiliar country or unrecognized device, other verification steps can be called on, such as one-time passcodes or even a biometric check.
Risk-based access further analyzes behavioral patterns, device reputations, and other signals to gauge the chance of malicious activity. With these systems, AI flags anomalies with minimal or no disruption to the legitimized users. Adaptive models minimize friction for the great majority of users while keeping security high.
3: AI-powered threat detection
AI is revolutionizing threat detection and mitigation. Advanced systems monitor a vast amount of data, identify patterns, and predict attacks before they happen. The distinguishing feature of modern security tools driven by AI is that this can all be done invisibly without touching the user experience.
For example, AI can detect credential-stuffing attempts through login pattern analysis or block DDoS (distributed denial-of-service) attacks by identifying spikes in anomalous traffic. These solutions fit nicely behind the scenes in your current infrastructure and provide protection without requiring user input or knowledge.
This invisible layer of AI defense is increasingly helpful for enterprises serving a diverse array of users, from retail customers to corporate employees, all of whom expect security to be a back-end process, not a barrier to use. Third-party AI cybersecurity tools, like cloud WAAP, are making the adoption of this technology increasingly available and simple.
Practical steps for implementation
The key to the successful integration of these solutions is being strategic in implementing technology so that it aligns with organizational goals. The following steps can get your company started.
- Current system audit: Review current security measures regarding pinpointing specifically where the measures are hurting user experience by accounting for feedback from users in production, along with incident response times.
- Prioritize investments: Your organization must decide which will have the most impact—passwordless authentication or an AI-driven monitoring toolset, for example—and whether they will scale with existing infrastructure.
- Train employees regularly: Employees should be trained on the latest cybersecurity measures implemented within the company. This includes developing an awareness of where new tools are being implemented and how they fit into existing systems. Human error is the top breach vector, so awareness is critical.
- Engage stakeholders: IT and security teams must work closely with business leadership to ensure alignment with organizational priorities.
Balance security and UX with Gcore Edge Security
Balancing security and usability isn’t about compromise; it’s about finding synergy. Advanced tools, such as passwordless authentication, adaptive access control, and AI-driven threat detection, are proving that strong defenses don’t have to come at the expense of user experience. As companies invest in these technologies, they also need to invest in integration and scalability. Security measures should grow with emerging user needs and threats. Only then can success be achieved in the long run.
We offer solutions designed to overcome these challenges. By coupling AI-powered and machine learning technologies with solutions to minimize user inconvenience, Gcore WAAP and DDoS Protection can provide your business with the confidence to secure your systems without disrupting users.
Related articles
Gcore Radar Q1–Q2 2025: three insights into evolving attack trends
Cyberattacks are becoming more frequent, larger in scale, and more sophisticated in execution. For businesses across industries, this means protecting digital resources is more important than ever. Staying ahead of attackers requires not only robust defense solutions but also a clear understanding of how attack patterns are changing.The latest edition of the Gcore Radar report, covering the first half of 2025, highlights important shifts in attack volumes, industry targets, and attacker strategies. Together, these findings show how the DDoS landscape is evolving, and why adaptive defense has never been more important.Here are three key insights from the report, which you can download in full here.#1. DDoS attack volumes continue to riseIn Q1–Q2 2025, the total number of DDoS attacks grew by 21% compared to H2 2024 and 41% year-on-year.The largest single attack peaked at 2.2 Tbps, surpassing the previous record of 2 Tbps in late 2024.The growth is driven by several factors, including the increasing availability of DDoS-for-hire services, the rise of insecure IoT devices feeding into botnets, and heightened geopolitical and economic tensions worldwide. Together, these factors make attacks not only more common but also harder to mitigate.#2. Technology overtakes gaming as the top targetThe distribution of attacks by industry has shifted significantly. Technology now represents 30% of all attacks, overtaking gaming, which dropped from 34% in H2 2024 to 19% in H1 2025. Financial services remain a prime target, accounting for 21% of attacks.This trend reflects attackers’ growing focus on industries with broader downstream impact. Hosting providers, SaaS platforms, and payment systems are attractive targets because a single disruption can affect entire ecosystems of dependent businesses.