---
title: "CRA FAQ Hub"
canonical_url: "https://www.sorena.io/artifacts/eu/cyber-resilience-act/faq"
source_url: "https://www.sorena.io/artifacts/eu/cyber-resilience-act/faq/items/page/12"
author: "Sorena AI"
description: "Browse the CRA FAQ hub for Blue Guide market-access concepts, CE marking, and component due diligence."
published_at: "2026-03-10"
updated_at: "2026-03-10"
keywords:
  - "CRA FAQ hub"
  - "Cyber Resilience Act FAQ"
  - "CRA Blue Guide"
  - "CRA CE marking FAQ"
  - "CRA component due diligence FAQ"
  - "Cyber Resilience Act"
  - "CRA FAQ"
  - "CE marking"
  - "Blue Guide"
  - "component due diligence"
---
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---

# CRA FAQ Hub

Browse the CRA FAQ hub for Blue Guide market-access concepts, CE marking, and component due diligence.

*FAQ Hub* *EU* *Cyber Resilience Act*

## EU Cyber Resilience Act FAQ

Browse focused CRA FAQ modules built around the questions that usually slow market access, product launch, conformity work, and component governance.

Each sub-FAQ is grounded in official sources and designed for legal, compliance, product, engineering, and security teams.

Use this FAQ hub when the general CRA page is too broad and you need a tighter answer set. The sub-FAQs below group high-friction questions into practical modules so teams can move faster on interpretation, evidence design, and release decisions without losing source traceability.

## Browse sub-FAQ modules

### [CRA Blue Guide Concepts FAQ | Placing on the Market, Making Available, Distance Sales](/artifacts/eu/cyber-resilience-act/faq/blue-guide-concepts.md)

CRA FAQ on Blue Guide concepts used in Cyber Resilience Act interpretation: placing on the market, making available, putting into service, online sales.

- 28 items

### [CRA CE Marking FAQ | Meaning, Placement Rules, Software Labeling, Notified Bodies](/artifacts/eu/cyber-resilience-act/faq/ce-marking.md)

CRA CE marking FAQ covering what the mark means, when it is mandatory, software and website placement rules, packaging fallback, notified body numbers.

- 26 items

### [CRA Component Due Diligence FAQ | Third-Party Components, FOSS, SBOM, Vulnerabilities](/artifacts/eu/cyber-resilience-act/faq/component-due-diligence.md)

CRA component due diligence FAQ covering third-party components, FOSS, CE-marked components, SBOM review, risk-based checks, upstream vulnerability reporting.

- 21 items

### [CRA Conformity Assessment Routes FAQ | Module A, Module B+C, Module H, Critical and Important Products](/artifacts/eu/cyber-resilience-act/faq/conformity-assessment-routes.md)

CRA FAQ on conformity assessment routes covering module A, module B+C, module H, important and critical products, harmonised standards, certification schemes.

- 25 items

### [CRA Core Functionality FAQ | Important Products, Critical Products, Classification](/artifacts/eu/cyber-resilience-act/faq/core-functionality.md)

CRA FAQ on core functionality covering classification of important and critical products, ancillary functions, integrated components.

- 21 items

### [CRA Cybersecurity Risk Assessment FAQ | Article 13, Threat Modelling, Variants, Constraints](/artifacts/eu/cyber-resilience-act/faq/cybersecurity-risk-assessment.md)

CRA FAQ on cybersecurity risk assessment covering Article 13, threat modelling, intended purpose, foreseeable misuse, external dependencies, documentation.

- 26 items

### [CRA Declaration of Conformity FAQ | Full vs Simplified, Languages, Updates, Duties](/artifacts/eu/cyber-resilience-act/faq/declaration-of-conformity.md)

CRA FAQ on the EU declaration of conformity covering full and simplified formats, required contents, languages, updates, single declarations across EU laws.

- 19 items

### [CRA Economic Operators FAQ | Manufacturers, Importers, Distributors, Authorised Representatives](/artifacts/eu/cyber-resilience-act/faq/economic-operators.md)

CRA FAQ on economic operators covering manufacturer, authorised representative, importer, distributor, responsible operator rules, checks, traceability.

- 26 items

### [CRA Essential Cybersecurity Requirements FAQ | Annex I Part I and Part II](/artifacts/eu/cyber-resilience-act/faq/essential-cybersecurity-requirements.md)

CRA FAQ on the essential cybersecurity requirements covering Annex I Part I and Part II, applicability, evidence, interoperability constraints.

- 20 items

### [CRA Hardware and Software Boundaries FAQ | Product Scope, Combined Products, Source Code](/artifacts/eu/cyber-resilience-act/faq/hardware-software-boundaries.md)

CRA FAQ on hardware and software boundaries covering combined products, standalone software, source code, companion apps, remote data processing.

