Cyber threats are getting worse, and regulation is racing to keep up. One of the biggest changes coming for UK businesses in 2026 isn’t even British law. It’s European regulation that still affects UK companies trading with the EU.
Here’s what the Cyber Resilience Act (CRA) means for your business and what you need to do now to prepare.
What is the Cyber Resilience Act?
The Cyber Resilience Act is an EU regulation designed to raise cybersecurity standards for products with digital elements. That means hardware, software and connected services sold in the EU market. The goal is simple: make sure devices and software are built, updated and maintained to resist cyber threats throughout their lifecycle.
UK businesses can’t ignore this, especially if they sell software or hardware into the EU, operate digital services in EU member states, or work with EU supply chains.
The CRA came into force on 10 December 2024 and starts applying from 11 September 2026, with full compliance required by 11 December 2027.
So, if a lot of this is new to you, you still have a few months to become compliant.
Related Reading: Why Cyber Essentials Alone Won’t Protect You: Building Real Cyber Resilience
Who Does the Act Apply To?
The CRA is product-focused. It applies to manufacturers, distributors, importers and other economic operators who place products with digital elements on the EU market. This includes software, IoT devices, embedded systems and any digital component that connects to other devices or networks.
The scope is broad. Even non-critical products fall under the CRA if they have a digital component and are sold or made available in the EU.
Key Requirements of the Act
Products covered by the CRA must meet baseline cybersecurity standards throughout their lifecycle:
Security by Design and by Default
Products must be developed and shipped without known vulnerabilities and must be secure in their default configuration.
Vulnerability Management
Manufacturers must maintain processes for identifying and fixing vulnerabilities and provide security updates throughout a defined support lifecycle.
Transparency and Reporting
Suppliers must provide clear information on the cybersecurity properties of their products, including documentation, update policies and guidance for secure use.
Incident Reporting
Certain cybersecurity incidents must be reported to EU authorities within specified timeframes when they affect product security.
Conformity Assessment and CE Marking
Before placing products on the EU market, manufacturers may need to conduct risk assessments and work with conformity assessment bodies where required.
Related Reading: The Importance of Retesting After Fixing Cybersecurity Vulnerabilities
Why This Matters to UK Businesses in 2026
Brexit hasn’t changed one fundamental fact: if you do business in the EU, you follow EU rules. If your organisation exports digital products or internet-connected services to the EU, relies on vendors who place products in the EU, or participates in EU supply chains, then CRA compliance will soon be legally required.
Between September 2026 and December 2027, early provisions like reporting and documentation obligations will start to apply. Full compliance is required by the end of 2027.
Failure to meet CRA obligations could mean market exclusion in the EU, enforcement actions or serious reputational damage, especially if your products are found to be insecure or non-compliant.
UK Domestic Context: Cyber Resilience Bill
Meanwhile, the UK Government is progressing its own Cyber Security and Resilience Bill through Parliament. This aims to strengthen national cyber defences and expand regulatory oversight domestically.
Key features of the UK Bill include wider scope for regulated entities beyond current Network and Information Systems (NIS) Regulations, stronger incident reporting requirements (potentially within 24 hours), and regulatory powers to penalise organisations that fail to meet cybersecurity expectations.
While this Bill is separate from the EU’s CRA, it shows that formal cyber regulation is becoming the norm worldwide.
Related Reading: How to Develop an Incident Response Plan
Practical Steps UK Businesses Should Take in 2026
Here’s how to prepare for the Cyber Resilience Act and related regulatory trends:
Map Your Product Footprint
Identify which of your products or services have digital elements that could fall under the CRA, especially if sold or used in the EU.
Build Security into Product Lifecycle
Ensure that secure-by-design principles are embedded from development through to end-of-life. This includes regular vulnerability testing, secure default configurations, and patch and update mechanisms.
Strengthen Supply Chain Governance
Work with suppliers and distributors to ensure that any components or services tied to your products meet CRA documentation and security expectations.
Related Reading: Supply Chain Cyber Attacks: Why Your Supplier’s Problem Becomes Yours
Establish Incident Monitoring and Reporting
Develop internal processes for tracking and reporting cybersecurity incidents, in line with both EU and anticipated UK requirements.
Stay Ahead of UK Law
Monitor the progression of the UK Cyber Security and Resilience Bill. Compliance may become mandatory for UK operations in its own right.
Related Reading: How to Respond to a Data Breach: Step-by-Step Guide
Moving Forward
In 2026, the Cyber Resilience Act marks a significant shift toward formal, enforceable cybersecurity obligations across Europe. UK businesses that trade into the EU market must begin preparing now or risk exclusion, enforcement and competitive disadvantage when the CRA comes into force.
At the same time, the UK’s own cyber regulatory landscape is evolving. The message is clear: resilience and accountability are now central to doing business.
A proactive compliance strategy grounded in secure engineering, vulnerability management, incident reporting and governance is no longer optional. It’s business critical.
Related Reading: 5 Tips for Creating an Effective Cybersecurity Policy