#3. Attacks are getting smarter and more complexAttackers are increasingly blending high-volume assaults with application-layer exploits aimed at web apps and APIs. These multi-layered tactics target customer-facing systems such as inventory platforms, payment flows, and authentication processes.At the same time, attack durations are shifting. While maximum duration has shortened from five hours to three, mid-range attacks lasting 10–30 minutes have nearly quadrupled. This suggests attackers are testing new strategies designed to bypass automated defenses and maximize disruption.How Gcore helps businesses stay protectedAs attack methods evolve, businesses need equally advanced protection. Gcore DDoS Protection offers over 200 Tbps filtering capacity across 210+ points of presence worldwide, neutralizing threats in real time. Integrated Web Application and API Protection (WAAP) extends defense beyond network perimeters, protecting against sophisticated application-layer and business-logic attacks. To explore the report’s full findings, download the complete Gcore Radar report here.Download Gcore Radar Q1-Q2 2025
No capacity = no defense: rethinking DDoS resilience at scale
DDoS attacks are growing so massive they are overwhelming the very infrastructure designed to stop them. Earlier this year, a peak attack exceeding 7 Tbps was recorded, while 1–2 Tbps attacks have become everyday occurrences. Such volumes were unimaginable just a few years ago.Yet many businesses still depend on mitigation systems that were not designed to scale alongside this rapid attack growth. While these systems may have smart detection, that advantage is moot if physical infrastructure cannot handle the load. Today, raw capacity is non-negotiable — intelligent filtering alone isn’t enough; you need vast, globally distributed throughput.Lukasz Karwacki, Gcore’s Security Solution Architect specializing in DDoS, explains why modern DDoS protection requires immense capacity, global distribution, and resilient routing. Scroll down to watch him describe why a globally distributed defense model is now the minimum standard for mitigating devastating DDoS attacks.DDoS is a capacity war, not just a traffic spikeThe central challenge in DDoS mitigation today is the total attack volume versus total available throughput.Attacks do not originate from a single location. Global botnets harness compromised devices across Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas. When all this traffic converges on a single data center, it creates a structural mismatch: a single site’s limited capacity pitted against the full bandwidth of the internet.Anycast is non-negotiable for global capacityTo counter today’s attack volumes, mitigation capacity must be distributed globally, and that’s where Anycast routing plays a critical role.Anycast routes incoming traffic to the nearest available scrubbing center. If one region is overwhelmed or offline, traffic is automatically redirected elsewhere. This eliminates single points of failure and enables the absorption of massive attacks without compromising service availability.By contrast, static mitigation pipelines create bottlenecks: all traffic funnels through a single point, making it easy for attackers to overwhelm that location. Centralized mitigation means centralized failure. The more distributed your infrastructure, the harder it is to take down — that’s resilient network design.Why always-on cloud defense outperforms on-demand protectionSome DDoS defenses activate only when an attack is detected. These on-demand models may save costs but introduce a brief delay while traffic is rerouted and protections come online.Even a few seconds of delay can allow a high-speed attack to inflict damage.Gcore’s cloud-native DDoS protection is always-on, continuously monitoring, filtering, and balancing traffic across all scrubbing centers. This means no activation lag and no dependency on manual triggers.Capacity is the new baseline for protectionModern DDoS attacks focus less on sophistication and more on sheer scale. Attackers simply overwhelm infrastructure by flooding it with more traffic than it can handle.True DDoS protection begins with capacity planning — not just signatures or rulesets. You need sufficient bandwidth, processing power, and geographic distribution to absorb attacks before they reach your core systems.At Gcore, we’ve built a globally distributed DDoS mitigation network with over 200 Tbps capacity, 40+ protected data centers, and thousands of peering partners. Using Anycast routing and always-on defense, our infrastructure withstands attacks that other systems simply can’t.Many customers turn to Gcore for DDoS protection after other providers fail to keep up with attack capacity.Find out why Fawkes Games turned to Gcore for DDoS protection
Protecting networks at scale with AI security strategies
