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NIS2 for Oil and Gas

The Oil & Gas industry represents a critical element of the modern economy, providing fuels, gas, and raw materials for transport, industry, and electricity. Any disruption in production, transport, or distribution chains can generate major economic and social effects. Oil & Gas sector importance makes it an attractive target for advanced cyberattacks. NIS2 includes this industry in the category of essential entities, which creates an obligation on organizations in the sector to comply with the strict requirements of the European directive.

NIS2 compliance requirements in the Oil and Gas sector

The Oil & Gas sector faces stricter NIS2 compliance requirements than many other industries because the infrastructures for exploration, production, transport, and distribution of fuels and gases are critical for the functioning of society and the economy. Operators in the sector must implement security controls adapted to both IT environments and industrial systems (OT/ICS), including refineries, pipelines, and offshore/onshore facilities.

Protecting OT / ICS systems (SCADA, protections, automation)
A defining element for the Oil & Gas sector is the need to secure industrial control systems that manage: oil and gas production, pipeline transport, refinery processing, and distribution to consumers. According to NIS2, companies must ensure:

  • segmentation of IT and OT networks
  • continuous monitoring of critical systems
  • protection against unauthorized access to control equipment
  • mechanisms for detecting manipulation of control data
  • Dedicated security roles for operating Oil & Gas infrastructure

NIS2 requires security officers:

  • personnel dedicated to both IT security and OT security
  • coordinated procedures between production, transport, and distribution operators
  • collaboration with national and international authorities regarding critical infrastructure

NIS2 challenges in the Oil and Gas sector

Implementing NIS2 is challenging in the Oil & Gas industry due to the unique characteristics of its infrastructure and operations. The main challenges are:

IT/OT convergence and architecture complexity
NIS2 requires uniform security measures, but in Oil & Gas, IT and OT operate differently.
Issue: securing both environments simultaneously, without affecting production or transport processes, is a major challenge.

Legacy systems that cannot be easily modernized
NIS2 requires patches, updates, and modern protective measures.
Reality: many OT systems in refineries, offshore platforms, and pumping stations cannot be stop their activity or updated in the traditional way, making compliance difficult.

Large attack surface
Pipeline networks, processing stations, and offshore/onshore facilities are geographically dispersed and interconnected, with multiple access points and diverse equipment.
NIS2 requires end-to-end visibility and control – difficult to achieve in such a complex infrastructure.

Increased monitoring and reporting requirements
The Oil & Gas sector must detect and report incidents that can affect the operation of critical chains, not just data breaches.
Thus, reporting obligations are more complex than in standard sectors.

24/7 operation without
interruptions
NIS2 requires testing, audits, and technical and operational measures.
In Oil & Gas, process downtime can have severe economic and environmental consequences, so implementation must be done without affecting operations.

Critical dependency on suppliers and the supply chain
Evaluating and controlling suppliers, required by NIS2, is challenging because:

  • equipment is specialized
  • suppliers can be external
  • some components have a single manufacturer

This makes end-to-end compliance difficult to guarantee.

Lack of dedicated OT security resources
NIS2 imposes clear roles for risk management and security oversight.
The Oil & Gas sector faces an insufficiency of OT security specialists, which makes implementing the directive difficult.

 

FAQ

What changes does NIS2 bring for companies in the Oil & Gas sector?
NIS2 raises the minimum level of cybersecurity and treats the Oil & Gas industry as essential infrastructure. Companies must implement advanced measures for both IT networks and OT/ICS systems, continuously monitor critical infrastructure, and demonstrate operational resilience against cyberattacks.

Organizations must implement robust cyber risk management policies, protect patient data through secure storage and handling, and establish clear incident-reporting processes. Regular system testing and updates, staff training in cybersecurity best practices, and rapid response planning in the event of cyberattacks are also essential to minimize the impact on medical services.

 

Compliance with NIS2 may require significant investments in technology, IT teams, and internal security processes. In the short term, this may increase operational costs, but in the long run, it leads to a more secure infrastructure, better protection of patient data, and reduced risk of service interruptions. Additionally, compliance with European directives increases patients’ and the public’s trust in digital healthcare services.
Yes — the infrastructure is complex, geographically dispersed, operates 24/7, and includes OT systems that cannot be easily stopped or updated. IT/OT convergence, lack of specialized resources, and dependency on international suppliers make NIS2 implementation more difficult than in most other industries.