The whitepaper explains the Cyber Resilience Act from an industrial automation perspective. It covers scope, timelines, product classification, the 21 essential requirements from Annex I, SBOM obligations, vulnerability reporting, and practical implications for manufacturers of hardware and software.

This whitepaper is written for:

• Component manufacturers

• Machine and system builders (OEMs)

• Industrial software providers

• Product managers, CTOs, and compliance leads

Anyone responsible for connected industrial products sold in the EU will benefit from this guide.

Yes. The content is based on Regulation (EU) 2024/2847, including CRA Articles and Annexes, as well as guidance from the European Commission and the Linux Foundation. The whitepaper translates regulatory language into practical guidance.

The CRA entered into force in December 2024.
Key obligations start between 2026 and 2027, depending on the requirement (e.g. vulnerability reporting, conformity assessments, full enforcement). The whitepaper includes a clear timeline to help you plan accordingly.

No. The CRA applies to products with digital elements, including hardware with embedded software, firmware, and connected industrial systems such as PLCs, controllers, gateways, and industrial software.

Not necessarily. In many cases, compliance can be achieved by improving software lifecycle management, update processes, documentation, and security governance. The whitepaper explains where structural changes are required and where existing architectures can be extended.

For most industrial automation products, self-assessment is sufficient. Only products classified under Annex III or IV require involvement of conformity assessment bodies. The whitepaper explains how product classification works and what it means in practice.

The CRA explicitly requires secure update mechanisms, vulnerability handling, and long-term support. Without a structured way to deploy, update, and maintain software, compliance becomes difficult to sustain. The whitepaper highlights why lifecycle management is a central requirement, not an afterthought.

FLECS provides a shared software layer for packaging, deploying, updating, and operating industrial software across its lifecycle. This supports CRA-relevant requirements such as secure updates, access control, auditability, and SBOM-related processes, without changing ownership or customer relationships.

No. This is an educational document focused on regulatory clarity and practical implementation. FLECS is referenced only where it helps explain how manufacturers can operationalize CRA requirements in real environments.