Network cyberattacks are no longer isolated incidents. They are a constant, relentless assault on network infrastructure, probing for vulnerabilities in routing, session handling, and authentication flows. With AI at their disposal, threat actors can move faster than ever, shifting tactics mid-attack to bypass static defenses.Legacy systems, designed for simpler threats, cannot keep pace. Modern network security demands a new approach, combining real-time visibility, automated response, AI-driven adaptation, and decentralized protection to secure critical infrastructure without sacrificing speed or availability.At Gcore, we believe security must move as fast as your network does. So, in this article, we explore how L3/L4 network security is evolving to meet new network security challenges and how AI strengthens defenses against today’s most advanced threats.Smarter threat detection across complex network layersModern threats blend into legitimate traffic, using encrypted command-and-control, slow drip API abuse, and DNS tunneling to evade detection. Attackers increasingly embed credential stuffing into regular login activity. Without deep flow analysis, these attempts bypass simple rate limits and avoid triggering alerts until major breaches occur.Effective network defense today means inspection at Layer 3 and Layer 4, looking at:Traffic flow metadata (NetFlow, sFlow)SSL/TLS handshake anomaliesDNS request irregularitiesUnexpected session persistence behaviorsGcore Edge Security applies real-time traffic inspection across multiple layers, correlating flows and behaviors across routers, load balancers, proxies, and cloud edges. Even slight anomalies in NetFlow exports or unexpected east-west traffic inside a VPC can trigger early threat alerts.By combining packet metadata analysis, flow telemetry, and historical modeling, Gcore helps organizations detect stealth attacks long before traditional security controls react.Automated response to contain threats at network speedDetection is only half the battle. Once an anomaly is identified, defenders must act within seconds to prevent damage.Real-world example: DNS amplification attackIf a volumetric DNS amplification attack begins saturating a branch office's upstream link, automated systems can:Apply ACL-based rate limits at the nearest edge routerFilter malicious traffic upstream before WAN degradationAlert teams for manual inspection if thresholds escalateSimilarly, if lateral movement is detected inside a cloud deployment, dynamic firewall policies can isolate affected subnets before attackers pivot deeper.Gcore’s network automation frameworks integrate real-time AI decision-making with response workflows, enabling selective throttling, forced reauthentication, or local isolation—without disrupting legitimate users. Automation means threats are contained quickly, minimizing impact without crippling operations.Hardening DDoS mitigation against evolving attack patternsDDoS attacks have moved beyond basic volumetric floods. Today, attackers combine multiple tactics in coordinated strikes. Common attack vectors in modern DDoS include the following:UDP floods targeting bandwidth exhaustionSSL handshake floods overwhelming load balancersHTTP floods simulating legitimate browser sessionsAdaptive multi-vector shifts changing methods mid-attackReal-world case study: ISP under hybrid DDoS attackIn recent years, ISPs and large enterprises have faced hybrid DDoS attacks blending hundreds of gigabits per second of L3/4 UDP flood traffic with targeted SSL handshake floods. Attackers shift vectors dynamically to bypass static defenses and overwhelm infrastructure at multiple layers simultaneously. Static defenses fail in such cases because attackers change vectors every few minutes.Building resilient networks through self-healing capabilitiesEven the best defenses can be breached. When that happens, resilient networks must recover automatically to maintain uptime.If BGP route flapping is detected on a peering session, self-healing networks can:Suppress unstable prefixesReroute traffic through backup transit providersPrevent packet loss and service degradation without manual interventionSimilarly, if a VPN concentrator faces resource exhaustion from targeted attack traffic, automated scaling can:Spin up additional concentratorsRedistribute tunnel sessions dynamicallyMaintain stable access for remote usersGcore’s infrastructure supports self-healing capabilities by combining telemetry analysis, automated failover, and rapid resource scaling across core and edge networks. This resilience prevents localized incidents from escalating into major outages.Securing the edge against decentralized threatsThe network perimeter is now everywhere. Branches, mobile endpoints, IoT devices, and multi-cloud services all represent potential entry points for attackers.Real-world example: IoT malware infection at the branchMalware-infected IoT devices at a branch office can initiate outbound C2 traffic during low-traffic periods. Without local inspection, this activity can go undetected until aggregated telemetry reaches the central SOC, often too late.Modern edge security platforms deploy the following:Real-time traffic inspection at branch and edge routersBehavioral anomaly detection at local points