The NIS2 directive is fundamentally changing the approach to cybersecurity in the European Union, transforming compliance from an optional preference into a mandatory entry ticket for participating in public procurement. According to the ENISA Threat Landscape 2025 report, entities subject to NIS2 regulations accounted for a significant portion of all organizations that experienced cyber incidents. For Ukrainian product companies, this means that infrastructure security is becoming a critical business asset that directly impacts export margins and the ability to compete in the EU market.
NIS2 as a new entry threshold for EU public procurement
The EU public sector demands a high level of cyber-resilience from its suppliers. Companies that ignore the integration of NIS2 requirements at the architectural level fall into a "compliance trap": the cost of adapting legacy systems after the fact often exceeds the profit from the contract. According to the Cisco Cybersecurity Readiness Index 2025, based on a survey of 8,000 leaders across 30 countries, cyber-readiness is a direct correlate of market success. A proactive strategy, rather than reactive patching, is the only path to scaling.
The economics of compliance: why certification is part of your unit economics
According to the FinOps Framework, effective cost management requires understanding the cost of each security component per unit of value (unit economics). Without integrating security into product design, companies lose control over cloud budgets. For example, solutions utilizing the UnityBase platform can leverage built-in RLS (Row-Level Security) and ACL functions to ensure granular access control, which is a basic requirement for passing audits in regulated environments.
Optimization strategies: how to avoid overspending on security
Using Azure Well-Architected and AWS Well-Architected methodologies allows for balancing security costs. Key steps for CFOs and technical leaders include:
- Load isolation: Using tags for cost attribution allows for a clear separation of costs for services that meet NIS2 requirements from general operating expenses.
- Right-sizing: Optimizing resources at the design stage is more economically viable than attempting to optimize already deployed infrastructures.
- Automated governance: Implementing control policies prevents "cloud sprawl" and unpredictable bills during the certification process.
Collective position: how the Association helps overcome regulatory barriers
The Software Ukraine Association acts as an aggregator of industry expertise, helping Ukrainian developers systematize their preparation for European requirements. We support the position that certified, audited solutions based on reliable platform foundations are a key advantage for the Ukrainian IT sector when entering the EU market.
Infrastructure readiness criteria for certification
| Criterion | Action for management |
|---|---|
| Infrastructure separation | Isolate workloads for the EU market from general services |
| Tag-based attribution | Configure security cost tracking for each module |
| Automated control | Implement governance policies to prevent overspending |
| Right-sizing | Optimize resources for NIS2 requirements without over-provisioning |
| Audit transparency | Prepare logs and reports for regulatory inspections |
FAQ
How does NIS2 affect the access of Ukrainian companies to EU tenders?
NIS2 defines mandatory cyber-resilience standards for "essential entities." Failure to comply with these standards effectively bars access to EU public sector tenders.
Is EU certification mandatory for all product companies?
It becomes mandatory for companies that work with critical infrastructure or provide digital services to organizations regulated by the NIS2 Directive.
How to optimize cloud costs when implementing cybersecurity requirements?
Implement FinOps practices: use tagging to track costs, apply right-sizing to resources, and automate security policies to avoid excessive resource usage.