What does NIS2 compliance cost?
Since the EU Directive 2022/2555 was transposed into German law, around 30,000 companies must become NIS2-compliant. The question is rarely "whether", but "what it costs". We show realistic price ranges for gap analysis, measures, audits and ongoing operations — and set them against fines of up to EUR 10 million. For a small SME, the initial investment typically ranges between EUR 20,000 and EUR 40,000, often subsidised by up to 50 %.
The four NIS2 cost factors
Gap analysis, measures, audit and ongoing operations — plus funding and a fine comparison
Cost of the gap analysis
As an entry point, the NIS2 gap analysis usually costs SMEs EUR 2,500–8,000 — it uncovers all gaps relative to Section 30 BSIG and is the basis for every budget plan.
Cost of the measures
Technical and organisational measures (ISMS, MFA, backup, segmentation) make up the largest item: depending on IT maturity, EUR 15,000–80,000 in the first year.
Cost of audit & proof of compliance
Internal audits, penetration tests and evidence documentation for the BSI range from EUR 4,000–20,000 — depending on the system landscape and depth of testing.
Ongoing operations
NIS2 is a permanent obligation: monitoring, training, re-assessments and reporting processes cause EUR 8,000–30,000 in ongoing costs per year.
Take advantage of funding
Programmes such as "Digital Jetzt" (BMWK) or state funding subsidise IT security by up to 50 % — significantly reducing your NIS2 investment.
Fines as a comparison
NIS2 provides for fines of up to EUR 10 million or 2 % of global annual turnover (Art. 34 EU 2022/2555) — a multiple of typical implementation costs.
How we calculate your NIS2 costs
From the first estimate through funding to plannable fixed-price implementation
Applicability & cost check
We check whether NIS2 applies (from 50 employees or EUR 10 million turnover across 18 sectors) and prepare an initial cost estimate — usually free of charge in the first conversation.
Gap analysis with budget plan
As-is/to-be comparison against the 10 minimum measures under Section 30 BSIG, including a prioritised action plan with concrete cost items instead of flat rates.
Price ranges for SMEs
Realistic ranges: small SMEs EUR 20,000–40,000 initial investment, medium-sized companies EUR 50,000–120,000 — depending on sector and IT maturity.
Funding advisory
We identify suitable programmes (Digital Jetzt, go-digital, state banks, KfW loans) and support you with applications for subsidies of up to 50 %.
Penetration testing costs
Security tests required under NIS2: web app pentests from approx. EUR 3,500, network pentests from approx. EUR 5,000 — with a clear scope and a fixed-price quote.
ROI assessment
We weigh implementation costs against the risks: fines up to EUR 10 million, the average cost of a data breach (IBM 2024: approx. EUR 4.3 million in Germany) and reputational damage.
Fixed price instead of a black box
Transparent fixed prices for gap analysis, ISMS setup and audit preparation — no hidden daily rates, clear milestones and a plannable budget.
Ongoing support
Optional NIS2-as-a-service support: continuous monitoring, annual re-assessments and reporting readiness at calculable monthly flat rates.
Frequently asked questions
The questions we are asked most often before a project – with answers on process, costs and data protection.
What does NIS2 compliance cost for an SME?
For a small mid-sized company the initial investment in NIS2 compliance typically ranges between EUR 20,000 and EUR 40,000, and for medium-sized companies between EUR 50,000 and EUR 120,000. The actual costs depend heavily on IT maturity, the sector (18 affected sectors) and the existing ISMS. Those who already have ISO 27001 or an established backup and access management concept are at the lower end of the range.
What does a NIS2 gap analysis cost?
A NIS2 gap analysis usually costs SMEs between EUR 2,500 and EUR 8,000. It examines IT security in an as-is/target comparison against the ten minimum measures under §30 BSIG (implementation of EU Directive 2022/2555) and produces a prioritised action plan with concrete cost items. The gap analysis is the basis of any robust NIS2 budget planning.
What ongoing costs arise from NIS2?
NIS2 is not a one-off exercise but a permanent obligation. For ongoing operations — security monitoring, annual re-assessments, employee and management training, maintaining the reporting processes (24-hour initial report, 72-hour detailed report to the BSI) — SMEs should budget EUR 8,000 to EUR 30,000 per year. Many companies cover this via a fixed monthly fee in a NIS2-as-a-service model.
Is there funding for NIS2 measures?
Yes. Investments in IT security can be funded through several programmes, such as “Digital Jetzt” and “go-digital” from the BMWK, state funding as well as low-interest KfW loans. Depending on the programme and company size, grants of up to 50% of eligible costs are possible. Since NIS2 measures (ISMS, MFA, segmentation, training) are usually eligible, applying early significantly lowers the net investment.
How high are the fines for NIS2 violations?
The NIS2 Directive (Art. 34 EU 2022/2555) provides for fines of up to EUR 10 million or 2% of global annual turnover for essential entities — whichever is higher. For important entities it is up to EUR 7 million or 1.4% of turnover. Added to this is the personal liability of the management. These amounts exceed typical implementation costs many times over and make NIS2 compliance economically imperative.
Is investing in NIS2 worth it? How do you calculate the ROI?
The ROI results from comparing the implementation costs with the risks avoided. Implementation costs of EUR 20,000–120,000 are offset by potential fines of up to EUR 10 million, the average cost of a data breach (around EUR 4.3 million in Germany according to the IBM Cost of a Data Breach Report 2024) as well as operational downtime and reputational damage. Avoiding even a single serious security incident usually amortises the investment many times over.
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