Beyond 2025: Why RED is the Blueprint for CRA Success
9
min reading time
The 2025 Deadline: Bridging the Gap Between RED-DA and the CRA
Manufacturers of connected devices face a complex regulatory timeline. While the RED Delegated Act (RED-DA) requirements for cybersecurity are now mandatory, the CRA is rapidly approaching.
Manufacturers who ignore the 2025 deadline risk being locked out of the market immediately. However, those who comply correctly will gain a significant head start on the CRA.
The key is to view the timeline not as two separate hurdles, but as a phased rollout. As discussed in RED Compliance Beyond Europe, treating these requirements as a design baseline rather than a checklist ensures that the compliance work performed today is not an administrative burden to be discarded, but the first step in a long-term security strategy.
EN 18031: The Strategic Link Between RED and CRA Compliance
The connection between the two regulations is the harmonized standard: EN 18031.
The RED-DA, which introduces Articles 3.3(d) (Network Protection), 3.3(e) (Data & Privacy), and 3.3(f) (Fraud Prevention), is supported by the EN 18031 series. As detailed in Cybersecurity in RED: Adapting to Articles 3.3(d), (e), and (f), aligning with these pillars early transforms the certification journey into a smoother, more predictable process.
This approach is especially critical for high-tech sectors; for instance, see RED Certification in the Age of 5G: Adapting to New Risks to understand how these standards tackle the unique challenges of next-gen connectivity.
This standard is the key to an efficient, long-term strategy:
- For RED (2025): The EN 18031 series provides the technical basis for demonstrating compliance with the RED-DA’s new cybersecurity requirements.
- For CRA (2027): It is "almost certainly" expected that the EN 18031 series will also form the basis for the harmonized horizontal standard for the CRA.
Therefore, investing in compliance with EN 18031 for the 2025 RED deadline is not a temporary fix. It is the most direct method for building the technical file, testing evidence, and internal processes that will be directly reusable for demonstrating CRA conformity.
This is particularly valuable for self-declaration (Module A), allowing you to transition smoothly without starting your testing from scratch.
How CCLab Streamlines the RED-to-CRA Transition
Navigating this transition requires more than just testing; it requires a roadmap that connects today's requirements with tomorrow's regulations.
CCLab provides end-to-end testing and guidance to help manufacturers use a single compliance effort to meet both the RED and CRA deadlines. As highlighted in Navigating RED Compliance Strategies, integrating expert guidance into the development cycle dramatically reduces the likelihood of late-stage certification issues.
As an accredited laboratory for testing against the RED-DA (Articles 3.3d, e, f), we support your transition through:
- Gap Analysis & Testing: We perform vulnerability assessment and penetration testing using the EN 18031 series to build your RED technical file.
- Evidence Reuse: We structure your RED-DA test reports and security dossiers to align with the forthcoming CRA requirements, ensuring your 2025 compliance work directly supports your 2027 CRA conformity assessment.
- Full Lifecycle Support: We guide you through the entire lifecycle, from RED-DA compliance testing today to CRA classification (Annex III/IV) and third-party assessment (EUCC) tomorrow.
For specific details on how we handle these requirements, you can visit our RED cybersecurity service page.
Summary
The RED-DA and CRA timelines are not a conflict, but a phased rollout. The August 2025 RED deadline was the first, non-negotiable step for ensuring the cybersecurity of radio equipment.
By leveraging the EN 18031 standard to meet this deadline, manufacturers can build a durable and efficient compliance foundation that directly translates to CRA conformity.
This approach is also compatible with broader frameworks. As you look toward the future, familiarizing yourself with Official Common Criteria resources can further help in understanding the high-assurance evaluations that may be required for critical components under the CRA.
Partnering with CCLab ensures this work is done right once, securing market access for 2025 and providing a clear, cost-effective path to 2027 CRA compliance.
The takeaway: Don't treat 2025 as the finish line. Use it as the launchpad for your CRA strategy.
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