The main focus of this issue is the European NIS2 Directive: a complex challenge, but at the same time an evolutionary opportunity for the entire domain name management ecosystem, which is called upon to adopt new security standards and share greater responsibility. NIS2 cuts across and involves all areas of Registro’s activities, from legal and management areas to technical and operational aspects.
In this context, and in response to recent regulatory developments, the new Registro-Registrar contract is valid for a period of 18 months, from 1 May 2025 to 31 October 2026: this period allows for the completion of the adaptation process at national level and in other EU Member States, ensuring a homogeneous regulatory alignment at EU level. The “bridging” contract thus represents a functional tool to accompany the domain name system towards a new regulatory framework consistent with European requirements on network and information system security.
The customary annual meeting of Registro .it was held on 4 April, with significant participation of Registrars both in attendance and via streaming, testifying to the strong involvement of the Registrar community and the growing interest in strategic issues for the future of the Registro. Andrea Passarella, director of CNR-IIT and head of Registro, together with the heads of each unit, took stock of 2024 activities and outlined future prospects for 2025 in the context of increasingly dynamic regulatory and technological developments.
The central theme of the 2025 Registrar meeting was, of course, the implementation of NIS2 in Italy, which imposes more stringent requirements for network security, involving domain name managers and Registrars, who are called upon to play an increasingly active role in protecting the digital infrastructure.
In parallel with regulatory efforts, the first four months of the 2025 was also marked by intense activity on several fronts, with a particular focus on the promotion of the .it domain as a symbol of Made in Italy and in support of the online business of small and medium-sized enterprises.
For the first time, from 26 to 28 February Registro participated in BTM Italia 2025 in Bari, with a dedicated stand and an event on digital tourism, highlighting the strategic role of the .it domain as a symbol of identity, authenticity and reliability for the sector. The initiative fostered dialogue with Registrars, businesses and professionals, and also saw the presentation of data from the “Tourism in the Net” Observatory (TINe), on tourism data in Italy from Registro .it".
From June 4 to 6, for the second stage of 2025, the Registro participated in We Make Future (WMF), the international fair dedicated to artificial intelligence and digital innovation. Once again present with a dedicated booth, the Registro organized the event “Websites (and SEO) Are Not Dead: How to Survive the Era of AI and Instant Answers”, a session focused on the evolution of online searches in the age of artificial intelligence and the impact these changes have on websites and digital marketing strategies.
One of the richest activities is the Ludoteca of the Registro .it project, which was set up fourteen years ago with the aim of bringing the very young closer to the world of the Internet, promoting its conscious and responsible use, disseminating knowledge of how the Net works, enhancing its opportunities and at the same time providing the tools to recognise, manage and prevent its risks.
In the first four months of 2025, the Ludoteca continued its commitment to digital education, through the production of papers, the organisation of seminars and workshops, with a focus on computer security and the orientation of the new generations - especially girls - towards STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) disciplines, with a specific focus on computer science.
With reference to the European framework, the first issue of 2025 also deals with the topic of technological sovereignty in the EU, reporting on the statements made during the debate held on 18 March in the European Parliament’s Committee on Industry, Research and Energy.
In the international context, on the other hand, more than ten years after the historic opening of 2012, ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) is preparing to launch a new phase of gTLD (generic Top-Level Domains) expansion, scheduled for the second quarter of 2026. The aim is to expand the offer of top-level domains, promoting competition, innovation and digital identity for businesses, communities and organisations. The new round is more selective and inclusive, with multilingual and thematic extensions, targeting brands, cities and vertical sectors such as sustainability (.green), emerging technologies (.ai, .blockchain) and smart cities.
In conclusion, the first Quarter of the year confirms the commitment of Registro .it on multiple fronts: regulatory compliance, promotion of online identity, digital skills education and service quality. In this scenario, the NIS2 Directive represents a crucial step, not just a regulatory obligation, but an opportunity to rethink internal processes, strengthen security measures and promote an integrated, resilient and forward-looking vision of digital. In this transformation phase, Registro acts with responsibility, competence and spirit of collaboration, aware of its central role within the Italian and European digital ecosystem.
To find out more, read the first 2025 issue of the .it Quarter!
Enjoy your reading!