Focus: Cybersecurity


compliance must be ensured at the end- product level, rather than simply at the module level.


A core competency With an increasing number of CRA and RED mandates coming into effect, cybersecurity is no longer optional but a prerequisite for embedded systems and OEMs. For engineers, this means security design and risk analysis must happen early in the development process. Beyond product development,


lifecycle management and maintaining operational compliance become essential. As such, manufacturers must be constantly on the lookout for new vulnerabilities so they can deliver patches promptly and notify authorities of major incidents within the mandated 24-hour window. To facilitate this, embedded systems require robust update mechanisms, encrypted communication and hardened firmware, and with supply chains also held accountable for non- compliance, every component vendor must prove their parts meet the required standards. If not, end products cannot be certified for legal entry into the EU market, which illustrates the importance of early cybersecurity adoption for all collaborating parties.


Embedded ecosystems supporting cybersecurity To meet these growing regulatory demands efficiently, developers benefit from using a comprehensive ecosystem of hardware, software and tools designed for embedded applications. The SECO Clea platform, for instance, follows an SbD philosophy and offers fundamental mechanisms such as secure boot, encrypted communication and signed firmware, and enabling full product lifecycle management. A key element for maintaining


compliance is over-the-air update infrastructure, which ensures timely, reliable and auditable deployment of software and firmware updates. By providing regular security patches and actively addressing exploited


Figure 3: The SECO Clea ecosystem includes a wide range of tools, hardware and software that enables developers to implement the necessary cybersecurity measures in their products, and comply with modern mandates


vulnerabilities quickly, the Clea ecosystem helps manufactures meet their regulatory obligations. It also makes it easier for manufacturers to produce and manage vital SBOM for CE compliance and audits. The ecosystem goes further by


integrating monitoring, reporting and compliance tools, allowing centralised oversight of device fleets, early detection of anomalies and recording and reporting of incidents. Such capabilities streamline OEM workflows, resulting in lower regulatory risks and increased confidence among customers and partners who share compliance responsibility. Integrating Clea in an already existing


embedded system begins with using SDKs, APIs and agents for different hardware and software platforms and adding these to existing stacks. This can be done without redesigning the core architecture, enabling secure communications, device authentication and lifecycle management from the early stages of development. The next step is connecting the


Clea ecosystem to a cloud, for example SECO’s cloud services, where


10 December 2025/January 2026 www.electronicsworld.co.uk


dashboards and connectors can provide access to monitoring, update and compliance functions. These cloud platforms support standardised protocols and integrate with existing development and deployment workflows to ensure scaleability across large, heterogeneous device fleets. To simplify operations, Clea also


offers DevOps and additional security tools for automated SBOM creation, vulnerability scanning, logging and reporting. This allows teams to meet documentation and audit requirements directly within their toolchains, which reduces manual effort and accelerates time-to-market for compliant products.


Security by design With the introduction of CRA and RED, cybersecurity becomes a core requirement for embedded systems and OEMs seeking access to EU markets. Security by design, continuous lifecycle management, SBOM documentation and rapid incident response are now mandatory, so developers must embed security at the architectural level as OEMs enforce compliance across their entire supply chain.


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