Summary

This article outlines the essential training and awareness programs that organizations must implement to ensure all stakeholders understand and can effectively comply with the requirements of the Cyber Resilience Act (CRA). It highlights the provisions and obligations related to enhancing cybersecurity skills and awareness among various stakeholders.

Relevant CRA Provisions

Detailed Explanation

The Cyber Resilience Act (CRA) emphasizes the importance of training and awareness programs to ensure effective implementation and compliance. Member States are required to promote measures and strategies to develop cybersecurity skills and create organizational and technological tools to ensure a sufficient availability of skilled professionals. This includes enhancing workforce mobility, making the cybersecurity workforce more resilient and inclusive, and ensuring that manufacturers’ staff have the necessary skills to comply with their obligations under the CRA.

Market surveillance authorities play a crucial role in this process by providing guidance and advice to economic operators on the implementation of the Regulation. They are also responsible for conducting simultaneous coordinated control actions (sweeps) to check compliance and detect infringements. These sweeps are particularly important where market trends or consumer complaints suggest that certain categories of products with digital elements present cybersecurity risks.

Additionally, the CRA provides support measures for microenterprises and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), including start-ups. These measures include organizing specific awareness-raising and training activities, establishing dedicated communication channels, and supporting testing and conformity assessment activities. The Commission is also required to provide guidance and advertise available financial support to ease the financial burden on these enterprises.

Obligations for Stakeholders

Manufacturers: Must ensure that their staff have the necessary cybersecurity skills to comply with their obligations under the CRA.

Market Surveillance Authorities: Are required to promote measures to develop cybersecurity skills, conduct sweeps to check compliance, and provide guidance and advice to economic operators.

Member States: Must ensure that adequate resources are available for the appropriate staffing of market surveillance authorities and conformity assessment bodies, and take measures to support manufacturers, especially microenterprises and SMEs, in skill development.

Microenterprises and SMEs: Can benefit from simplified technical documentation and financial support to comply with the CRA.