WAREHOUSING/FACTORIES


this requirement, and to keep end-users safe from new threats as they emerge. Although the CRA raises the bar for


“With the clock ticking for machine builders to prepare for the CRA’s final compliance date, there is simply no time to waste.”


suitable cybersecurity features for limiting them, as well as transparency around how these features have been implemented. Another of the main ‘secure by design’


requirements is that machines must be subject to continuous monitoring for vulnerabilities, with support for machines to be provided through patching for a period of at least five years or the machine’s expected lifetime. As such, machine builders should shift towards the delivery of lifecycle security support to ensure that they are compliant with


cybersecurity, it’s important to note that the vast majority of machines are likely to fall into the ‘Default’ category of the regulations’ three main sections for categorising the risk and potential impact of cyberattacks. This essentially means that these machines


aren’t regarded as a significant risk to the security of a network or device and will therefore be subject to an internal self- assessment to demonstrate compliance with the essential CRA requirements. Machine builders also need to be aware that some components may fall into the ‘Important’ or ‘Critical’ categories, indicating that they may impose a heightened cybersecurity threat and would need to undergo more rigorous compliance assessments. Given this context, it is vital that machine


builders ensure that all Products with Digital Elements (PDEs) contained in their machines, and not just the machines themselves, are fully compliant with the CRA. It is their responsibility, therefore, to make sure that the manufacturers of all the PDEs they use have provided relevant documentation, including in the machine’s technical file.


NO TIME TO DELAY With the clock ticking for machine builders to prepare for the CRA’s final compliance date,


there is simply no time to waste. OEMs should be working closely with their supply chain partners now to make sure that everything is in order for when December 2027 rolls around. While the sales activity of many machine


builders will inevitably not be confined to European markets alone, it is important to bear in mind that many other EU regulations, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), or the Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive (RoHS), have become de facto standards in many of the world’s other major markets, including China, India, Japan, Australia and the Americas. There’s a good chance that the same will


apply to the CRA, so machine builders should ensure that the cybersecurity functions baked into their designs are compliant with the regulation, irrespective of where else in the world they might be selling to. At Mitsubishi Electric, we completely


acknowledge, however, that navigating compliance is by no means a straightforward undertaking for machine builders. As such, we stand ready to offer them support and assistance in achieving compliance.


Mitsubishi www.MitsubishiElectric.com


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