As global enterprises accelerate their adoption of AI and Edge AI, networking and communications teams are under greater pressure than ever—keeping computing hardware and servers running seamlessly, securing critical data, and stopping malicious threats in their tracks. To stay ahead of rapid technological change, tighter security demands, and tougher compliance standards, organizations need platforms that are innovative, agile, and resilient. More and more, software-defined infrastructure is proving to be the future—but success depends on choosing the right provider with the right products to power these architectures.
According to DemandSage’s latest cybersecurity statistics, more than 2,200 cyberattacks occur every day—roughly one every 39 seconds. By 2025, ransomware is expected to make up 68% of all detected threats, with global cybercrime damages projected to soar to $10.29 trillion.
The European Union (EU) has unveiled the Cyber Resilience Act (CRA)—the first regulation of its kind to demand that manufacturers take responsibility for the security of both software and hardware products sold in the EU. Unlike in the past, where consumers were left to safeguard their own devices through patches, updates, and proper configurations, the CRA shifts the focus to manufacturers, ensuring stronger protection and greater trust in the IoT products people rely on every day.
In today’s hyper-connected world, nearly everything we use — from smart home devices to complex industrial systems — contains a digital element. These products make our lives easier, but they also open the door to new risks. That’s why the European Union has introduced the CRA: a bold new regulation designed to protect consumers and businesses while setting higher standards for cybersecurity across the EU market.
● What does this mean for you?
The CRA introduces a “security by design and by default” approach. Products with Digital Elements (PDEs) must now be secure from day one and remain secure throughout their entire lifecycle. No more “launch and forget.” Manufacturers will be required to deliver regular updates, patches, and maintenance to keep products safe long after they’ve been sold.
● How will it work?
To ensure fairness and clarity, the CRA sorts PDEs into four categories:
(1) Default
(2) Important Class I
(3) Important Class II
(4) Critical
Each category carries different obligations, with stricter requirements placed on products that pose higher risks. At the same time, some areas — such as pure SaaS offerings, certain Free and Open Source Software, and industries already covered by other regulations — fall outside of CRA’s scope.
● When is it happening?
The rollout is already in motion:
⮚ Adoption in late 2024
⮚ Reporting begins in 2026
⮚ Full enforcement by 2027
That means businesses have a window to prepare — but the clock is ticking.
● Why it matters?
The core principle behind the CRA is simple: digital products must stay secure before, during, and after they’re sold, all the way until end of life.
For businesses, this is more than a compliance checklist. It’s a chance to stand out in the market, earn customer trust, and build lasting loyalty. Companies that embrace CRA early won’t just avoid risk — they’ll become leaders in digital trust and resilience.
The CRA applies to all entities involved in the process of building, supplying, or delivering Products with Digital Elements (PDEs) within the EU market. This includes manufacturers, who design and deliver PDEs to consumers; providers, who supply critical components or software (both proprietary and open source) used in those products; and importers, who bring PDEs into the EU market for distribution. In addition, stewards—the guardians of open-source software integrated into PDEs—are also expected to align with CRA requirements. Together, these roles form the backbone of accountability, ensuring that digital products entering the EU market meet the highest standards of security and resilience.
According to the CRA, manufacturers of Products with Digital Elements (PDEs) must fulfill four main obligations. These include conducting comprehensive risk assessments to ensure that products are secure by default, contain no known exploitable vulnerabilities, and are designed to minimize attack surfaces and data processing. At the same time, manufacturers are required to provide thorough documentation covering product design, vulnerability management, declarations of conformity, and a Software Bill of Materials (SBOM) that transparently lists every component, whether proprietary or open-source.
At DFI, our product development process is fully aligned with IEC 62443-1, ensuring that cybersecurity considerations are embedded throughout the lifecycle. This approach not only meets the CRA requirements but also raises the bar for industrial-grade security. With our extensive experience in BIOS and firmware development, we ensure that products are secure from the foundational layer. We also provide licensed operating systems to ensure regulatory compliance and long-term support. In addition, we integrate Trusted Platform Module (TPM) functionality to safeguard data integrity and secure cryptographic operations at the hardware level, further strengthening defenses against cyber threats. Combined with proactive compliance assessments and the capability to report vulnerabilities to ENISA within 24 hours, DFI delivers products that not only fully comply with the CRA but are also future-ready—ensuring reliability and trust from firmware and compliant operating systems to hardware security.
DFI has a long-standing collaboration with Canonical, focusing on Edge AIoT security with Ubuntu Pro at the core. With the EU CRA already adopted and being implemented in phases, customers require more than just operating system updates—they need long-term security maintenance across the entire open source stack, along with auditable compliance capabilities. Ubuntu Pro extends security coverage for Ubuntu LTS to 10 years and, through Expanded Security Maintenance (ESM), delivers security fixes to both Main + Universe repositories , ensuring reliable maintenance for open source software components including toolchains and applications used in AI and data processing .
On the compliance side, Ubuntu Pro provides FIPS 140-2/140-3 certified modules, automated hardening and auditing with CIS Benchmarks / DISA-STIG, enabling customers to prepare for audits in sensitive industries. For IoT and embedded use cases, the new Ubuntu Pro for Devices combines ESM with Landscape for lifecycle security management at scale. In AI platform integration, Canonical works with major silicon vendors to optimize Ubuntu and ensure consistent deployment from cloud to edge on DFI's industrial-grade hardware.
Building on DFI’s embedded hardware with an average lifecycle of 5–10 years or more, combined with Ubuntu Pro’s 10-year security maintenance and compliance support, the solution is particularly well-suited for mission-critical and long-term applications. For example, in smart factories, Ubuntu Pro ensures that production equipment and industrial control systems receive ongoing security updates throughout their lifecycle, meeting CRA and industry standards while avoiding downtime from vulnerabilities. In smart healthcare, Ubuntu Pro provides FIPS encryption to safeguard medical devices and ensure regulatory compliance . In smart transportation and urban infrastructure, Ubuntu Pro for Devices with Landscape enables centralized management of large fleets, ensuring uninterrupted public services. And in edge AI and smart retail, Ubuntu Pro’s long-term maintenance for libraries like Python enterprises to securely deploy and update AI models.
Together, DFI’s industrial-grade, long-lifecycle hardware and Ubuntu Pro’s enterprise security and compliance enable customers to run AIoT systems securely and cost-effectively for 5–10+ years, delivering sustained performance, robust protection, regulatory alignment, and real long-term value. Learn more: Ubuntu Pro for Devices | Ubuntu