See How Proactive Security Assessments Help You Satisfy Regulators
For any business operating in Europe, the digital rulebook is getting stricter almost by the day. The list of EU cybersecurity laws is growing in number and complexity.
Although it’s a good thing from a security perspective, maintaining EU compliance can quickly become a major headache for companies of all sizes.
So, what is the best (and easiest) way for you and your business to maintain EU compliance amid the chaos?
Regular, high-quality penetration tests. Here’s why.
Understanding Important EU Cybersecurity Laws
Most cybersecurity regulations require organisations to take a more proactive and strict approach. While each one has a different focus, they all share a common goal: to raise the security standards across the Union.
But more than avoiding heavy fines, maintaining EU compliance means building stronger trust with your customers. The main EU Cybersecurity Acts you must adhere to are:
The NIS2 Directive
This NIS2 directive expands the EU’s original security rules. It now covers more industries, like manufacturing and public administration.
It also demands stronger measures and faster incident reporting.
The Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA)
This is focused on the financial sector. DORA requires banks and insurance companies to prove they can handle major operational problems. This includes solid IT risk management and complete digital resilience testing.
The Cyber Resilience Act (CRA)
The CRA targets the security of products with digital parts, like IoT devices and software. It introduces required cybersecurity standards for manufacturers. This includes the need for a Software Bill of Materials (SBOM) for better transparency.
The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
As the foundation of the EU’s privacy rules, GDPR requires organisations to use proper technical measures to protect personal data. Effective cybersecurity is a core part of this duty.
The Role of Skilled Pentesters in Penetration Testing Compliance
Meeting these standards is more than a paper-only exercise. This is where skilled pentesters play a massive role by conducting compliance penetration tests.
A professional penetration test acts as a real-world attack without disastrous results. It gives you an accurate measure of your organisation’s defences.
A red team audit, where a team of ethical hackers simulates a real, multi-layered attack, is the best way to check that your security controls work under pressure. This is vital for meeting the testing needs of rules like DORA and NIS2.
These rules also focus heavily on your supply chain. Skilled pentesters can find security risks from the third-party software and vendors you depend on.
Finally, a quality cyber audit delivers clear reports you can act on.
These documents are important because they give your technical teams a precise roadmap for fixing problems. They also prove to EU regulators that you are actively managing your security risks.
What to Look for in a Cyber Audit Provider
Now, finding a cybersecurity company to help maintain your EU compliance is a simple Google search. Unfortunately, quite a few of them don’t deliver high-quality work.
So, before you hire them, consider the following:
A Focus on Manual, Expert-Led Testing
Automated scans can find common problems, but they can’t match the creativity of a human attacker. For complex rules like NIS2 and DORA, you need experts who can find subtle business logic flaws, just as a real attacker would.
In-depth Understanding of EU Regulations
Your chosen partner must understand the EU cybersecurity laws that affect your industry completely.
Their tests should be designed to meet those exact needs. This makes the final report actually useful.
Complete Reporting and Remediation Support
Look for a partner who gives you more than a list of issues. A good report explains the business risk of each weak spot and provides clear steps to fix it.
Ideally, the provider will also offer to help you check that the fixes have been put in place correctly.
Verifiable Credentials and Experience
The security team should hold recognised industry certifications. They should also have a proven history of working with EU-based clients on compliance-related projects.
So, ask for their credentials, case studies, and testimonials.
Enjoy Success in Maintaining EU Compliance
Maintaining EU compliance isn’t a one-time project; it’s an ongoing process. It needs a security partner that acts as an extension of your team, giving you support and expert advice.
At 7ASecurity, our work is built on this partnership model.
Our skilled pentesters have extensive technical knowledge and a complete understanding of EU cybersecurity laws.
We don’t do a quick automated scan and deliver a tick list. No, we do an in-depth analysis of your systems, relying on current hacker methods. This makes sure your pentesting compliance work leads to real security that satisfies regulators and protects your business.
Let our experts help you handle the complexities of EU regulations today.
