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Lazarus Alliance will coordinate directly with your organization to schedule your National Security Framework (ENS) assessment. Our assessors will help identify the level of the certification based on your company’s specific business requirements. Your company will be awarded certification at the appropriate ENS level upon demonstrating the appropriate maturity in capabilities and organizational maturity.
The National Security Framework is a mandatory Law for companies in the public sector and their technology suppliers, which lays down the necessary conditions to guarantee trust in the use of electronic media. To this end, it establishes a series of measures that guarantee the security of the systems, data, communications, and electronic services, allowing the exercise of rights and the fulfillment of duties via these media.
The framework establishes the security policy for the use of electronic media and consists of basic principles and minimum requirements that allow adequate protection of information systems, services, and their information.
The National Security Scheme (ENS)
The Esquema Nacional de Seguridad (ENS), established under Royal Decree 311/2022 (updating Royal Decree 3/2010), is a Spanish regulatory framework designed to ensure the security of information systems used by public and private entities. Its primary purpose is to protect information and services by promoting a consistent, risk-based approach to cybersecurity, safeguarding confidentiality, integrity, availability, authenticity, and traceability of data.
The ENS applies to:
- Public entities: All public administration bodies, including central, regional, and local government organizations, to secure their electronic services and data.
- Private entities: Organizations providing services to public administrations or handling sensitive data linked to public services, such as critical infrastructure providers or contractors.
The scheme mandates the implementation of security measures proportional to the risk level of systems, categorized as Basic, Medium, or High, and requires certification to demonstrate compliance. Certification involves a rigorous process of documentary and on-site audits to verify adherence to ENS security requirements, ensuring robust protection against cyber threats.
Benefits
The benefits of obtaining an ENS (Esquema Nacional de Seguridad) certification, as regulated by Royal Decree 311/2022 in Spain, are significant for both public and private entities, ensuring robust cybersecurity and compliance with the National Security Framework. Below are the key benefits:
- Enhanced Cybersecurity: ENS certification ensures that information systems meet stringent security requirements for confidentiality, integrity, availability, authenticity, and traceability. By implementing risk-based security measures tailored to system categories (Basic, Medium, High), organizations reduce vulnerabilities and protect against cyber threats like data breaches or unauthorized access.
- Regulatory Compliance: For public entities, ENS certification is mandatory to comply with Royal Decree 311/2022, ensuring adherence to national standards for secure electronic services. Private entities working with public administrations (e.g., contractors or critical infrastructure providers) also meet legal obligations, avoiding penalties or exclusion from public contracts.
- Increased Trust and Credibility: Certification demonstrates a commitment to cybersecurity, enhancing trust among clients, partners, and stakeholders. Public and private entities can showcase their compliance with a recognized national standard, strengthening their reputation for reliability and security.
- Access to Public Sector Opportunities: Private organizations with ENS certification gain a competitive edge when bidding for contracts with public administrations, as compliance is often a prerequisite for collaboration or service provision in sectors like healthcare, finance, or critical infrastructure.
- Risk Management and Resilience: The ENS framework promotes a risk-based approach, requiring organizations to identify, assess, and mitigate risks systematically. This improves operational resilience, reduces the likelihood of incidents, and ensures faster recovery from potential disruptions.
- Standardized Security Practices: Certification aligns systems with a unified set of security measures, fostering consistent and interoperable cybersecurity practices across departments or business units. This is particularly beneficial for large organizations or those operating in complex IT environments.
- Protection of Sensitive Data: ENS certification ensures robust protection for sensitive information, such as personal data or critical operational data, aligning with data protection regulations like the GDPR. This reduces the risk of legal liabilities and reputational damage from data leaks.
- Market Differentiation: For private entities, ENS certification signals a high level of cybersecurity maturity, distinguishing them from competitors in industries where security is a priority, such as technology, telecommunications, or public service providers.
- Support for Digital Transformation: By securing information systems, ENS certification enables organizations to safely adopt digital technologies, cloud services, and e-government initiatives, supporting innovation while maintaining compliance.
- Continuous Improvement: The certification process includes periodic surveillance and renewal audits (typically every 2-3 years), ensuring ongoing compliance and encouraging organizations to maintain and update their security measures in response to evolving threats.
By achieving ENS certification, organizations not only meet regulatory requirements but also build a stronger, more secure foundation for their operations, fostering trust and enabling secure collaboration in Spain’s public and private sectors.
