The NIS2 Law (La loi NIS2) is Belgium’s national implementation of the EU’s NIS2 Directive, aimed at improving the cybersecurity of essential and important entities. It came into effect through the Law of 26 April 2024, accompanied by a Royal Decree dated 9 June 2024, which outlines sectoral regulators, application procedures, and compliance deadlines.

This framework targets Belgian organizations operating in sectors of vital public and economic importance, including energy, healthcare, ICT, public administration, and digital infrastructure. Its goal is to reduce cybersecurity risks and enhance resilience across critical services.

What does the Belgian NIS2 Law stand for?

The Belgian NIS2 Law stands for the Belgian transposition of the Network and Information Security Directive 2 (Directive EU 2022/2555). Its formal title is the Law of 26 April 2024 establishing a framework for the cybersecurity of networks and information systems of general interest for public security.

Its core purpose is to:

• Identify organizations of public interest (essential and important entities)
• Define minimum cybersecurity requirements for them
• Ensure oversight through sector-specific regulators
• Set up incident reporting processes and enforcement measures

What does the Belgian NIS2 Law require?

The Belgian NIS2 Law lays out mandatory cybersecurity measures very similarly as stated in the European NIS2 directive. Key requirements include:

• Cyber risk management: Implement policies, procedures, and controls to manage cyber risks.
• Governance: Top management is accountable for ensuring compliance and e.g. the appropriateness of cybersecurity measures.
• Incident reporting: Notify authorities of significant cyber incidents within 24 hours and do more comprehensive notifications in 72h and 30 days.
• Supply chain security: Address third-party and ICT service provider risks.
• Business continuity: Prepare for and recover from cyber incidents.
• Regular assessments: Conduct audits, testing, and security reviews.
• Enforcement readiness: Be prepared for requests of information, inspections and administrative fines.

How does the Belgian NIS2 Law provide security?

The Belgian NIS2 Law pushes organizations to move from passive protection to proactive cybersecurity management. It enforces:

• Structured risk assessment and mitigation
• Mandatory reporting and communication channels with authorities
• Stronger integration of cybersecurity into executive-level responsibilities
• Standardized controls across all regulated sectors

This builds national-level resilience and contributes to coordinated EU-wide threat response and risk reduction.

Belgian NIS2 Law vs. NIS2 and ISO 27001

The Belgian NIS2 Law mirrors the EU-level NIS2 Directive, but localizes responsibilities, timelines, and enforcement to Belgian authorities. Compared to ISO 27001, the NIS2 Law is mandatory, narrower in focus, and more enforcement-driven.

Here's how it compares:

Read more about the NIS2 directive here.

What are benefits of the Belgian NIS2 Law?

Complying with the Belgian NIS2 Law isn’t just about avoiding penalties — it also improves your organization’s overall security posture and operational reliability. The framework brings structure, accountability, and consistency to how cybersecurity is handled, especially in high-risk sectors.

Key benefits include:

• Legal compliance: Aligns your organization with Belgian and EU-level cybersecurity laws, avoiding regulatory action and fines.
• Stronger resilience: Prepares your organization to prevent, detect, and recover from cyber incidents more effectively.
• Executive accountability: Makes cybersecurity a leadership issue, ensuring buy-in and oversight from senior management.
• Better vendor control: Forces a closer look at supply chain risks, improving oversight of third-party service providers.
• Higher trust: Demonstrating compliance builds credibility with customers, partners, and regulators, especially in sectors where trust is critical.

How long does it take to get NIS2 Law compliant?

Most organizations need 2–12 months depending significantly on:

• Existing cybersecurity maturity
• Number of affected business units or subsidiaries
• Availability of internal expertise
• Use of automation platforms like Cyberday

Using Cyberday can cut implementation time significantly by automating documentation, guiding implementation, and centralizing evidence.

FAQs

Is the Belgian NIS2 Law mandatory?

Yes. It is Belgian law and applies to all in-scope entities.

Why is the Belgian NIS2 Law important?

It protects critical sectors from increasing cyber threats and enforces a uniform baseline of cybersecurity practices. It also helps Belgium contribute to a stronger EU-wide cyber defense.

Who needs to comply with the Belgian NIS2 Law?

All Belgian entities classified as essential or important by the Royal Decree — including those in energy, transport, banking, healthcare, public administration, and ICT services.

When is the Belgian NIS2 Law in effect?

The law was passed on 26 April 2024, and the Royal Decree of 9 June 2024 sets practical timelines. Most obligations become enforceable starting from October 2024.

Is the Belgian NIS2 Law supported in Cyberday?

Yes. Cyberday supports full Belgian NIS2 Law (La loi NIS2) compliance through templates, automation, and guidance tailored for Belgium.