The NIS2 Entity Register: Strengthening Visibility and Coordination Across Europe’s Critical Sectors

by | Apr 15, 2025 | News and Blogs

What Is the NIS2 Entity Register?

The NIS2 Entity Register is a mandatory national register for organizations covered by the European NIS2 Directive — the EU’s framework for improving digital resilience in critical and essential sectors.

By requiring registration, national authorities gain a comprehensive overview of vital infrastructures and their digital dependencies.
This enables faster coordination, better risk management, and more effective response to cyber threats and incidents.

The register serves as a cornerstone of Europe’s collective cybersecurity effort, bridging policy, operational oversight, and incident response capabilities across the public and private sectors.


Who Must Register Under NIS2?

Registration is required for organizations classified as either essential or important entities under the NIS2 Directive.
These are companies and institutions that play a crucial role in maintaining social and economic stability — or that provide services whose disruption would have significant consequences.

Examples of entities required to register:

  • Energy providers and grid operators

  • Healthcare institutions and hospitals

  • Transport and logistics networks

  • Water, waste, and food supply chains

  • Cloud service providers and managed service operators

  • Digital infrastructure providers (e.g., DNS, data centers, telecoms)

The classification depends on sector, size, and societal relevance.
As a general rule, organizations with more than 250 employees or annual revenues exceeding €50 million fall under the scope of NIS2.

However, smaller organizations may also qualify if they provide critical services or act as key suppliers to essential entities.


What Information Must Be Submitted?

Entities register through their national portal — in the Netherlands, this is managed by the Nationaal Cyber Security Centrum (NCSC) — and must provide detailed organizational and technical information.

Typical registration data includes:

  • Official company name and legal address

  • Designated contact details for incident reporting

  • Technical data such as IP address ranges

  • Sector classification and critical service descriptions

  • Cross-border operations or dependencies

This information enables authorities to map interdependencies, issue targeted threat alerts, and coordinate rapid responses through national or sector-specific CSIRTs (Computer Security Incident Response Teams).

It also allows governments to maintain a real-time picture of Europe’s digital infrastructure — a crucial step in collective cyber defense.


When Does Registration Take Effect?

The European NIS2 Directive entered into force on 17 October 2024, but each member state is responsible for transposing it into national law.

In the Netherlands, this will happen through the Cybersecurity Act (Cyberbeveiligingswet), expected to take effect in Q3 or Q4 of 2025.

However, voluntary registration has been available since October 2024, and early participation comes with tangible benefits.


Why Register Early?

Early registration allows organizations to get ahead of compliance deadlines and strengthen their cybersecurity posture in advance.

Key benefits include:

  • Early access to cyber threat intelligence from the NCSC and EU-level coordination bodies.

  • Automated alerts on vulnerabilities, exposed assets, or major incidents.

  • Priority support during cyber incidents or crisis situations.

  • Visibility and credibility as a security-conscious organization under NIS2.

In short, registration is not just an administrative step — it’s a strategic move toward greater resilience and preparedness.


The Role of the NIS2 Entity Register in the Bigger Picture

The Entity Register supports several key NIS2 objectives:

  1. Enhanced transparency of critical infrastructure dependencies across sectors and borders.

  2. Faster detection and coordinated response to cyber incidents.

  3. Improved supervision through sectoral authorities.

  4. Informed policy and investment decisions based on accurate data.

By connecting thousands of essential and important entities across Europe, the register becomes a foundation for collective defense — ensuring governments can act decisively and proportionately when cyber threats arise.


How RiskStudio Supports NIS2 Entity Compliance

For organizations under NIS2, registration is only the beginning.
True compliance — and long-term resilience — requires continuous visibility, supply chain insight, and measurable governance.

That’s where RiskStudio comes in.

With RiskStudio, you can:

  • Identify which of your suppliers fall under NIS2.
    Understand your ecosystem and its critical dependencies.

  • Map risk exposure across your supply chain.
    Assess which entities introduce vulnerabilities or compliance gaps.

  • Assign clear ownership internally.
    Delegate monitoring and follow-up to the right departments.

  • Receive real-time alerts on vulnerabilities, breaches, and ransomware incidents.

  • Group suppliers by risk level or sector to align with the NIS2 classification model.

By integrating RiskStudio into your compliance workflow, you turn NIS2 registration from a static requirement into a living governance process — proactive, data-driven, and verifiable.

With RiskStudio, you’re not just compliant — you’re in control.


Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. What is the NIS2 Entity Register?
It’s a mandatory national register for organizations that fall under the European NIS2 Directive, aimed at improving cybersecurity visibility across critical sectors.

2. Who must register?
Essential and important entities such as energy providers, hospitals, cloud service providers, and telecom operators must register — as well as other organizations critical to society or the economy.

3. What information is collected?
Organizations must submit company details, contact points for incident response, technical data, and sector classification through their national portal (e.g., the Dutch NCSC).

4. Is registration already open?
Yes. Voluntary registration has been available since 17 October 2024, with mandatory registration starting once national laws take effect in late 2025.

5. What are the benefits of early registration?
Early registrants receive cyber threat intelligence, automated alerts, and priority incident support from national authorities.

6. How does RiskStudio help with the NIS2 Register?
RiskStudio identifies which suppliers fall under NIS2, monitors their risk posture, and provides actionable insights — helping organizations move beyond compliance toward active risk control.


Conclusion

The NIS2 Entity Register is more than a compliance requirement — it’s a cornerstone of Europe’s collective cybersecurity framework.
By registering early, organizations help strengthen national resilience and gain access to intelligence and support networks that enhance protection.

With RiskStudio, you can take the next step: transforming registration into actionable risk management.
Our platform connects compliance with visibility — helping you stay secure, informed, and in control.