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NIS2 Gap Assessment

NIS2 Gap Assessment Services

Our NIS2 Gap Assessment provides a detailed analysis of the delta between your current security posture and NIS2 requirements, delivering actionable recommendations for achieving compliance efficiently and cost-effectively.

What is a Gap Assessment?

A gap assessment is a focused evaluation that:

Documents your current security controls and practices
Compares them against NIS2 requirements
Identifies specific gaps and deficiencies
Prioritizes remediation based on risk and impact
Recommends concrete actions to close gaps
Roadmaps implementation timeline and resources

Unlike a full compliance assessment, a gap assessment is faster and more focused on identifying and prioritizing what needs to be done to achieve compliance.

Who Needs a Gap Assessment?

A NIS2 gap assessment is ideal for organizations that:

Know they must comply with NIS2 but haven’t started
Have existing security programs but need NIS2-specific alignment
Face upcoming audits and need to understand readiness
Need to budget for compliance initiatives
Want to prioritize remediation efforts based on risk
Have limited time before compliance deadlines

Our Gap Assessment Methodology

We follow a proven five-phase methodology:

Phase 1: Current State Analysis (1-2 weeks)

Documentation Review

Security policies and procedures
Risk assessments and registers
Incident response and business continuity plans
Technical security documentation
Previous audit reports and findings
Vendor contracts and security agreements

Stakeholder Interviews

IT and security teams
Legal and compliance personnel
Business unit leaders
Executive management
External service providers

Technical Controls Assessment

Security architecture and controls review
Access control and authentication systems
Encryption and data protection measures
Monitoring and logging capabilities
Backup and recovery systems
Network security controls

Process & Procedure Evaluation

Incident response processes
Change management procedures
Vendor management practices
Security awareness training
Vulnerability management
Patch management

Phase 2: Gap Identification (1 week)

Requirements Mapping

Map current controls to NIS2 Article 21 requirements
Identify technical measure gaps
Identify organizational measure gaps
Document supply chain security deficiencies
Assess incident reporting capability

Gap Documentation

Describe each gap with specific evidence
Reference applicable NIS2 requirements
Document potential compliance impact
Assess current risk exposure

Compliance Scoring

Rate maturity of each NIS2 requirement area
Calculate overall compliance percentage
Identify critical vs. non-critical gaps

Phase 3: Risk Prioritization (1 week)

Risk Assessment

Evaluate regulatory risk (audit findings, penalties)
Assess security risk (threat likelihood and impact)
Consider operational risk (business disruption)
Analyze reputational risk (customer/partner concerns)

Impact Analysis

Determine potential consequences of each gap
Assess effort required for remediation
Evaluate dependencies and prerequisites
Identify quick wins vs. long-term efforts

Prioritization Framework

Categorize gaps: Critical / High / Medium / Low
Create risk-based remediation priority ranking
Balance compliance needs with resource constraints

Phase 4: Remediation Planning (1-2 weeks)

Remediation Recommendations

Specific actions to address each gap
Alternative approaches and options
Technology and tool recommendations
Resource requirements (people, budget, time)

Implementation Roadmap

Phased approach over 6-24 months
Milestone definitions and success criteria
Dependencies and sequencing
Timeline with realistic deadlines

Cost-Benefit Analysis

Estimated costs for remediation activities
Expected compliance and security benefits
Return on investment considerations
Budget allocation recommendations

Resource Planning

Internal staff requirements and skills needed
External consultant or vendor needs
Training and awareness program resources
Technology and tool investments

Phase 5: Report Delivery & Presentation (1 week)

Comprehensive Report

Executive summary (5-10 pages)
Current state assessment findings
Gap analysis with detailed evidence
Risk prioritization and rationale
Remediation recommendations
Implementation roadmap
Cost estimates and resource requirements
Technical appendices and evidence

Stakeholder Presentations

Executive/board presentation (1 hour)
Technical team deep-dive (2-3 hours)
Q&A and discussion sessions
Handoff and next steps

Deliverables

Our gap assessment includes:

1. Executive Summary Report (10-15 pages)

High-level findings and recommendations
Compliance status overview
Risk heat map and priority gaps
Roadmap timeline and milestones
Budget and resource summary
Board-ready presentation format

2. Detailed Gap Assessment Report (50-100 pages)

Comprehensive current state documentation
Detailed gap analysis by NIS2 requirement
Evidence and supporting documentation
Risk assessment and prioritization
Detailed remediation recommendations
Implementation guidance and best practices