of presenceAutomated enforcement policies blocking malicious flows immediatelyGcore’s edge nodes analyze flows and detect anomalies in near real time, enabling local containment before threats can propagate deeper into cloud or core systems. Decentralized defense shortens attacker dwell time, minimizes potential damage, and offloads pressure from centralized systems.How Gcore is preparing networks for the next generation of threatsThe threat landscape will only grow more complex. Attackers are investing in automation, AI, and adaptive tactics to stay one step ahead. Defending modern networks demands:Full-stack visibility from core to edgeAdaptive defense that adjusts faster than attackersAutomated recovery from disruption or compromiseDecentralized detection and containment at every entry pointGcore Edge Security delivers these capabilities, combining AI-enhanced traffic analysis, real-time mitigation, resilient failover systems, and edge-to-core defense. In a world where minutes of network downtime can cost millions, you can’t afford static defenses. We enable networks to protect critical infrastructure without sacrificing performance, agility, or resilience.Move faster than attackers. Build AI-powered resilience into your network with Gcore.Check out our docs to see how DDoS Protection protects your network
Introducing Gcore for Startups: created for builders, by builders
Building a startup is tough. Every decision about your infrastructure can make or break your speed to market and burn rate. Your time, team, and budget are stretched thin. That’s why you need a partner that helps you scale without compromise.At Gcore, we get it. We’ve been there ourselves, and we’ve helped thousands of engineering teams scale global applications under pressure.That’s why we created the Gcore Startups Program: to give early-stage founders the infrastructure, support, and pricing they actually need to launch and grow.At Gcore, we launched the Startups Program because we’ve been in their shoes. We know what it means to build under pressure, with limited resources, and big ambitions. We wanted to offer early-stage founders more than just short-term credits and fine print; our goal is to give them robust, long-term infrastructure they can rely on.Dmitry Maslennikov, Head of Gcore for StartupsWhat you get when you joinThe program is open to startups across industries, whether you’re building in fintech, AI, gaming, media, or something entirely new.Here’s what founders receive:Startup-friendly pricing on Gcore’s cloud and edge servicesCloud credits to help you get started without riskWhite-labeled dashboards to track usage across your team or customersPersonalized onboarding and migration supportGo-to-market resources to accelerate your launchYou also get direct access to all Gcore products, including Everywhere Inference, GPU Cloud, Managed Kubernetes, Object Storage, CDN, and security services. They’re available globally via our single, intuitive Gcore Customer Portal, and ready for your production workloads.When startups join the program, they get access to powerful cloud and edge infrastructure at startup-friendly pricing, personal migration support, white-labeled dashboards for tracking usage, and go-to-market resources. Everything we provide is tailored to the specific startup’s unique needs and designed to help them scale faster and smarter.Dmitry MaslennikovWhy startups are choosing GcoreWe understand that performance and flexibility are key for startups. From high-throughput AI inference to real-time media delivery, our infrastructure was designed to support demanding, distributed applications at scale.But what sets us apart is how we work with founders. We don’t force startups into rigid plans or abstract SLAs. We build with you 24/7, because we know your hustle isn’t a 9–5.One recent success story: an AI startup that migrated from a major hyperscaler told us they cut their inference costs by over 40%…and got actual human support for the first time. What truly sets us apart is our flexibility: we’re not a faceless hyperscaler. We tailor offers, support, and infrastructure to each startup’s stage and needs.Dmitry MaslennikovWe’re excited to support startups working on AI, machine learning, video, gaming, and real-time apps. Gcore for Startups is delivering serious value to founders in industries where performance, cost efficiency, and responsiveness make or break product experience.Ready to scale smarter?Apply today and get hands-on support from engineers who’ve been in your shoes. If you’re an early-stage startup with a working product and funding (pre-seed to Series A), we’ll review your application quickly and tailor infrastructure that matches your stage, stack, and goals.To get started, head on over to our Gcore for Startups page and book a demo.Discover Gcore for Startups
Outpacing cloud‑native threats: How to secure distributed workloads at scale
