NIS2 Directive & Background Checks – What organisations need to know

The NIS2 Directive (EU 2022/2555) aims to improve cyber security and operational resilience in critical and essential sectors within the EU. It places a strong emphasis not only on technical security measures but also on human risk management.

One of the key requirements of NIS2 is the need to identify and mitigate risks posed by individuals – including employees, contractors, and third parties – who have access to sensitive systems or data. This is where background checks and structured vetting processes come into play.

What does NIS2 require from organisations?

Organisations that fall within the scope of NIS2 must:

  1. Implement risk-based security practices, including human-related risk management.
  2. Ensure that personnel in key roles are trustworthy and appropriately vetted.
  3. Be able to demonstrate compliance with these measures in the event of an audit or incident.

 In Slovakia, the implementation of NIS2 is shaping how organisations—especially in sectors such as energy, finance, healthcare, manufacturing, and digital services—approach operational security. Slovak companies are increasingly recognising that compliance will require more than upgrading firewalls or revising documentation.

A critical part of readiness lies in verifying the integrity and reliability of individuals who access critical infrastructure, regulated data, or sensitive systems. As Slovakia aligns its national cybersecurity framework with NIS2, background checks and structured human risk procedures are becoming an essential tool for demonstrating accountability and for reducing insider-related vulnerabilities.

How Validato supports compliance

At Validato, we help organisations manage the human aspect of NIS2 compliance by:

  1. Conducting digital, structured, and GDPR-compliant background checks.
  2. Supporting the onboarding and ongoing vetting of employees, suppliers, and third parties.
  3. Enabling a documented and repeatable vetting process aligned with regulatory expectations.

Why human risk matters

Technical measures alone are not enough. Individuals with access to systems can pose significant risks if not properly vetted. The NIS2 Directive recognises this and makes human risk management a strategic part of cyber security.