World Watch/Malta/Cybersecurity

Cybersecurity · Malta

Cybersecurity regulation in Malta (2026)

Comprehensive lawMeasures for a High Common Level of Cybersecurity across the European Union (Malta) Order, 2025 (S.L. 460.41 / Legal Notice 71 of 2025), transposing EU Directive 2022/2555 (NIS2); supervised by the CIP Department (Malta Critical Infrastructure Protection) as national competent authority and CSIRT; MDIA as National Cybersecurity Certification Authority under the EU Cybersecurity ActCountry index 96 · A+

Malta shaded by its cybersecurity status

Malta transposed the NIS2 Directive into national law via Legal Notice 71 of 2025 (S.L. 460.41), published on 8 April 2025. The Order was brought fully into force on 23 January 2026 by Legal Notice 22 of 2026, establishing binding risk-management and incident-reporting obligations for essential and important entities across critical and high-impact sectors. The CIP Department serves as the single national supervisory authority and hosts CSIRT-Malta, while the Malta Digital Innovation Authority (MDIA) acts as the National Cybersecurity Certification Authority under the EU Cybersecurity Act.

Key points

Governing Legislation

Legal Notice 71 of 2025 (S.L. 460.41) transposes NIS2 (EU Directive 2022/2555) into Maltese law. All provisions entered into force on 23 January 2026 via Legal Notice 22 of 2026, after missing the EU's 17 October 2024 deadline.

Competent Authority

The CIP Department (Department for Critical Infrastructure Protection, maltacip.gov.mt) is designated as the single point of contact and national supervisory authority. It hosts CSIRT-Malta, which handles threat monitoring, early warnings, forensic analysis, and coordinates incident response at national level.

Incident Reporting Obligations

Essential and important entities must submit a 24-hour early warning upon becoming aware of a significant incident, a full incident notification within 72 hours, and a final report within one month of the full notification — mirroring the NIS2 tiered reporting framework.

Risk Management Obligations

Essential and important entities must implement technical, operational, and organisational measures covering risk analysis, incident handling, supply chain security, network/information system security, human resources security, and access control policies.

Enforcement & Penalties

Non-compliance may attract administrative fines up to €10 million or 2% of global annual turnover for essential entities, and up to €7 million or 1.4% of global turnover for important entities, whichever is higher.

EU Cybersecurity Certification (Cybersecurity Act)

The Malta Digital Innovation Authority (MDIA) is Malta's designated National Cybersecurity Certification Authority (NCCA) under Regulation (EU) 2019/881 (EU Cybersecurity Act), overseeing EU certification schemes (including EUCC) for ICT products and services marketed in Malta.

Malta - other topics

Last verified 5/24/2026 · Orientation, not legal advice - verify against the primary sources linked above. Explore the full world map →