The cloud never stops. Neither do the threats.Every shift toward containers, microservices, and hybrid clouds creates new opportunities for innovation…and for attackers. Legacy security, built for static systems, crumbles under the speed, scale, and complexity of modern cloud-native environments.To survive, organizations need a new approach: one that’s dynamic, AI-driven, automated, and rooted in zero trust.In this article, we break down the hidden risks of cloud-native architectures and show how intelligent, automated security can outpace threats, protect distributed workloads, and power secure growth at scale.The challenges of cloud-native environmentsCloud-native architectures are designed for maximum flexibility and speed. Applications run in containers that can scale in seconds. Microservices split large applications into smaller, independent parts. Hybrid and multi-cloud deployments stretch workloads across public clouds, private clouds, and on-premises infrastructure.But this agility comes at a cost. It expands the attack surface dramatically, and traditional perimeter-based security can’t keep up.Containers share host resources, which means if one container is breached, attackers may gain access to others on the same system. Microservices rely heavily on APIs to communicate, and every exposed API is a potential attack vector. Hybrid cloud environments create inconsistent security controls across platforms, making gaps easier for attackers to exploit.Legacy security tools, built for unchanging, centralized environments, lack the real-time visibility, scalability, and automated response needed to secure today’s dynamic systems. Organizations must rethink cloud security from the ground up, prioritizing speed, automation, and continuous monitoring.Solution #1: AI-powered threat detection forsmarter defensesModern threats evolve faster than any manual security process can track. Rule-based defenses simply can’t adapt fast enough.The solution? AI-driven threat detection.Instead of relying on static rules, AI models monitor massive volumes of data in real time, spotting subtle anomalies that signal an attack before real damage is done. For example, an AI-based platform can detect an unauthorized process in a container trying to access confidential data, flag it as suspicious, and isolate the threat within milliseconds before attackers can move laterally or exfiltrate information.This proactive approach learns, adapts, and neutralizes new attack vectors before they become widespread. By continuously monitoring system behavior and automatically responding to abnormal activity, AI closes the gap between detection and action, critical in cloud-native, regulated environments where even milliseconds matter.Solution #2: Zero trust as the new security baseline“Trust but verify” no longer cuts it. In a cloud-native world, the new rule is “trust nothing, verify everything”.Zero-trust security assumes that threats exist both inside and outside the network perimeter. Every request—whether from a user, device, or application—must be authenticated, authorized, and validated.In distributed architectures, zero trust isolates workloads, meaning even if attackers breach one component, they can’t easily pivot across systems. Strict identity and access management controls limit the blast radius, minimizing potential damage.Combined with AI-driven monitoring, zero trust provides deep, continuous verification, blocking insider threats, compromised credentials, and advanced persistent threats before they escalate.Solution #3: Automated security policies for scalingprotectionManual security management is impossible in dynamic environments where thousands of containers and microservices are spun up and down in real time.Automation is the way forward. AI-powered security policies can continuously analyze system behavior, detect deviations, and adjust defenses automatically, without human intervention.This eliminates the lag between detection and response, shrinks the attack window, and drastically reduces the risk of human error. It also ensures consistent security enforcement across all environments: public cloud, private cloud, and on-premises.For example, if a system detects an unusual spike in API calls, an automated security policy can immediately apply rate limiting or restrict access, shutting down the threat without impacting overall performance.Automation doesn’t just respond faster. It maintains resilience and operational continuity even in the face of complex, distributed threats.Unifying security across cloud environmentsSecuring distributed workloads isn’t just about having smarter tools, it’s about making them work together. Different cloud platforms, technologies, and management protocols create fragmentation, opening cracks that attackers can exploit. Security gaps between systems are as dangerous as the threats themselves.Modern cloud-native security demands a unified approach. Organizations need centralized platforms that pull real-time data from every endpoint, regardless of platform or location, and present it through a single management dashboard. This gives IT and security teams full, end-to-end visibility over threats, system health, and compliance posture. It also allows security policies to be deployed, updated, and enforced consistently across every environment, without relying on multiple, siloed tools.Unification strengthens security, simplifies