Navigating Annex I of the CRA: Structure and Importance for Software
Annex I of the EU Cyber Resilience Act (CRA) is your primary technical guide. It lays out the "Essential Cybersecurity Requirements" that your software products must meet. Think of it as the rulebook for building and maintaining secure software for the EU market.
Structure of Annex I
Annex I is divided into two main parts:
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Part I: Cybersecurity requirements relating to the properties of products with digital elements. This part focuses on the security features and characteristics your software must have at the time it's placed on the market. It covers aspects like secure design, default configurations, protection against unauthorized access, and data security.
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Part II: Vulnerability handling requirements. This part addresses your ongoing responsibilities after your software is released. It details how you must handle discovered vulnerabilities, including identification, remediation, testing, disclosure, and update distribution.
Why Annex I is Crucial
Meeting these requirements is fundamental to CRA compliance. Your cybersecurity risk assessment (Article 13, Paragraph 2) will guide you on how these requirements apply specifically to your software product. Your EU Declaration of Conformity (Article 28) will state that you've fulfilled these applicable essential requirements.
For software developers creating games, apps, libraries, or components eligible for self-assessment, a thorough understanding and implementation of Annex I is the direct path to demonstrating compliance. It's not just about avoiding penalties; it's about building inherently more secure products.
Key Takeway
Annex I of the CRA is the cornerstone of its technical expectations, detailing essential cybersecurity requirements for both product properties (Part I) and ongoing vulnerability handling (Part II). Compliance with Annex I is mandatory and central to your risk assessment and declaration of conformity.