Cybersecurity and Compliance Agent: Prompt for NIS2, NIST, ISO 27008, and AI Act Compliance

Objective: Cognity designs a prompt agent to assist in compliance and cybersecurity assessments based on frameworks such as NIS2, NIST, ISO 27008, and the AI Act. This agent will enable organizations to automate the evaluation of their cybersecurity measures, identify gaps, and ensure alignment with regulatory standards.

Purpose: This agent is designed to assist organizations in understanding and complying with the cybersecurity and data protection requirements outlined in NIS2 (EU), NIST (USA), ISO 27008, and the AI Act (EU), and to facilitate the integration of compliance checks into the design and development processes.

Step 1: Introduction to Compliance Requirements

Prompt:
"As a cybersecurity expert, I need an overview of how the NIS2 directive, NIST Cybersecurity Framework, ISO 27008, and the AI Act affect the design and development of IT systems. Please provide a summary of the core cybersecurity principles from these frameworks and regulations that should be considered during the development phase."

Expected Outcome:

  • NIS2: Emphasize resilience of critical infrastructure, incident response, and risk management.
  • NIST: Focus on risk assessment, continuous monitoring, and cybersecurity governance.
  • ISO 27008: Address management of information security in the context of technology and operational effectiveness.
  • AI Act: Stress ethical considerations in AI deployment, ensuring transparency and human oversight in AI-driven decisions.
Step 2: Risk Management and Compliance Assessment

Prompt:
"Using the NIS2, NIST, and ISO 27008 frameworks, analyze the cybersecurity risks associated with the design and development of AI systems. How can organizations evaluate and mitigate risks during the system development lifecycle to ensure compliance with these frameworks?"

Expected Outcome:

  • NIS2: Focus on ensuring operational resilience, incident response plans, and cybersecurity risk assessments are integrated from the design phase.
  • NIST: Provide guidance on establishing a robust risk management process, identifying, assessing, and prioritizing risks associated with new technologies.
  • ISO 27008: Suggest a systematic approach to risk management, including risk mitigation strategies for ensuring security of information assets.
Step 3: AI Act Compliance in System Design

Prompt:
"Considering the requirements of the AI Act, what cybersecurity and data protection measures must be integrated into the design of an AI system to ensure transparency, fairness, and accountability throughout the lifecycle of the product?"

Expected Outcome:

  • AI Act: Emphasize the importance of data governance, AI model explainability, and ensuring that AI systems undergo rigorous testing for compliance with human rights and non-discrimination standards.
  • Address the need for maintaining clear audit trails and ensuring compliance with data protection principles under GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation).
Step 4: Continuous Monitoring and Incident Management

Prompt:
"Under NIST and NIS2, continuous monitoring and incident management are essential. How can an organization ensure that AI systems being developed are constantly monitored for compliance with cybersecurity best practices? Please suggest key elements that need to be in place for an effective incident response plan."

Expected Outcome:

  • NIST: Recommend deploying monitoring tools that ensure real-time detection of vulnerabilities and security incidents.

  • NIS2: Stress the importance of reporting incidents within the timeframes specified by NIS2 and the involvement of national cybersecurity agencies.

  • Suggest automated incident response workflows that integrate with AI systems for efficient troubleshooting and real-time compliance checks.

Step 5: Data Protection and Privacy

Prompt:
"What specific cybersecurity measures, based on the ISO 27008 and AI Act, should be included in the development of AI systems to protect user data and ensure compliance with privacy regulations like GDPR?"

Expected Outcome:

  • ISO 27008: Address encryption, access controls, and privacy risk assessments in the system design.
  • AI Act: Detail the necessity of ensuring that AI systems are designed to protect privacy by design, implementing data anonymization or pseudonymization techniques when applicable.
  • Mention the role of Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIA) for AI system development.
Step 6: Compliance Reporting and Documentation

Prompt:
"As part of the development and design process, what reporting standards should be followed to demonstrate compliance with NIS2, NIST, ISO 27008, and the AI Act? What documentation should be created, and how can these reports be integrated into the development lifecycle?"

Expected Outcome:

  • NIS2: Discuss mandatory reporting obligations, including compliance with risk management strategies, incident reporting, and cybersecurity audits.
  • NIST: Mention best practices for documenting security controls and cybersecurity posture assessments.
  • ISO 27008: Highlight the need for maintaining records of risk assessments, security controls, and their effectiveness.
  • AI Act: Focus on creating documentation that evidences compliance with ethical AI guidelines and ensures AI transparency.
Step 7: Continuous Improvement and Updates

Prompt:
"How can an organization ensure continuous improvement in cybersecurity and compliance practices as technologies evolve, particularly in AI development? What frameworks or processes should be followed to update systems and processes to remain in line with NIS2, NIST, ISO 27008, and the AI Act?"

Expected Outcome:

  • Suggest implementing regular audits and reassessments of security measures, particularly focusing on evolving AI technologies and their risk implications.
  • Highlight the importance of updating security protocols and compliance documentation in response to new regulatory changes, threats, and vulnerabilities.
  • Advocate for a culture of continuous compliance, involving all stakeholders, from legal and compliance teams to developers.

This custom prompt agent, leveraging frameworks like NIS2, NIST, ISO 27008, and the AI Act, will ensure that cybersecurity and compliance practices are not only embedded into the AI system design but are also maintained and updated throughout the lifecycle. By providing automated compliance checks, risk management insights, and ongoing monitoring suggestions, this agent will serve as an invaluable tool for developers, cybersecurity teams, and compliance officers working on AI systems using Cognity's evolving framework.