Driver FixRecommendedSound, Wi-Fi or graphics acting up? Check drivers firstFind missing or outdated drivers fast.Check DriversOctober DealsAmazon USOctober deal check: compare before you payAmazon US: current deals, useful picks and tech finds.Check DealsPC HealthRecommendedCrashes, freezes, slowdowns? Check your PC nowSpot repairable issues before they interrupt work.Check PC×
Skip to content
World desk5 min

Digital service provider: Which services fall under the term?

A digital service provider is a person or organization delivering services through digital systems. Legal definitions vary: UK NIS focuses on marketplaces, public search engines and cloud services, while NIS2 covers more categories.
Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

A digital service provider is, broadly, a person or organization that supplies a service through digital systems. In law, however, the term does not have one universal scope: the relevant service categories and coverage tests depend on the jurisdiction and legal instrument. Under the UK’s NIS framework, the core digital-service categories are online marketplaces, public online search engines and cloud computing services; the EU’s NIS2 Directive covers a wider range of digital-sector entities.

What does “digital service provider” mean?

In everyday use, a digital service provider is an organization or person that delivers a service through digital technology. That broad description can fit many businesses, but it does not by itself establish that the organization is a regulated provider under a particular law.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

The original EU Network and Information Security (NIS) Directive defined a digital service provider as “any legal person that provides a digital service.” The UK Network and Information Systems Regulations 2018 use a similar formulation: a digital service provider is “any person who provides a digital service.” The legal meaning depends on which services the relevant instrument counts as digital services.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Which services fall under the original NIS framework?

The original NIS framework focused on three digital-service categories: online marketplaces, online search engines and cloud computing services. The UK Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) provides practical examples of how its categories apply.

#1 Best Overall
Blank Linen Video Book Gift, 7 Inch Digital Memory Book, Beige
  • Blank Linen Video Book: The neutral beige linen cover leaves room for your own videos, photos, messages, and meaningful memories without limiting the gift to one occasion
  • Collect Video Messages: Record your own video or ask family, friends, classmates, coworkers, or loved ones to film short clips, then add them by USB to create a meaningful video book gift
  • For Many Life Moments: Use it for birthday wishes, wedding footage, anniversary messages, graduation memories, retirement wishes, farewell notes, memorial tributes, travel highlights, or holiday greetings
  • A Gift for Many People: Create a personal video gift for mom, dad, parents, grandparents, wife, husband, girlfriend, boyfriend, friends, teachers, mentors, coworkers, boss, graduates, or students
  • Simple Playback Keepsake: 7 inch IPS screen, 4GB memory, built-in speaker, rechargeable battery, and no WiFi needed during playback make moments easy to view and share

Online marketplaces

An online marketplace enables buyers and sellers to conclude sales contracts through the service. The ICO distinguishes this from a price-comparison website that directs users to another site to make a purchase, a classified-ad service, or a retailer selling only its own goods. Using a third-party payment provider does not, by itself, take a marketplace outside the category. ICO guidance on digital service providers

Public online search engines

The category concerns a search engine offered to the public. A company does not become a search-engine provider merely because it gives employees or customers an internal search function for its own systems. A website that embeds another company’s search engine is also distinct from the provider of the underlying search service. ICO guidance on digital service providers

Rank #2
Rescue - 3 Year Data Recovery Plan for Flash Memory Devices ($20-$49.99)
  • Your Rescue Plan documents will be delivered to you via email only to the address associated with your Amazon.com account and can be found in your account message center within the Buyer/Seller Messages
  • If your drive stops working, the Rescue data recovery plan will attempt to recover the data from the failed drive and recovered data will be returned on a media storage device or via secure cloud-based data storage.
  • Covers new removeable flash memory device of any brand when purchased within 30 days (receipt must be retained for purchases not on the same transaction).
  • Free shipping for in–lab data recovery; 24/7 online case status tracking
  • If your data isn’t recovered, you get your money back.

