Understanding the EU regulation on cyber resilience

- Heard of the European Cyber Resilience Act? Well, it's making waves, and rightfully so. The European Union, or EU, has been rolling out regulations like GDPR to protect the sensitive data and privacy of European consumers. But now the focus is shifting deeper to cybersecurity with more devices that are connected now, more than ever, the EU Cyber Resilience Act is here to tackle the very important issue of cybersecurity within the core lifecycle of digital products and services. But what exactly does this act seek to accomplish, and why should cybersecurity professionals be paying close attention? Let's take a look. If the digital landscape expands, then so does the surface area for cyber attacks. Think about it. Everything from smartphone to industrial machinery is connected to the internet, and while connectivity has incredible benefits, it introduces vulnerabilities. In fact, cyber incidents have risen exponentially over the past few years and have impacted everything from critical infrastructure to consumer data. The EU Cyber Resilience Act is Europe's response to these growing challenges and complexities. It was first proposed in 2022 and is expected to be in full effect within just a few years. Its core purpose is to create a safer digital environment across the EU. This isn't just about punishing companies who are the victims of breaches. It's about preventing them by setting up a solid framework for cybersecurity hygiene across all interconnected devices and services. The act shifts responsibility for cybersecurity to the creators and suppliers of digital products and services, not just the end users, which is a first. It's a main goal to establish the baseline of security requirements for manufacturers, importers, and distributors that operate within the EU market. Basically, if you're producing or selling a digital product that could impact EU citizens, you'll need to meet the act's standards to make sure that the product is secure by design. Now, let's talk about the act's key objectives. First, increase product security. The act mandates that products must be secure by design. This means that security considerations are integrated into the product development process from the beginning, and that includes everything from hardware, like IOT devices, to software products. Next, improve transparency and accountability. Manufacturers and suppliers have to be transparent about any and all vulnerabilities identified after the product has been launched. They're also responsible for timely patching and updates to mitigate risks that have been identified. And last, protect EU citizens. By making sure all digital products meet baseline security requirements, the ACT works to minimize cyber risks that could impact citizens from things like data breaches and malicious attacks on devices. Now that you have an understanding of the act and what it aims to accomplish, hop on over to the next video where we'll talk through how the act does a fine job of eliminating legislative patchwork and what that means for cybersecurity teams.