3. Gap Analysis Matrix (Excel)

Line-by-line NIS2 requirement mapping
Current state maturity ratings
Gap descriptions and severity
Priority rankings
Remediation actions and owners
Timeline and status tracking
Filterable and sortable for management

4. Implementation Roadmap (Project Plan)

Phased remediation projects
Task breakdowns and dependencies
Resource assignments
Timeline with milestones
Success criteria and KPIs
Risk and issues log

5. Policy & Procedure Templates

Customizable templates for missing policies
Procedure frameworks aligned with NIS2
Based on your current documentation style
Ready for internal review and adoption

6. Cost Estimate & Budget (Excel)

Detailed cost breakdown by activity
One-time vs. recurring costs
Internal staff vs. external resources
Technology and tool investments
Training and awareness costs
Contingency allowances

Timeline & Effort

Typical Engagement:

Duration: 6-8 weeks from kickoff to final presentation
Effort: 15-20 consulting days
Client Time: 20-30 hours across interviews and reviews

Accelerated Option:

Duration: 3-4 weeks for rapid assessment
Effort: 10-12 consulting days
Scope: Focused on critical gaps and high-level roadmap

What Makes Our Gap Assessment Different?

1. Risk-Based Prioritization

We don’t just list gaps - we help you understand which ones matter most to your business and compliance posture.

2. Actionable Recommendations

Our recommendations are specific, practical, and implementable - not generic best practices that don’t fit your context.

3. Cost-Conscious Approach

We focus on cost-effective solutions and help you optimize spending on compliance initiatives.

4. Business-Aligned

We understand compliance is a means to an end. Our recommendations support your business objectives, not just regulatory requirements.

5. Implementation Support

We don’t just hand you a report. We’re available to support implementation and answer questions as you execute the roadmap.

6. Tool-Agnostic

We recommend solutions based on your needs, not vendor relationships. You get unbiased guidance.

After the Gap Assessment

Once you have your gap assessment, common next steps include:

Option 1: Self-Implementation

Use the roadmap to guide internal remediation efforts
Engage us for ad-hoc support as needed
Return for follow-up assessment in 6-12 months

Option 2: Supported Implementation

Engage our team to support specific remediation projects
Flexible support model (hourly, project-based, or retainer)
We help implement while building your internal capabilities

Option 3: Full Program Management

Engage our vCISO services to oversee entire compliance program
We manage the roadmap execution and coordinate all activities
Ideal for organizations without internal security leadership

Success Stories

While we can’t share specific client names due to confidentiality, our gap assessments have helped:

A medium-sized energy company identify 43 gaps and prioritize remediation, achieving compliance 6 months ahead of deadline
A healthcare provider optimize their compliance budget by 30% through risk-based prioritization
A digital service provider prepare for and successfully pass their first NIS2 audit with zero critical findings
A manufacturing company identify and remediate critical supply chain security gaps before they caused regulatory issues

Get Started

Ready to understand your NIS2 compliance gaps? We offer:

Free 30-Minute Consultation

Discuss your NIS2 obligations and timeline
Understand gap assessment process and deliverables
Get initial guidance on next steps
No obligation

Scoping & Proposal

Review your current documentation
Define assessment scope and approach
Provide detailed proposal with fixed price
Clear deliverables and timeline

Schedule Consultation

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How is a gap assessment different from a full compliance assessment? A: A gap assessment is more focused and faster. It identifies what’s missing or deficient compared to NIS2 requirements and provides a remediation roadmap. A full compliance assessment provides more comprehensive evaluation including control testing and compliance opinions.

Q: Can we use the gap assessment report for audit purposes? A: The gap assessment is designed for internal planning and remediation. While some organizations share it with auditors to demonstrate proactive compliance efforts, it’s not a substitute for an independent audit.

Q: What if we find too many gaps to address? A: That’s why prioritization is a key part of our assessment. We help you understand which gaps are critical for compliance and security, and which can be addressed over time. Most organizations address gaps in phases over 12-24 months.

Q: Do we need to remediate all gaps before the NIS2 deadline? A: You should remediate critical and high-priority gaps by the deadline. Medium and low-priority gaps can often be addressed in subsequent phases with documented risk acceptance in the interim.

Q: Can you help us implement the remediation roadmap? A: Yes! We offer implementation support services ranging from ad-hoc consulting to full program management through our vCISO services.

Q: How often should we do a gap assessment? A: We recommend an initial gap assessment followed by annual reassessments to identify new gaps from business changes, regulatory updates, or evolving threats.

NIS2 Gap Assessment