You’ve probably seen how compromised devices, vulnerable networks, and privacy breaches have become major plotlines in TV series and movies. Unfortunately, these aren't just fictional scenarios dreamed up by creative, potentially paranoid, scriptwriters for your entertainment; they're based on very real threats that organizations face each day.
The IoT devices market in Europe is on track to hit a staggering US$ 42,756.6 million by 2030. That's not just a big number—it represents millions of consumers who deserve products that won't compromise their security or privacy. Recognizing that the digital vulnerabilities we see in the media mirror actual security incidents, the EU has enacted crucial regulations: the updated Radio Equipment Directive (RED) and the Cyber Resilience Act (CRA).
The "we'll fix it later" approach is no longer viable with Europe's tightening cybersecurity regulations. We’re here to help you prepare for what’s coming with expert insight and a Cyber Resilience Act compliance checklist.
Critical Cybersecurity Compliance Deadlines You Can't Afford to Miss
The regulatory clock is ticking with these two major EU cybersecurity regulations converging in the next few years:
- August 1, 2025: RED Delegated Regulation fully applies. All radio equipment must meet cybersecurity requirements.
- September 11, 2026: CRA mandatory incident reporting kicks in. You'll need to report actively exploited vulnerabilities within 24 hours.
- December 11, 2027: CRA full compliance required. Every product with digital elements must meet all requirements.
These deadlines aren't suggestions—they're regulatory checkpoints that will reshape the market. The smart players aren't waiting until the last minute; they're already embedding secure-by-design practices into their development cycles. Because when these dates arrive (and they will, faster than you think), there will be two kinds of companies: those scrambling to comply and those already capitalizing on their security-first advantage.
Top 4 IoT Cybersecurity Compliance Challenges
1. Overcoming Technical Cybersecurity Requirements
Be honest—you probably didn't get into product development to become a cybersecurity expert. Yet suddenly you need to understand vulnerability testing, encryption protocols, and secure boot processes. It's like being asked to perform surgery when your expertise is in architecture.
2. Managing Compliance Costs and Timelines
The first time you go through compliance, it's shocking how much time it consumes. What seems like a straightforward process can easily stretch into months, eating away at development time and budget. When your product lifecycle is measured in months, spending three of them on compliance feels impossible.
3. Maintaining Continuous Compliance with Product Updates
Just when you think you've got everything compliant—surprise!—there's a firmware update that changes everything. The constant cycle of evaluate, certify, update, re-evaluate can make even the most patient team members pull their hair out.
4. Navigating Global Cybersecurity Regulations Simultaneously
Global markets mean global rules, and they don't always align nicely. What works for European RED compliance might not tick the boxes for requirements in other regions. It's like trying to play chess, checkers, and backgammon simultaneously.
The Essential Cyber Resilience Act Compliance Checklist for Different Stakeholders
For Scheme Owners: Leading the Compliance Framework
You're in a unique position to shape how entire sectors approach CRA compliance. Your frameworks will determine how efficiently manufacturers can demonstrate compliance.
Ask yourself:
- How can our schemes be updated to align with CRA requirements while maintaining their existing value?
- What opportunities exist to centralize certificate management across our ecosystem?
- How will we facilitate collaboration between manufacturers and notified bodies?
The schemes that thrive will be those that simplify governance while enabling robust compliance.
For Certifying Laboratories and Notified Bodies: Preparing for the Compliance Surge
The demand for your services is about to skyrocket, particularly for products falling into the Important and Critical categories. Your focus should be on:
- Building capacity for the 2026-2027 compliance rush
- Developing standardized testing methodologies aligned with CRA requirements
- Creating clear communication channels with manufacturers and scheme owners
- Leveraging technology to accelerate evaluations without compromising quality
Forward-thinking labs developing automated testing frameworks specifically for CRA compliance will capture market share.
For Manufacturers: Securing Your Market Access
You're on the front lines of this regulatory shift, and your ability to access the European market depends on getting this right. Your immediate priorities should be:
- Know where you stand: Catalog your products and determine which fall under CRA scope
- Classify your risks: Determine which category your products fall into – Default, Important (Class I or II), or Critical
- Start risk analysis now: This is the foundation everything else builds upon
- Build your vulnerability handling processes: You'll need these ready by September 2026
Leveraging Standards as Your IoT Compliance Blueprint
Here's some good news – you don't need to interpret every line of the CRA yourself. Several existing standards align well with its requirements:
- ETSI provides a solid foundation for consumer IoT with its ETSI EN 303 645
- EN 18031 aligns with RED Directive requirements that overlap with the CRA
- IEC 62443 offers a robust framework for industrial systems
"The EN 18031 standard, among others like ETSI EN 303645 or IEC 62443, supports self-declaration, eliminating the need for third-party verification," explains cybersecurity expert Natael Couturier. This ultimately simplifies the manufacturer's compliance journey. Natael emphasizes the importance of every manufacturer performing a cybersecurity risk analysis on their product. However, risk analysis is not the only step they should take to be compliant with the CRA. It is, nonetheless, the first step and will help create a roadmap to achieve full compliance with the CRA by 2027.