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ENS Certification Process
The certification process for the Esquema Nacional de Seguridad (ENS), as regulated by Royal Decree 311/2022 in Spain, involves a structured series of stages to verify that an organization’s information systems comply with the National Security Framework’s requirements. Below is a clear description of the certification process, including its stages, based on the ENS scheme and aligned with UNE-EN ISO/IEC 17065:2012 standards for certification bodies like Lazarus Alliance:
- Application and Contract:
- Description: The organization seeking certification submits an application to an accredited certification body (e.g., Lazarus Alliance). The application includes details about the information system(s) to be certified, their scope, and the security category (Basic, Medium, or High) as per ENS requirements.
- Activities: The certification body reviews the application for completeness and feasibility, defines the scope of certification, and agrees on a legally enforceable certification contract with the client, outlining responsibilities, timelines, and costs.
- Outcome: A formal agreement is signed, ensuring the client commits to providing necessary access and documentation for the certification process. - Documentary Audit (Stage 1):
- Description: The certification body conducts an off-site review of the organization’s documentation to assess compliance with ENS requirements.
- Activities:
- Review of the organization’s security policies, risk assessments, security measures, and procedures for confidentiality, integrity, availability, authenticity, and traceability.
- Verification that the system’s security measures align with the ENS category (Basic, Medium, or High) as outlined in Royal Decree 311/2022.
- Identification of any gaps or non-conformities in documentation.
- Outcome: A report is issued detailing findings, including any non-conformities that must be addressed before proceeding to the next stage. The organization may need to implement corrective actions. - On-Site Audit (Stage 2):
- Description: The certification body conducts an on-site evaluation to verify the implementation and effectiveness of the security measures documented in Stage 1.
- Activities:
- Inspection of physical and logical security controls, including access controls, incident response mechanisms, and system configurations.
- Interviews with personnel to confirm adherence to documented procedures.
- Testing of technical measures (e.g., encryption, authentication systems) and operational processes to ensure they meet ENS requirements for the specified category.
- Assessment of compliance with any corrective actions identified in Stage 1.
- Outcome: A detailed audit report is produced, highlighting compliance status and any remaining non-conformities. Major non-conformities must be resolved before certification can be granted. - Certification Decision:
- Description: The certification body reviews the findings from both audit stages to make an impartial decision on granting ENS certification.
- Activities:
- An independent review committee or designated decision-maker evaluates the audit reports, ensuring objectivity and compliance with UNE-EN ISO/IEC 17065:2012.
- Verification that all non-conformities (major and minor) have been adequately addressed.
- Outcome: If compliant, the organization is granted ENS certification, valid for a period defined by the scheme (typically 2-3 years). The certification body issues a certificate and authorizes the use of the ENS mark/logo under specified conditions. - Surveillance Audits:
- Description: Periodic audits are conducted during the certification validity period to ensure ongoing compliance with ENS requirements.
- Activities:
- Annual or biennial surveillance audits (depending on the scheme and system category) to verify continued adherence to security measures.
- Review of changes to the system, risk assessments, or security incidents since certification.
- Assessment of complaint records and corrective actions taken by the organization.
- Outcome: A surveillance report confirms compliance or identifies non-conformities requiring corrective action to maintain certification. - Renewal Audit:
- Description: At the end of the certification validity period (typically 2-3 years), a renewal audit is conducted to recertify the system.
- Activities:
- A comprehensive re-evaluation similar to Stages 1 and 2, assessing the system against current ENS requirements and any updates in Royal Decree 311/2022.
- Review of surveillance audit findings and the organization’s ongoing compliance.
- Outcome: If successful, a new certificate is issued, extending the certification for another cycle. Non-conformities may delay or prevent renewal until resolved.
Additional Notes
- Accreditation Requirements: The certification body (e.g., Lazarus Alliance) must be accredited by a national accreditation body (e.g., ENAC in Spain) to ensure impartiality and competence, as per UNE-EN ISO/IEC 17065:2012.
- Client Responsibilities: The organization must provide access to documentation, personnel, and facilities, maintain records of complaints, and notify the certification body of significant system changes, as outlined in ISO/IEC 17065 clause 4.1.2.
- ENS-Specific Considerations: The process aligns with the ENS scheme’s focus on risk-based security measures, with stricter requirements for higher system categories (Medium and High). The Centro Criptológico Nacional (CCN) provides additional guidance on ENS implementation, which the certification body incorporates into the audit process.
- Non-Conformities: Any non-conformities identified during audits must be addressed within a timeframe agreed with the certification body. Major non-conformities (e.g., critical security gaps) typically require resolution before certification, while minor ones may be addressed during surveillance.
This structured process ensures that certified systems meet the ENS’s rigorous security standards, protecting sensitive information and enabling compliance with Spanish regulations.