NIS2 and GDPR: what these laws mean for everyday users

In recent years we’ve heard more and more about the GDPR and now the new NIS2 directive.

They may look like complicated acronyms, but both share a goal: protect our data and make the internet safer for everyone.

This article explains — without jargon — what they mean, how they differ and how they affect your digital day-to-day.

1. What is the GDPR?

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) has applied since 2018 and sets out how companies and organisations must handle your personal data.

That includes:

• Name, email, phone number, address, bank details, etc.
• How that data is collected, stored and used.

What the GDPR guarantees you:

• Right to information → to know how and why your data is used.
• Right to be forgotten → to ask for your data to be deleted.
• Clear consent → companies can only process data if you authorise it.
• Breach notification → you must be informed if your data is compromised.

In short: the GDPR gives you control over your personal information.

2. What is NIS2?

NIS2 is a European directive (transposed by EU countries) aimed at strengthening cybersecurity in essential sectors (energy, healthcare, transport, finance, communications, etc.).

The name comes from “Network and Information Systems Directive”. The goal is to ensure these entities have robust security measures and can respond quickly to cyber incidents.

What changes with NIS2:

• Critical organisations must adopt mandatory cybersecurity practices.
• Incidents must be reported to the authorities.
• Management (directors/executives) can be held responsible (with possible sanctions).

In short: NIS2 protects the services we all rely on, so that failures or attacks don’t impact the public.

3. GDPR vs NIS2: what’s the difference?

GDPR focuses on individual privacy. It sets the rules for how companies collect, store and use personal data (names, emails, contact details, banking info, etc.) so that people keep control over their information and it’s used transparently and securely.

NIS2 focuses on the security of digital infrastructure. It aims to ensure essential sectors — energy, healthcare, transport, finance, communications — run robust systems that can withstand cyberattacks.

Summary: GDPR protects your personal data, while NIS2 protects the systems and services that store and process that data.

4. How this affects everyday users

Even if you don’t work in tech, these rules directly benefit everyone:

• Fewer data breaches.
• More secure public and private services.
• More responsible companies in how they handle information.

Ultimately, they mean more trust in the digital world.

5. What you can do day to day

• Read privacy policies and choose carefully where you share data.
• Use strong, unique passwords and two-factor authentication.
• Keep devices and apps updated regularly.
• If you receive a data-breach notice, change passwords immediately.

our part is simple — and essential — for these laws to have real impact.

Conclusion

GDPR and NIS2 may sound complex, but they’re two layers of protection for your digital life:

• GDPR protects what is yours (your data).
• NIS2 protects the systems where that information is stored.

More security, more transparency, more trust.

The digital future is safer when everyone plays their part.