NERO at CRA Standards Unlocked Workshop Series - Tools & Training to Help SMEs Journey Towards CRA Compliance
21, May, 2026
The NERO Cybersecurity Project actively participated in several stops of the CRA Standards Unlocked – Workshop Series, contributing to key discussions on the implementation of the upcoming European Cyber Resilience Act (CRA) and how SMEs can strengthen their cybersecurity readiness.
Organised by CYBERSTAND.eu and STAN4CRA.eu, in collaboration with ETSI and CEN-CENELEC, the workshop series brought together European experts, standardisation bodies, research projects, and industry stakeholders to explore practical approaches to CRA compliance and resilience.
Barcelona: Supporting SMEs Through Modular CRA Solutions
During the Barcelona workshop, held on 26 March 2026, NERO partner Eleni Seralidou (trustilio) highlighted the importance of collaborative European initiatives in helping SMEs navigate the transition towards CRA compliance.
The session highlighted how NERO is developing automated, modular cybersecurity tools aimed at streamlining compliance processes and enhancing resilience across sectors. Discussions also emphasised the growing importance of sector-specific security approaches to protect sensitive data and critical operations.
Another key focus was the need to strengthen cybersecurity competencies by aligning professional training with the European Cybersecurity Skills Framework (ECSF), helping organisations build a sustainable culture of cybersecurity awareness and resilience.
The workshop also underlined the value of standardised marketplaces where SMEs can easily identify and compare CRA-ready cybersecurity solutions and services.
The recording of the Barcelona workshop is available here:
CRA Standards Unlocked – EU Tour Barcelona Recording
Paris: Advancing Automation and AI-Driven Compliance
At the Paris edition of the workshop series held on 27 April 2026, Wissam Mallouli (Montimage) represented NERO in discussions focused on translating CRA requirements into practical standards, tools and implementation strategies.
The event reinforced the urgency of aligning cybersecurity practices across the IoT–edge–cloud continuum, with strong emphasis placed on security-by-design and security-by-default principles throughout the entire system lifecycle.
NERO participation highlighted the critical role of standardisation in enabling effective compliance processes, including risk assessment, vulnerability handling and conformity assessment. Discussions also explored how automation and AI-driven approaches are becoming essential for managing cybersecurity compliance at scale.
For NERO, the workshop confirmed the strong relevance of its work on continuous monitoring, automated security validation and AI-based security orchestration. The NERO marketplace was recognised as a practical solution that can support SMEs in simplifying CRA compliance and improving proactive risk management capabilities.
The recording of the Paris workshop is available here:
CRA Standards Unlocked – EU Tour Paris Recording
Stockholm: Strengthening SME Readiness for CRA
In Stockholm, our partner Ole Höfener (MDS) participated on behalf of NERO during CRA- dagen on 4 May 2026, as part of the CRA Standards Unlocked workshop series.
The discussions focused on how SMEs can prepare for the upcoming CRA requirements, which will begin rolling out from September 2026. NERO’s training activities were presented as practical resources to help organisations strengthen cybersecurity, improve risk management and build long-term resilience beyond regulatory obligations.
The event also provided an opportunity to engage directly with stakeholders interested in practical support mechanisms for CRA implementation across Europe.
Through its continued participation in the CRA Standards Unlocked workshop series, NERO remains committed to supporting SMEs, advancing cybersecurity innovation and contributing to a stronger and more resilient European digital ecosystem.
Upcoming CRA Standards Unlocked Workshops
NERO will continue contributing to the CRA Standards Unlocked workshop series through upcoming events across Europe.
At the Malta session on 21 May, Eleni Seralidou, partner from trustilio, will present NERO’s work and contributions to supporting SMEs in strengthening cybersecurity resilience and CRA readiness.
Later in the series, Pedro Tomas from OneSource will present NERO during the Lisbon session taking place on 17 September, continuing the project’s engagement with European stakeholders and standardisation initiatives.
Learn more about the next CRA Workshop