Keeping the Line Running – How Food Industry Packaging Machines Are Engineered for NIS2 Compliance
- 8 hours ago
- 6 min read
Imagine this scenario: the control system of a critical production line fails, or an operator panel goes dark without warning. How long can production afford to stand still? What does every hour of downtime cost your business? Does your automation supplier have up-to-date backups ready? And who is actually responsible for restoring them?
The EU's NIS2 Directive puts these very questions front and center, driving a closer relationship between automation suppliers and their clients than ever before.
Our commitment to strict EU standards ensures that Orfer clients everywhere benefit from exceptionally secure and resilient packaging systems.
NIS2 Is About Continuity as Much as Cybersecurity
While NIS2 is framed as a cybersecurity directive, its ultimate goal is to safeguard business continuity. It targets companies operating in sectors critical to society — food manufacturing being a prime example.
The directive requires that in the event of a disruption, organizations must have a clear plan for how to operate during the incident and how to maintain production continuity. A dairy, for instance, must be able to keep producing milk even when its IT systems are down.
A Reliable Partner in a Critical Supply Chain
As a supplier of packaging automation and palletizing solutions, Orfer is an integral part of our clients’ critical supply chains. Under the NIS2 Directive, companies must verify that their suppliers meet strict cybersecurity requirements.
Here are some of the ways we have prepared:
Cyber hygiene: Our entire staff is trained in foundational security practices — sensitive information is never sent unencrypted, unknown USB drives are never connected to devices, and access to data is role-based throughout our organization.
Incident management: Cybersecurity doesn't wait. Orfer has clear reporting processes for security incidents: an initial notification within 24 hours, followed by a progress update within 72 hours. We maintain records of the software versions running on our clients’ equipment, so vulnerabilities are identified before they become problems.
Fault tolerance: Our automation systems are designed to operate independently of cloud services or central servers, minimizing single points of failure.
Business continuity: We have the capability and readiness to support our clients even in exceptional circumstances. Orfer's remote access connections remain reliable under demanding conditions — and when it matters most, our specialists are ready to travel on-site to carry out maintenance and repairs in person.
Cybersecurity Integrated into Automation Systems from the Design Phase
At Orfer, lifecycle thinking regarding the NIS2 Directive is a strategic approach primarily aimed at ensuring business continuity throughout the entire lifespan of hardware and software. Orfer’s automation systems are designed to be cybersecure and NIS2-compliant starting from the very first stages of product development.
A well-designed automation system is the foundation of information security. Systems manufactured by Orfer are engineered so that if a panel PC fails, for example, the palletizing robot or packaging machine does not grind to a halt. Instead, the production line remains operational, allowing production to continue uninterrupted.
We always provide our clients with comprehensive backups that include parameters for everything from barcode scanners and frequency converters to PLCs. These extensive backups are critical, ensuring that the client's system can be restarted rapidly following a disruption, rather than hours or even days later.
Lifecycle Thinking as a Core Element of Risk Management
As automation hardware and software age, Orfer follows a systematic chain of procedures to manage risks. Our primary focus is to ensure business continuity through comprehensive backups and regular software updates. Orfer’s experts proactively inform the client if a device can no longer be updated to the latest software version. In such cases, the production network is hardened, or the information system is isolated from the network until a replacement device with a supported version is implemented.
Addressing Vulnerabilities in Supplier Components
In collaboration with critical IT service partners, Orfer is prepared for exceptional circumstances through documented and practiced processes designed for rapid vulnerability management. Vulnerable devices are isolated from the network or protected by other mitigating measures until software can be replaced with secure versions. Our objective is always to maintain production safety and continuity within a constantly changing operating environment.
Is Your Production Ready?
The NIS2 Directive challenges everyone responsible for production and maintenance to consider:
Is there a recovery plan for automation systems in the event of an emergency? How quickly and through what specific measures can the system be restored, for example, during a cyberattack?
Does your current automation provider have the processes, resources, and readiness to restore production as quickly as possible, even under demanding conditions?
How long can your production afford to be at a standstill, and what are the associated costs to the company?
