Cybersecurity is no longer just about servers and laptops. In factories, power plants, and production lines, digital threats are playing an increasingly important role. While a data breach in the IT world mainly causes reputational or financial damage, an attack on the OT world (operational technology) can directly lead to production downtime or even dangerous situations.

With the arrival of NIS2, the new European directive for network and information security, it is clear that organizations in the vital and industrial sectors carry extra responsibility. This directive requires companies to map out risks, take appropriate technical and organizational measures, report incidents quickly, and continuously demonstrate that their cybersecurity processes are in order. For many organizations, this means a significant step toward professionalization.

This is where IEC 62443 comes in: an international standards series specifically for industrial cybersecurity. This standard aligns seamlessly with the requirements of NIS2. What NIS2 imposes as an obligation (“ensure appropriate security measures”), IEC 62443 translates into concrete guidelines and best practices. Think of:

how to design and maintain systems securely (security-by-design),
which technical requirements apply to components and networks,
how suppliers and operators must organize their processes

other words: NIS2 tells you what to do, IEC 62443 helps you figure out how to do it.

 
Why This Matters for the Industrial Sector

In an IT environment, security frameworks like ISO 27001 are common. But in an industrial or production environment, different rules apply:

Systems run for many years without updates or patches.
Availability is crucial – processes cannot stop due to a security measure.
Collaboration between IT and OT specialists is needed: IT knows security, OT knows the machines.
Lifecycle thinking: security must be embedded from design to operations and incident response.
By adopting IEC 62443, you can apply your security knowledge in the OT world while also meeting the stricter NIS2 requirements.

 
The Benefits at a Glance

Compliance with NIS2: IEC 62443 provides a concrete framework to meet new legislation.
Better collaboration in the chain: suppliers, integrators, and operators use the same language.
Certification: organizations can demonstrate compliance, building trust with customers and regulators.
Safety and continuity: preventing or mitigating cyberattacks reduces the risk of downtime or accidents.
 

Conclusion

With NIS2, cybersecurity in the industrial sector is no longer optional — it’s a legal requirement. IEC 62443 provides the tools to put this obligation into practice. For industrial automation professionals, this means your role is more important than ever. Your expertise bridges IT and OT to ensure industrial processes remain safe and future-proof.

Want to know more about it? Read more here; (dutch blog) IEC 62443 industriele cybersecurity