# Article 3 — Systemic character and importance of the ICT services provided to financial entities **Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2024/1502 · binding · OJ L, 2024/1502, 30.5.2024 · dated 22 Feb 2024 [in force]** *In force · Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2024/1502, OJ L, 2024/1502, 30.5.2024 · Checked against EUR-Lex on 26 Oct 2026 · [Official source](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg_del/2024/1502/oj/eng)* **1.** When considering the criterion set out in [Article 31(2)](../../articles/31.md), point (b), of Regulation (EU) 2022/2554, the ESAs shall assess whether the ICT third-party service provider fulfils the following ‘step 1’ sub-criteria: > **(a)** sub-criterion 2.1: number of global systemically important institutions (G-SIIs) and other systemically important institutions (O-SIIs) that are credit institutions to which ICT services are provided by the same ICT third-party service provider where the ICT services support critical or important functions; > **(b)** sub-criterion 2.2: number of financial entities, other than credit institutions and G-SIIs and O-SIIs referred to in point (a) above, identified as systemic by competent authorities referred to under [Article 46](../../articles/46.md) of Regulation (EU) 2022/2554 to which ICT services are provided by the same ICT third-party service provider where the ICT services support critical or important functions. **2.** An ICT third-party service provider shall be considered as having fulfilled the sub-criterion set out in paragraph 1, point (a), if the ICT services it provides are used at least by either of the following: > **(a)** one G-SII; > **(b)** at least three O-SIIs; > **(c)** at least one O-SII with an O-SII score above 3 000 calculated in accordance with Article 131(3) of Directive 2013/36/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council. **3.** An ICT third-party service provider shall be considered as having fulfilled the sub-criterion set out in paragraph 1, point (b), if the ICT services that it provides are used at least by either of the following: > **(a)** one financial entity that is a financial entity as referred to in [Article 2(1)](../../articles/2.md), points (g), (h), (i) or (j) of Regulation (EU) 2022/2554 and which is identified as ‘systemic’ by competent authorities; > **(b)** at least three financial entities, other than credit institutions and than financial entities referred to in [Article 2(1)](../../articles/2.md), points (g), (h), (i) or (j) of Regulation (EU) 2022/2554 and which are identified as ‘systemic’ by competent authorities. **4.** When considering the criterion set out in [Article 31(2)](../../articles/31.md), point (b), of Regulation (EU) 2022/2554 and where the ICT third-party service provider fulfils the ‘step 1’ sub-criteria referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article, the ESAs shall carry out their assessment in the light of the following ‘step 2’ sub-criterion: > — sub-criterion 2.3: G-SIIs or O-SIIs and other financial entities included in the assessment in the ‘step 1’ sub criteria referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article, including where those G-SIIs or O-SIIs provide financial infrastructure services to other financial entities, relying on an ICT service provided by the same ICT third-party service provider, are interdependent.