As a leading provider of secondary packaging and palletizing automation, Orfer is committed to driving sustainable development and safety in intralogistics and packaging. Orfer ensures that automation systems are not only efficient but also resilient and secure in all situations.
Contact Orfer’s experts today to ensure your production remains operational, regardless of potential disruptions.
Frequently Asked Questions about the NIS2 Directive
1. What is the NIS2 Directive, and does it apply to my company?
NIS2 is an EU cybersecurity directive designed to enhance the level of security across sectors critical to society. It specifically targets entities vital to the security of supply, such as the food and energy sectors, as well as banks. If your company operates within the food industry, it most likely falls under the scope of the directive, bringing with it specific obligations for risk management and reporting.
2. When did the NIS2 Directive come into effect, and who does it cover?
Application of the NIS2 Directive began on October 18, 2024. The directive applies to all operators in critical sectors that employ at least 50 people and have an annual turnover exceeding €10 million. Organizations with over 250 employees are automatically within its scope. Regulated organizations are classified as either essential or important entities, depending on their size, sector, and criticality. The directive also extends to smaller companies if they operate within the supply chain of a NIS2-regulated entity. This means that automation providers, such as Orfer, may be subject to these obligations as part of their clients' supply chains.
3. What does "cyber hygiene" mean?
Cyber hygiene covers basic security practices and good operational habits. For example, ensuring sensitive information is not sent via unencrypted email, training staff to recognize threats, and ensuring unknown USB sticks are never connected to hardware. Simply put, cyber hygiene refers to fundamental best practices in information security.
4. How does the NIS2 Directive affect the relationship between a food industry client and an automation provider?
The NIS2 Directive emphasizes supply chain security. The client has an obligation to ensure that their suppliers and the final solutions provided meet the requirements of the directive. This often involves auditing suppliers and verifying that automation systems are designed to be cybersecure. The directive will increase the level of dialogue between the provider and the client regarding information security.
5. Why is backing up just the computer not enough to ensure production continuity?
In automation systems, critical parameters and software exist beyond the central computer. Comprehensive backups must include data from various stages of the automation process—such as Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs), frequency converters, and barcode scanners. Without this data, restoring a production line after a disruption can take days.
6. What is the procedure if an old device can no longer receive security updates?
Not all hardware can be updated indefinitely. In Orfer’s lifecycle approach, the solution is to isolate the device from the network or implement other protective measures, such as network hardening, until the device can be replaced with a supported version.
7. What is network hardening?
Network hardening refers to strengthening a system's security based on a risk assessment. In practice, this means disabling unnecessary functions, services, and ports, changing default settings, and preventing unauthorized access. The goal is to minimize the attack surface.
8. How does Orfer ensure business continuity during exceptional circumstances?
Orfer is prepared to maintain service even if information systems or mobile networks are down. We have the capability and readiness to deploy experts directly to the client's site to ensure production remains operational even under extraordinary conditions.
9. What happens if a company fails to meet the NIS2 requirements?
Non-compliance can lead to significant consequences. For essential entities, the maximum administrative fine is €10,000,000 or 2% of the total worldwide annual turnover, whichever is higher. For important entities, the maximum is €7,000,000 or 1.4% of turnover. Financial sanctions are not the only risk: in serious cases, authorities can order a company to suspend operations, and management may face personal liability. Furthermore, non-compliance may be made public, which can severely damage a company's reputation.
10. What is the 24/72-hour reporting obligation in the NIS2 Directive?
The reporting obligation is a three-stage process applicable to all significant security incidents:
· Within 24 hours of detecting an incident, the operator must submit an early warning to the supervisory authority.
· Within 72 hours, a formal incident notification must be submitted.
· Once the incident is resolved, the operator must submit a final report.
In Finland, these notifications are received by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC-FI) at Traficom.
While the principle is the same across all EU countries, practical implementation varies. Definitions of "significant incidents," reporting thresholds, and the scope of obligations differ between member states. The NIS2 Directive sets a common minimum level but leaves member states with room to maneuver; some have implemented stricter requirements or expanded the scope nationally.
In cross-border situations, the rule is clear: the reporting obligation applies to the EU country where the company is established—not separately to every country in which it operates.
