If you’re a developer working on jobs in the EU, you’ve probably heard the whispers (or maybe frantic shouts from your legal team) about “NIS2.” It’s easy to tune this out, thinking it’s just another boring compliance headache for managers.
Big mistake.
The NIS2 Directive is the EU’s massive new cybersecurity law, and it’s not just for managers. It’s a fundamental shift that puts security work directly into your daily development workflow.
Think of it as GDPR’s bigger, meaner sibling, but for cybersecurity and operational resilience. If your company operates in a critical sector (and the list is huge—from energy and transport to digital providers and manufacturing), NIS2 applies. And it’s about to change how you code.
🛡️ What is NIS2 in 100 Words?
NIS2 (Network and Information Security 2) is the EU’s response to the rising tide of cyberattacks. It replaces the old NIS directive, making the rules stricter, the scope wider (covering way more companies), and the fines bigger.
Its main goals are to force companies to:
- Manage their security risks (not just have security).
- Protect their supply chains (that means your package.json!).
- Report major incidents (within 24 hours).
“But I’m Just a Developer…”
…and you are now the first and most important line of defense. NIS2 means your company is legally and financially responsible for the entire lifecycle of your product, including the code you write and the open-source libraries you choose.
This is especially true for those in major European tech and industrial hubs. If you’re looking at jobs in Germany or jobs in Poland, you’ll be working in an economy dominated by manufacturing, logistics, and digital services—all “essential” or “important” sectors under NIS2.
A recruitment agency get-talent.eu in Europe isn’t just looking for a “React developer” anymore. They’re looking for a “secure React developer” who understands these principles.
Your New Dev Workflow: A Security-First Checklist
So, how does this change your git commit routine? It means integrating “DevSecOps” principles into every single sprint.
1. Before You Code: Threat Modeling (Lite)
- Old Way: Get a ticket, read the spec, start coding.
- NIS2 Way: Get a ticket. Ask: “What’s the worst that could happen with this feature? Who would want to break it? How could they?” This is “threat modeling,” and it helps you build defenses from the start, not bolt them on later.
2. As You Code: Secure Coding Principles
- Old Way: “Does it work?”
- NIS2 Way: “Does it work, and is it secure?”
- This means the OWASP Top 10 is no longer “suggested reading”; it’s your new textbook. You must be thinking about injection, broken authentication, and security misconfigurations as you type.
3. The “Supply Chain” (Your package.json or pom.xml)
- This is a massive focus of NIS2. You are responsible for the code you import.
- Old Way: npm install <cool-new-library-with-3-stars>
- NIS2 Way: “I need a new library.”
- Is it actively maintained?
- Does it have known vulnerabilities?
- Run npm audit fix or use tools like Snyk, Dependabot, or JFrog Xray to scan it before you even commit.
- Your company must have a policy for vetting new dependencies.
4. At Commit & Pull Request: The CI/CD Gateway
- Your CI/CD pipeline is no longer just for tests and builds. It’s a security checkpoint.
- SAST (Static Analysis): Your pipeline should automatically scan your source code (e.g., with SonarQube) for vulnerabilities before it can be merged.
- DAST (Dynamic Analysis): It should also test the running application for common exploits.
- SCA (Software Composition Analysis): It must scan for vulnerable dependencies. A PR with a critical vulnerability should be automatically blocked.
5. After Deployment: Logging & Reporting
- NIS2’s 24-Hour Rule: Your company has to report a major incident within 24 hours of becoming aware of it.
- Your Job: You can’t report what you can’t see. Your application must produce clear, useful, and structured logs. If your feature is compromised, your team needs to know fast.
Table: The Dev Workflow Makeover
| Task | The “Old Way” | The “NIS2 Way” (Security-First) |
| Adding a Dependency | npm install <package> | 1. Vet the package. 2. npm install. 3. Run npm audit. 4. CI/CD pipeline scans for license and vulnerabilities. |
| Writing a New API | “Does it return the right JSON?” | “Is it authenticated? Is it authorized? Is all input validated? Is it logged? Then does it return the JSON?” |
| Pull Request Review | “Code looks clean. Ship it.” | “Code looks clean. Did the SAST scan pass? Are the new dependencies approved? Does it have logs?” |
Conclusion: Security is Your New Superpower
This might seem like a lot of new rules, but here’s the good news: this is what “senior developer” and “tech lead” work looks like. Integrating security into your daily habits doesn’t just make you NIS2-compliant; it makes you a vastly better, more valuable, and more hirable engineer.
As you look for your next big opportunity in the jobs in the EU market, embracing this DevSecOps mindset will put you at the top of the list for any serious tech company.
References
- European Commission: The NIS2 Directive
- ENISA (EU Agency for Cybersecurity): Topics: NIS2
- OWASP: The OWASP Top 10