Free Security Awareness Training for NIS2 Compliance: Download Your NIS Training Kit

The NIS2 Directive, taking effect on October 17, 2024, mandates that organizations in critical sectors—including energy, healthcare, transport, and digital services—implement strong cybersecurity measures. Among its key requirements, companies must provide security awareness training for all employees, as outlined in Article 21 (2)(g).

Non-compliance isn’t just a risk—it comes with severe penalties, including fines of up to €10 million or 2% of global revenue. Without proper training, organizations leave themselves vulnerable to both regulatory action and cyber threats.

This blog post explores how security awareness training helps you achieve NIS2 compliance and provides a free NIS2 training kit from the Keepnet xHRM platform—download it now to strengthen your team’s cybersecurity readiness.

What is NIS2?

The NIS2 Directive is the EU’s updated cybersecurity law designed to improve protection against cyber threats. It applies to two types of organizations:

• Essential Entities – Large companies (250+ employees or €50M+ turnover) in critical sectors like energy, healthcare, transport, and digital infrastructure (e.g., AWS).
• Important Entities – Medium-sized businesses (50+ employees or €10M+ turnover) in industries like manufacturing, postal services, and digital platforms (e.g., social media companies).

NIS2 expands the original NIS Directive, covering more industries and requiring stronger cybersecurity measures.

Why It Matters

NIS2 sets stricter security rules, including mandatory cybersecurity training to prevent human errors that lead to cyberattacks. Companies that fail to comply risk fines of up to €10 million or 2% of global turnover.

With enforcement now active, regulators are auditing businesses to ensure compliance. Organizations must act now to avoid penalties, protect sensitive data, and keep their operations secure.

The Role of Security Awareness in NIS2 Compliance

NIS2 enforces a proactive cybersecurity approach, making security awareness training essential. Here’s why:

• Faster Threat Detection & Reporting – NIS2 mandates that cyber incidents be reported within 24 hours (initial report) and 72 hours (detailed report). Trained employees can quickly recognize phishing and other threats, ensuring timely compliance and avoiding fines. Untrained staff may overlook risks, leading to delays and penalties.
• Reducing Human Error – 68% of breaches involve human error (2024 DBIR by Ventures). Security training helps employees recognize phishing attempts and insider threats, reduce risks, and align with NIS2’s risk management goals.
• Protecting the Supply Chain – NIS2 extends cybersecurity obligations to third-party vendors, meaning your partners and suppliers must also follow security protocols. This is crucial for industries like energy and transport, where a breach can disrupt entire networks.
• Regulatory Compliance & Legal Protection – Regular training proves due diligence to regulators, reducing penalties and management liability for security failures.

Without a strong security awareness program, NIS2 compliance weakens, exposing businesses to cyber risks and regulatory penalties.

How to Build an NIS2-Compliant Security Awareness Program?

A well-structured security awareness program plays a key role in NIS2 compliance, ensuring employees can recognize and respond to cyber threats effectively. Training should be practical, engaging, and measurable to reduce risks and improve incident response. Let’s explore how to create a program that aligns with NIS2 requirements.

1. Segment Your Workforce

To make training effective, tailor it to different employee risk levels:

• Frequent Clickers & Policy Violators – Prioritize training for employees who repeatedly fall for phishing scams or fail to follow security policies.
• High-Risk Roles – Provide extra training for IT staff, executives, and finance teams, as they are prime targets for cyberattacks.
• Industry-Specific Compliance – Customize training to meet sector regulations, such as GDPR requirements in healthcare or supply chain security in transport.

2. Personalize Training

Make training more effective by tailoring it to different roles and learning preferences:

• Job-Specific Content – Educate HR teams on spotting fraudulent job applications and payroll scams, while executives learn to identify business email compromise (BEC) attacks.
• Interactive Learning – Use videos, quizzes, and gamification to boost engagement and improve retention.

For a deeper dive into customizing security awareness training by role, check out Keepnet blog on What is Role-Based Security Awareness Training, and How Can It Be Customized and Adapted?