Natael provides more insight into staying compliant and turning regulation into your competitive edge in Navigating IoT Cyber Regulations in 2025 & Beyond.
Understanding Self-Declaration Pathways for CRA Compliance
One of the CRA's more practical aspects is the self-declaration pathway for many products. If your product falls into the Default category, you can assess conformity internally without third-party verification.
This doesn't mean easier requirements – it means you need robust internal processes for:
- Conducting thorough risk assessments
- Testing against security requirements
- Documenting conformity
- Maintaining evidence of compliance
What Makes a Device "Radio Equipment" Under RED?
If your product connects wirelessly to anything, it's almost certainly "radio equipment" under EU law. The definition deliberately casts a wide net to capture anything that transmits or receives data using radio waves:
- Your smartphones? Radio equipment.
- Smart thermostats? Radio equipment.
- That innovative Bluetooth widget your R&D team is developing? Radio equipment.
The reality is startlingly simple: if it communicates without wires, Europe considers it radio equipment—and August 2025 is the deadline that will separate those who can access the market from those left on the outside looking in.
The Path Forward: Your Cyber Resilience Act Compliance Checklist for 2025
No matter your role in the ecosystem, there are concrete actions you can take now. The smartest approach isn't just about surviving the next deadline. It's about building a compliance capability that becomes a competitive advantage:
- Implement "Security by Design" principles: Integrate security from the earliest design phases rather than retrofitting it later—this approach reduces costs and prevents expensive redesigns.
- Develop a regulatory roadmap: Identify which regulations apply to your product (RED, CRA, NIS2) and how they overlap to create an efficient compliance strategy.
- Cultivate internal security expertise: Invest in targeted training for your development team that focuses specifically on embedded security and secure coding practices.
- Create a balanced compliance ecosystem: Build core competencies in-house while strategically engaging specialized partners.
- Leverage automation and intelligence tools: Accelerate compliance processes with AI-powered tools that centralize certificate management, streamline governance, speed up product evaluations, and simplify the certification proces
Remember: In tomorrow's market, cybersecurity won't just be a compliance requirement—it will be the price of admission to the world's most valuable markets. Those who adapt fastest won't just comply—they'll thrive.
Streamlining RED and CRA Compliance Strategies for 2025
While you could tackle this mountain of complexity with spreadsheets, email chains, and late nights, there are smarter approaches gaining traction:
How Collaborative Compliance Platforms Reduce Certification Time
The days of siloed compliance work are over. Forward-thinking companies are using platforms that connect everyone involved—from internal teams to testing labs to certification bodies—reducing endless back-and-forth emails and misunderstandings.
Standards-Aligned Tools for Faster Security Assessments
When your tools are already aligned with standards like ETSI EN 303 645 Cybersecurity Standard for Consumer IoT Devices or EN 18031, you're not starting from scratch with each evaluation. It's like having the test answers—not to cheat, but to know exactly what you're being tested.
Improving Compliance Visibility Across Multiple Products
With multiple products at different certification stages, visibility becomes crucial. Having a dashboard that shows exactly where everything stands helps allocate resources where they're needed most and avoid "I thought you were handling that" moments.
Final Thoughts
The time to prepare is now. Your organization's ability to navigate this converging cybersecurity regulatory landscape will determine not just your compliance status, but your competitive position in the secure digital economy of tomorrow. The difference between the leaders and the rest isn't that they never struggle—it's that they're building systems to learn from each struggle and make the next compliance cycle a little less painful.
Starting your compliance journey today—with risk analysis as your first step in your Cyber Resilience Act compliance checklist—could be the difference between market access and a costly product redesign down the road.
Let’s talk more about how CyberPass can help you prepare for the CRA in 2025. CyberPass, unlike traditional consulting firms or static compliance tools, combines AI-powered automation, multi-stakeholder collaboration, and a data-driven approach to cybersecurity certification.
