Advantech partners with DEKRA to address industrial cybersecurity gaps

Advantech and DEKRA signed a memorandum of understanding to combine industrial computing expertise with global certification services. This partnership addresses growing cybersecurity compliance requirements for equipment entering global markets, particularly as the European Union’s Cyber Resilience Act moves into its implementation phase.

The agreement focuses on integrating security testing into the initial product design stages rather than treating it as a final certification step. According to Industrial Cyber, the collaboration helps system integrators and end customers navigate complex regulatory landscapes. It specifically targets requirements from the EU CRA and international standards like IEC 62443, aiming to shorten time to market while reducing compliance risks for manufacturers deploying Edge AI technologies.

Strategic alignment on digital trust

Miller Chang, President of Advantech’s Embedded Sector, stated that compliance is evolving from a pre-launch procedure into a critical design consideration. He noted that Edge AI advancement requires customers to address regulatory needs early. By merging Advantech’s industrial computing knowledge with DEKRA’s certification capabilities, the firms aim to help clients identify requirements sooner. This approach allows trusted innovations to reach global markets more efficiently while mitigating potential security gaps during development.

Stan Zurkiewicz, CEO of DEKRA, emphasized that digital trust is essential for industrial innovation in sectors like manufacturing and energy. He explained that companies need verifiable evidence of safety and cybersecurity to build confidence in connected technologies. DEKRA’s role involves providing independent assurance to help firms navigate evolving international requirements. This third-party testing supports the integration of AI and connected tools into critical infrastructure with verified security postures.

Scope of technical support

The collaboration covers a broad range of services including technical feasibility assessments, documentation reviews, and certification preparation. It also includes vulnerability management and secure development support throughout the product lifecycle. By bringing testing expertise into early development, the partnership helps customers identify regulatory and technical requirements across different markets. This proactive planning allows for advanced certification pathways and continuous gap analysis during the engineering process.

What should you do?

Organizations developing industrial equipment or Edge AI products should review their current compliance strategies for the EU Cyber Resilience Act. Engineering teams should integrate security testing into the design phase rather than waiting for final certification. Procurement departments should verify that partners offer independent assurance and vulnerability management support. Companies should map their product roadmaps against IEC 62443 and CRA requirements to identify gaps early in the development cycle.

What to do and how to stay safe: Advantech

• Review product design workflows to ensure security testing occurs before final certification stages.
• Verify that development partners provide independent third-party testing for industrial cybersecurity standards.
• Map current product roadmaps against EU Cyber Resilience Act requirements to identify compliance gaps.
• Consult with system integrators to understand how early-stage security planning impacts time to market.

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General security guidance from the Threat Times newsroom. It is not confirmed advice from the organisations named in this story.

Frequently asked questions

Which regulations does the Advantech and DEKRA partnership address?

The collaboration targets compliance with the European Union’s Cyber Resilience Act and international standards such as IEC 62443.

What services are included in the memorandum of understanding?

The agreement covers technical assessments, documentation review, certification preparation, vulnerability management, and secure development support.

Why is early-stage compliance important for Edge AI products?

Early compliance helps identify regulatory requirements sooner, reduces risks, and allows trusted innovations to reach global markets more efficiently.