3. Simulate Real Threats

Prepare employees for NIS2’s 24-hour reporting requirement by exposing them to real-world cyberattack simulations:

• Phishing Emails – Train employees to detect and report email-based threats with AI-generated phishing simulations. Try out Keepnet Phishing Simulator to enhance email security awareness.
• Smishing & Vishing – Strengthen mobile security by simulating SMS and voice phishing attacks. Use Keepnet Smishing Simulator and Keepnet Vishing Simulator to prepare employees for mobile-based threats.

4. Use Reporting Tools

Ensure employees can quickly report cyber threats, reducing response time and limiting damage:

• Phishing Reporter – Implement tools that allow employees to instantly report suspicious emails, helping security teams respond faster and prevent potential breaches.

Discover more about Keepnet's Microsoft Phishing Reporter Button in Ribbon, designed to simplify phishing defense and improve response times.

5. Build a Security-First Culture

Achieving NIS2 compliance requires ongoing cybersecurity awareness across the organization:

• Leadership Support – Designate Cybersecurity Ambassadors to promote security best practices and encourage a strong security mindset.
• Post-Breach Training – Analyze real incidents to reinforce lessons and improve future threat detection.

For more insight, read Keepnet’s article on Building a Security-Conscious Corporate Culture to learn how to create a proactive security environment.

6. Measure Success

Evaluate the effectiveness of your security awareness program and refine training as needed:

• Phishing Click Rates – A decrease in clicks on phishing emails indicates improved employee awareness.
• Reporting Speed – Ensure employees report threats within NIS2’s 24-hour requirement to stay compliant.

For more details on outcome-driven security metrics, read Keepnet’s article on Security Behavior and Culture Metrics to enhance awareness and action.

A strong security awareness program not only ensures NIS2 compliance but also builds a resilient cybersecurity culture within your organization.

Free NIS2 Security Awareness Training Kit: What’s Inside!

To support NIS2 compliance, Keepnet provides a free NIS2 security awareness training kit, available for immediate download. Designed for organizations covered under NIS2, this kit helps businesses train their workforce at no cost.

What’s Included?

Comprehensive Training Module – Covers NIS2 fundamentals, threat detection (phishing, malware, insider risks), and rapid incident reporting (24/72-hour rule).

Key Learning Objectives

• Understand NIS2’s training requirements and compliance deadlines.
• Recognize & Report cyber threats like phishing and smishing.
• Use Compliance Tools to meet NIS2 security standards.
• Foster a Security-First Culture within your organization.

Interactive Learning & Engagement

• Phishing Simulations – Practice with realistic phishing & SMS threat scenarios. Check out Keepnet's free phishing simulation tool.
• Quizzes – Test knowledge with questions like: "How fast must you report a significant incident under NIS2?"

Start using the free NIS2 training kit today to strengthen compliance, reduce cyber risks, and empower your team—no budget is required!

Benefits of NIS2 Awareness Training

Implementing NIS2 security awareness training helps organizations strengthen cyber resilience, reduce human-related risks, and ensure regulatory compliance. By training employees to recognize and report cyber threats, businesses can:

• Prevent Costly Attacks – Faster threat detection reduces the risk of ransomware, phishing, and data breaches.
• Ensure Compliance – Proper training helps meet NIS2’s strict security and reporting requirements, avoiding fines.
• Strengthen Incident Response – Employees can quickly report and mitigate security incidents, reducing potential damage.
• Build a Security-First Culture – Continuous awareness fosters a proactive approach to cybersecurity across the organization.

Investing in NIS2 security awareness training not only helps meet compliance obligations but also enhances overall cybersecurity posture and business resilience.

Get Your Free NIS2 Training Kit Today

A security-aware team plays a key role in NIS2 compliance. With enforcement in place and penalties for non-compliance, security awareness training helps organizations meet Article 21’s requirements—reducing risks, improving incident response, and avoiding fines.

Keepnet's free NIS2 training kit provides everything you need to get started, ensuring your team is prepared at no cost.

Start using your free NIS2 security awareness training kit from Keepnet today and build a compliant, resilient team ready to defend against cyber threats.