Dinesh Sharma, asvin GmbH
The Importance of the CRA
The EU’s Cyber Resilience Act (CRA) sets strict cybersecurity requirements for all connected products, including IoT devices. For manufacturers, CRA compliance is essential to ensure secure, trustworthy, and market-ready products. From 2027 onward, only devices meeting these standards will be allowed on the EU market.
The CRA strengthens security by design, enforces vulnerability management, and promotes supply chain accountability — helping IoT manufacturers build safer, more reliable devices.
Beyond regulatory compliance, CRA adoption represents a strategic advantage for IoT companies. Early alignment allows manufacturers to reduce the risk of costly redesigns, avoid market delays, and demonstrate a proactive commitment to user safety and data protection. By embedding CRA principles into their product development lifecycle, manufacturers not only meet EU requirements but also gain a competitive edge in the global market, where cybersecurity and trust are increasingly key differentiators.
How IoT Manufacturers Can Prepare
To align with CRA, IoT manufacturers should:
- Assess their products to determine CRA scope and classification.
Identify which products fall under CRA regulation and categorize them based on their intended use and risk level. This helps define the depth of security measures and documentation needed for compliance. - Integrate security by design, ensuring encryption, authentication, and secure update mechanisms.
Embed cybersecurity principles throughout the product lifecycle — from development to deployment — ensuring that every device is secure by default and resistant to common threats. - Implement vulnerability management for continuous monitoring and timely patching.
Establish a structured process to detect, report, and resolve vulnerabilities promptly. Regular monitoring and updates minimize security gaps and ensure long-term device integrity. - Maintain compliance documentation such as risk assessments and security reports.
Keep detailed records of risk analyses, design decisions, and security evaluations. These documents serve as proof of compliance during audits and support transparency across the supply chain. - Monitor post-market performance and report incidents to ENISA within 24 hours.
Set up systems for ongoing performance tracking and incident detection. Quick reporting to authorities ensures regulatory compliance and strengthens trust among customers and partners. - Collaborate across the supply chain and train teams on CRA principles.
Engage suppliers, integrators, and internal teams in CRA readiness. Regular training and shared best practices help maintain consistent cybersecurity standards throughout the product ecosystem.
Manufacturers should also adopt standardized frameworks such as ISO/IEC 27400 for IoT security and leverage automated compliance tools that simplify evidence collection and reporting. Establishing a clear governance structure for cybersecurity, supported by dedicated teams and regular audits, will help ensure that CRA requirements are consistently met. Integrating these processes early in development minimizes last-minute adjustments and ensures smooth certification once CRA enforcement begins.
CRA and the DOSS Project
Within the DOSS project, CRA readiness plays a central role in enhancing IoT device security, lifecycle management, and post-market resilience. DOSS supports manufacturers in adopting these principles through secure design frameworks, automated compliance tools, and continuous monitoring mechanisms, ensuring that IoT devices remain compliant and trustworthy across their entire lifecycle.
Additionally, DOSS contributes to the broader European cybersecurity landscape by providing reference implementations and open frameworks that can be adapted by SMEs and large manufacturers alike. Through collaborative research, DOSS helps bridge the gap between regulatory theory and real-world application, empowering IoT producers to meet CRA obligations effectively while fostering innovation and interoperability across the European digital ecosystem.
Conclusion
The CRA sets a new benchmark for cybersecurity in connected products. Through DOSS, IoT manufacturers can accelerate compliance, improve resilience, and strengthen customer confidence in a secure digital ecosystem.
By embedding CRA-aligned security practices from design to decommissioning, manufacturers can build trust not only with regulators but also with consumers who demand transparency and protection. As the CRA becomes a defining factor in market access, those who invest early in compliance and resilience will lead the way toward a safer and more sustainable IoT future.