operations, and dramatically reduces overhead, critical for scaling securely at cloud-native speeds. That’s why at Gcore, our integrated suite of products includes security for cloud, network, and AI workloads, all managed in a single, intuitive interface.Why choose Gcore for cloud-native security?Securing cloud-native workloads requires more than legacy firewalls and patchwork solutions. It demands dynamic, intelligent protection that moves as fast as your business does.Gcore Edge Security delivers robust, AI-driven security built for the cloud-native era. By combining real-time AI threat detection, zero-trust enforcement, automated responses, and compliance-first design, Gcore security solutions protect distributed applications without slowing down development cycles.Discover why WAAP is essential for cloud security in 2025
How to comply with NIS2: practical tips and key requirements
The European Union is boosting cybersecurity legislation with the introduction of the NIS2 Directive. The new rules represent a significant expansion in how organizations across the continent approach digital security. NIS2 establishes specific and clear expectations that impact not just technology departments but also legal teams and top decision-makers. It refines old protocols while introducing additional obligations that companies must meet to operate within the EU.In this article, we explain the role and scope of the NIS2 Directive, break down its key security requirements, analyze the anticipated business impact, and provide a checklist of actions that businesses can take to remain in compliance with continually evolving regulatory demands.Who needs to comply with NIS2?The NIS2 Directive applies to essential and important organizations operating within the European Union in sectors deemed critical to society and the economy. NIS2 also applies to non-EU companies offering services within the EU, requiring non-EU companies that offer covered services in the EU without a local establishment to appoint a representative in one of the member states where they operate.In general, organizations with 50 or more employees and an annual turnover above €10M fall under NIS2. Smaller entities can also be included if they provide key services, including energy, transport, banking, healthcare, water supply, digital infrastructure, and public administration.4 key security requirements of NIS2Under the NIS2 Directive, organizations are required to have an integrated approach to cybersecurity. There are 10 basic measures that companies subject to this legislation must follow: risk policies, incident handling, supply-chain security, MFA, cryptography, backups, BCP/DRP, vulnerability management, security awareness, crypto-control, and “informational hygiene”. In this article, we will cover the four most important of them.These four are necessary steps for limiting disruptions and achieving full compliance with stringent regulatory demands. They include incident response, risk management, corporate accountability, and reporting obligations.#1 Incident responseUnder NIS2, a solid incident response is required. Companies must document processes for the detection, analysis, and management of cyber incidents. Additionally, organizations must have a trained team ready to respond quickly when there's a breach, reducing damage and downtime. Having the right plan in place can make the difference between a minor issue and a major disruption.#2 Risk managementContinuous risk evaluation is paramount within NIS2. Businesses should constantly be scouting out internal vulnerabilities and external dangers while following a clear, defined risk management protocol. Regular audits and monitoring help businesses stay a step ahead of future threats.#3 Corporate accountabilityNIS2 emphasizes corporate accountability by requiring clear cybersecurity responsibilities across all management levels, placing direct oversight on executive leadership. Additionally, due to the dependency of most organizations on third-party suppliers, supply chain security is paramount. Executives need to check the security measures of their partners. One weak link in the chain can destroy the entire system, making stringent security measures a prerequisite for all partners to reduce risks.#4 Reporting obligationsTransparency lies at the heart of NIS2. Serious incidents need to be reported promptly to maintain the culture of accountability the directive encourages. Good reporting mechanisms ensure that vital information is delivered to the concerned authorities in a timely manner, akin to formal channels in data protection legislation such as the GDPR.What NIS2 means for applicable organizationsSome of the potential implications of NIS2 include an increased regulatory burden, financial and reputational risks, and operational challenges. These apply to all businesses that are already established in the European Union. With compliance now becoming mandatory in all member states, businesses that have lagged behind in implementing effective cybersecurity measures will be put under increased pressure to improve their processes and systems.Increased regulatory burdenFor