Cloud computing services

Cloud computing is one of the original NIS digital-service categories. NIS2 gives a more detailed definition: a cloud computing service is “a digital service that enables on-demand administration and broad remote access to a scalable and elastic pool of shareable computing resources, including where such resources are distributed across several locations.” Directive (EU) 2022/2555 (NIS2)

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

How does NIS2 differ from the original NIS framework?

NIS2 names more digital-sector entity types than the original NIS framework’s three digital-service categories. Its list includes DNS service providers, domain-name registration entities, cloud computing services, data-centre services, content-delivery networks, managed services, managed security services, online marketplaces, online search engines and social networking services platforms. The scope is therefore broader, but whether a particular organization is covered still depends on the directive’s provisions and its implementation in the relevant jurisdiction. Directive (EU) 2022/2555 (NIS2)

Rank #3
Amazon eGift Card - Smile Orange
  • Amazon.com Gift Cards never expire and carry no fees.
  • Multiple gift card designs and denominations to choose from.
  • Redeemable towards millions of items store-wide at Amazon.com or certain affiliated websites.
  • Available for immediate delivery. Gift cards sent by email can be scheduled up to a year in advance.
  • No returns and no refunds on Gift Cards.
Instrument How it uses the term or defines scope What to keep in mind
Original EU NIS Directive (2016) Defines a digital service provider as any legal person providing a digital service; the relevant service categories are online marketplaces, online search engines and cloud computing services. Use the directive’s categories rather than assuming every online business is covered. Directive (EU) 2016/1148
UK NIS Regulations 2018 and guidance Defines a digital service provider as any person providing a digital service and sets out the relevant types of service. Provider status is not the only question; UK guidance also describes conditions relevant to whether a provider is a relevant DSP. Network and Information Systems Regulations 2018
NIS2 (EU, 2022) Names a broader set of digital-sector entities, including DNS, domain-name registration, cloud, data-centre, content-delivery, managed-service, managed-security, marketplace, search-engine and social-networking services. Do not treat its list as interchangeable with the original NIS categories or assume the same coverage test applies everywhere. Directive (EU) 2022/2555
Digital Services Act (EU, 2022) Uses separate terms such as intermediary service, caching, hosting service, online platform and online search engine. Its definitions serve a different legal framework; “digital service provider” under NIS is not a substitute for a DSA classification. Regulation (EU) 2022/2065

Does having a website, app or checkout make a company a regulated DSP?

No. A website, app or online checkout alone does not determine whether an organization falls into a legal category. The relevant questions include what service the organization itself supplies and whether that service matches a category named in the applicable law. For example, a retailer selling only its own products is distinguished from an online marketplace under the ICO’s UK NIS guidance.

It also matters who actually provides a tool. A business that embeds another provider’s public search engine is not necessarily the search-engine provider; a marketplace’s use of an outside payment service does not, by itself, remove the marketplace from its category. ICO guidance on digital service providers

Rank #4
12V 2A AC/DC Power Supply Adapter for WD Western Digital, My Book Essential External, Hard Drive HDD, WD TV Live Hub Media Center, WD My Cloudn, 6ft Cable Cord
  • Compatible with: My Book, My Book Essential External Hard Drive, WD Western Digital, WD My Cloud, WD TV Live Hub Media Center, Tv Live Hd Media Player, HD Media Player Gen 2 (Generation2), WD My Book AV DVR Expander, Seagate FreeAgent Goflex External Hard Drive, Please refer to the description for more models.
  • Specification: Input voltage: AC 100-240V 50/60Hz, output voltage: 12V 2A(2000mA) 24W, DC plug Center positive, Cable length: 6 ft, 3 × plug Convert Adapter: size is 4.0*1.7mm/ 3.5*1.35mm/ 2.5*0.7mm.
  • Note: Read description please confirm the specification and plug size and suitability before purchase! (Note:Not Fit WD2500D032-000)
  • High Quality & Safety Guarantee; This adapters was made with the highest quality materials. V-0 grade flame retardant,OVP, OCP, SCP Protection (OVP: Over Voltage output Protection. OCP: Over Current output Protection. SCP: Short Circuit output Protection)
  • The adapter cable uses a fine wire and has good flexibility. It has a built-in tinned copper core to ensure the service life of the cable. The sturdy tail card has passed tens of thousands of pull tests. It is durable and difficult to break.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Support on Ko-Fi

What makes a UK provider a “relevant” digital service provider?

