Open Source GRC Tools for NIS2

Full comparison

Open source GRC tools compared

All tools below are open source and free at their core. They differ significantly in setup requirements, NIS2 coverage, and target organisation size.

Tool	Setup effort	NIS2 coverage	NIST SP 800-30	No-install option	Best for
Open Risk Register	None — browser only	Full Art. 21 workflow	Full 9 steps	Yes	SMEs, consultants, quick NIS2 assessments
Eramba	High (Docker / PHP)	Configurable	Partial	No	Medium/large orgs needing full GRC
SimpleRisk	Medium-high (LAMP stack)	Partial (add-on)	Partial	No	Teams needing multi-project risk management
CISO Assistant	Medium (Docker)	Built-in NIS2 framework	Different methodology	No	Multi-framework compliance management
OpenRMF	High (Kubernetes)	US DoD-focused (STIG/SCAP)	Partial (NIST RMF)	No	US government / defence contractors

Tool profiles

Each tool in detail

Open Risk Register

Fully browser-based, zero-install NIS2 risk assessment tool based on NIST SP 800-30. No account, no server, no cost. Data stays in your browser. Ideal for SMEs doing their first NIS2 assessment.

Eramba

Mature open-source GRC platform (community + enterprise editions). Covers risk, policy, exceptions, and compliance frameworks. Requires self-hosting. Best for organisations building a full GRC programme.

SimpleRisk

PHP-based risk management platform with a free core and paid add-ons for compliance frameworks, assessments, and reporting. Broad risk workflow support but requires server infrastructure.

CISO Assistant

Python/Django-based GRC tool by Intuitem. Covers 30+ compliance frameworks including NIS2 and ISO 27001. Self-hosted via Docker. Strong for multi-framework compliance but heavy setup for a single assessment.

OpenRMF

Kubernetes-based platform focused on US DoD STIG/SCAP compliance. Not designed for EU NIS2. Relevant only for defence or US-regulated environments. Significant infrastructure requirement.

Disclaimer: Tool features change frequently. All descriptions are based on publicly available information. Verify with each project's official documentation before making a tool selection decision.

Guidance

How to choose an open source GRC tool for NIS2

Start by answering three questions:

1. Do you need more than NIS2? If you also need ISO 27001, GDPR, or SOC 2, a multi-framework platform like CISO Assistant or Eramba may be worth the setup cost. If your current focus is NIS2 Article 21 compliance, a dedicated tool is faster.

2. Do you have infrastructure to self-host? Eramba, SimpleRisk, CISO Assistant, and OpenRMF all require a server. If you cannot or prefer not to maintain one, Open Risk Register is the only viable option on this list.

3. How sensitive is your risk data? Risk registers contain information about your vulnerabilities and security posture. If this data must not leave your device or your premises, a browser-only or strictly self-hosted solution is required. Open Risk Register stores all data exclusively in browser localStorage.