most firms, the new directive means a huge increase in their regulatory burden. The broadened scope of the directive applies to more industries, and this may lead to additional administrative tasks. Legal personnel and compliance officers will need to sift through current cybersecurity policies and ensure all parts of the organization are in line with the new requirements. This exercise can entail considerable coordination between different departments, including IT, risk management, and supply chain management.Financial and reputational risksThe penalty for non-compliance is steep. The fines for failure to comply with the NIS2 Directive are comparable to the GDPR fines for non-compliance, up to €10 million or 2% of a company's worldwide annual turnover for critical entities, while important organizations face a fine of up to €7M or 1.4% of their global annual turnover. Financial fines and reputational damage are significant risks that organizations must take into account. A single cybersecurity incident can lead to costly investigations, legal battles, and a loss of trust among customers and partners. For companies that depend on digital infrastructure for their day-to-day operations, the cost of non-compliance can be crippling.Operational challengesNIS2 compliance requires more than administrative change. Firms may have to make investments into new technology when trying to meet the directive's requirements, such as expanded monitoring, expanded protection of data, and sophisticated incident response protocols. Legacy system firms can be put at a disadvantage with the need for rapid cybersecurity improvements.NIS2 compliance checklistDue to the comprehensive nature of the NIS2 Directive, organizations will need to adopt a systematic compliance strategy. Here are 5 practical steps organizations can take to comply:Start with a thorough audit. Organizations must review their current cybersecurity infrastructure and identify areas of vulnerability. This kind of audit helps reveal areas of weakness and makes it easier to decide where to invest funds in new tools and training employees.Develop a realistic incident response plan. It is essential to have a short, actionable plan in place when things inevitably go wrong. Organizations need to develop step-by-step procedures for handling breaches and rehearse them through regular training exercises. The plan needs to be constantly updated as new lessons are learned and industry practices evolve.Sustain continued risk management. Risk management is not a static activity. Organizations need to keep their systems safe at all times and update risk analyses from time to time to combat new issues. This allows for timely adjustments to their approach.Check supply chain security. Organizations need to find out how secure their third-party vendors are. They need to have clear-cut security standards and check periodically to help ensure that all members of the supply chain adhere to those standards.Establish clear reporting channels. Organizations must have easy ways of communicating with regulators. They must establish proper reporting schedules and maintain good records. Training reporting groups to report issues early can avoid delays and penalties.Partner with Gcore for NIS2 successGcore’s integrated platform helps organizations address key security concerns relevant to NIS2 and reduce cybersecurity risk:WAAP: Real-time bot mitigation, API protection, and DDoS defense support incident response and ongoing threat monitoring.Edge Cloud: Hosted in ISO 27001 and PCI DSS-compliant EU data centers, offering scalable, resilient infrastructure that aligns with NIS2’s focus on operational resilience and data protection.CDN: Provides fast, secure content delivery while improving redundancy and reducing exposure to availability-related disruptions.Integrated ecosystem: Offers unified visibility across services to strengthen risk management and simplify compliance.Our infrastructure emphasizes data and infrastructure sovereignty, critical for EU-based companies subject to local and cross-border data regulation. With fully-owned data centers across Europe and no reliance on third-party hyperscalers, Gcore enables businesses to maintain full control over where and how their data is processed.Explore our secure infrastructure overview to learn how Gcore’s ecosystem can support your NIS2 compliance journey with continuous monitoring and threat mitigation.Please note that while Gcore’s services support many of the directive’s core pillars, they do not in themselves guarantee full compliance.Ready to get compliant?NIS2 compliance doesn’t have to be overwhelming. We offer tailored solutions to help businesses strengthen their security posture, align with key requirements, and prepare for audits.Interested in expert guidance? Get in touch for a free consultation on compliance planning and implementation. We’ll help you build a roadmap based on your current security posture, business needs, and regulatory deadlines.Get a free NIS2 consultation
Subscribe to our newsletter
Get the latest industry trends, exclusive insights, and Gcore updates delivered straight to your inbox.