Being a provider of a listed service and being within a particular regulatory scope are separate questions. UK government guidance identifies organizational size, a UK main establishment or nominated representative, and offering services in the EU as conditions relevant to whether a digital service provider is a relevant DSP under NIS. The guidance gives use of local languages or currencies and references to EU customers as indicators that services are offered there. UK government guidance on UK digital service providers operating in the EU

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

These criteria should be checked against the current rules that apply to the organization and its services. A UK government factsheet describes proposed amendments related to relevant DSPs, so proposals should not be confused with requirements already in force. UK government factsheet on relevant digital service providers

How to assess whether a service fits the term

  1. Identify the jurisdiction and legal instrument. Decide whether you are considering the original NIS framework, UK NIS rules, NIS2 or the Digital Services Act. Their terminology and scopes differ.
  2. Describe the service the organization itself supplies. Do not classify a company solely by the fact that it uses digital tools, runs a website or incorporates another provider’s service.
  3. Match the service to a named category. For UK NIS, check whether the service is an online marketplace, public online search engine or cloud computing service. For NIS2 or the DSA, use that instrument’s own definitions.
  4. Check the applicable coverage conditions. Depending on the regime, size, establishment, representative, territory and other requirements may affect whether rules apply.
  5. Confirm the current rule with the relevant official source. Legislation and regulator guidance can change, and a general definition is not a determination of an organization’s legal obligations.

Why the Digital Services Act is a separate classification

The Digital Services Act (DSA) organizes obligations around its own categories, including intermediary services, caching, hosting services, online platforms and online search engines. For example, it defines an online platform as a hosting service that, at a recipient’s request, stores and disseminates information to the public, subject to specified exceptions. That definition is not interchangeable with the NIS label “digital service provider.” Regulation (EU) 2022/2065 (Digital Services Act)

Quick Recap

Bestseller No. 2
Rescue - 3 Year Data Recovery Plan for Flash Memory Devices ($20-$49.99)
Rescue - 3 Year Data Recovery Plan for Flash Memory Devices ($20-$49.99)
Free shipping for in–lab data recovery; 24/7 online case status tracking; If your data isn’t recovered, you get your money back.
$4.99
Bestseller No. 3
Amazon eGift Card - Smile Orange
Amazon eGift Card - Smile Orange
Amazon.com Gift Cards never expire and carry no fees.; Multiple gift card designs and denominations to choose from.
$50.00

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

More from the Wire

  1. World desk4 min
    How to Spot an AI Voice Scam Before Sending MoneyDon’t rely on how a caller sounds. Pause, call back through a known number, and verify the emergency with another trusted person before sending money.
  2. Mountain View desk4 min
    Google’s SynthID Detector: How to Check AI-Generated Images, Video and AudioGoogle’s SynthID Detector looks for an embedded watermark in supported images, video and audio. Here is what its results do—and do not—show.
  3. Redmond desk20 min
    How to create a link to File or Folder in Windows 11Windows 11 gives you several ways to point to a file or folder without moving or duplicating it. You can create a desktop shortcut,…
Recommended PC Tool
Recommended PC Tool
Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?Free driver scan
Windows Errors? Fix Them Before They SpreadFree repair scan

Two free Windows tools

One Free Minute Could Fix That PC

Before you go - each of these free tools takes about a minute and tackles what quietly slows a Windows PC down.

Special offer. View Outbyte info, uninstall instructions, EULA, and Privacy Policy.