- 26 items

### [CRA Harmonised Standards and Common Specifications FAQ | Presumption of Conformity, OJ Publication](/artifacts/eu/cyber-resilience-act/faq/harmonised-standards-and-common-specifications.md)

CRA FAQ on harmonised standards, common specifications, and certification schemes covering presumption of conformity, Official Journal publication.

- 24 items

### [CRA Important and Critical Products FAQ | Annex III, Annex IV, Core Functionality](/artifacts/eu/cyber-resilience-act/faq/important-and-critical-products.md)

CRA FAQ on important and critical products covering Annex III and Annex IV classification, core functionality, conformity routes, FOSS rule limits.

- 30 items

### [CRA Integrated Components and Dependencies FAQ | Due Diligence, RDPS, Third-Party Components](/artifacts/eu/cyber-resilience-act/faq/integrated-components-and-dependencies.md)

CRA FAQ on integrated components and dependencies covering due diligence, third-party components, RDPS, cloud dependencies, upstream fixes, FOSS dependencies.

- 21 items

### [CRA Interplay With Other EU Laws FAQ | RED, AI Act, GDPR, Data Act, EHDS, Machinery](/artifacts/eu/cyber-resilience-act/faq/interplay-with-other-eu-laws.md)

CRA FAQ on interplay with other EU laws covering exclusions, overlap with RED, AI Act, GDPR, Data Act, EHDS, Machinery, GPSR, NIS2, aviation, marine.

- 25 items

### [CRA Known Exploitable Vulnerabilities at Launch FAQ | Placement on the Market, CVEs, Late Discoveries](/artifacts/eu/cyber-resilience-act/faq/known-exploitable-vulnerabilities-at-launch.md)

CRA FAQ on known exploitable vulnerabilities at launch covering the launch-time rule, exploitability, known vulnerabilities, CVEs, compensating controls.

- 18 items

### [CRA Legacy Products FAQ | Pre-2027 Products, Reporting, Grandfathering, Substantial Modification](/artifacts/eu/cyber-resilience-act/faq/legacy-products.md)

CRA FAQ on legacy products covering pre-11 December 2027 products, Article 14 reporting, continued sale, substantial modification, spare parts, old designs.

- 21 items

### [CRA Manufacturer Obligations FAQ | Article 13 Duties, Support Period, Reporting, Documentation](/artifacts/eu/cyber-resilience-act/faq/manufacturer-obligations.md)

CRA FAQ on manufacturer obligations covering Article 13 duties, risk assessment, support periods, vulnerability handling, reporting, documentation.

- 41 items

### [CRA Market Surveillance and Enforcement FAQ | Authorities, Safeguards, Sweeps, Formal Non-Compliance](/artifacts/eu/cyber-resilience-act/faq/market-surveillance-and-enforcement.md)

CRA FAQ on market surveillance and enforcement covering authorities, investigations, safeguard procedures, formal non-compliance, sweeps, joint activities.

- 39 items

### [CRA Module A FAQ | Internal Control, Self-Assessment, Eligibility, Documentation](/artifacts/eu/cyber-resilience-act/faq/module-a.md)

CRA FAQ on module A covering internal control, eligible products, class I limits, FOSS exception, technical documentation, testing, CE marking.

- 28 items

### [CRA Module B+C FAQ | EU-Type Examination, Conformity to Type, Notified Bodies](/artifacts/eu/cyber-resilience-act/faq/module-b-c.md)

CRA FAQ on module B+C covering EU-type examination, conformity to type, notified-body role, certificate changes, production control, CE marking.

- 32 items

### [CRA Module H FAQ | Full Quality Assurance, Notified Body Surveillance, CE Marking](/artifacts/eu/cyber-resilience-act/faq/module-h.md)

CRA FAQ on module H covering full quality assurance, quality-system approval, notified-body surveillance, scope changes, CE marking, language rules, records.

- 31 items

### [CRA Notified Bodies FAQ | Notification, Scope, NANDO, Independence, Competence](/artifacts/eu/cyber-resilience-act/faq/notified-bodies.md)

CRA FAQ on notified bodies covering notification, competence, independence, NANDO scope, accreditation, cross-border choice, subcontracting.

- 35 items

### [CRA Open-Source Software FAQ | FOSS, Commercial Activity, Stewards, Donations, Paid Editions](/artifacts/eu/cyber-resilience-act/faq/open-source-software.md)

CRA FAQ on open-source software covering FOSS qualification, commercial activity, donations, paid support, stewards, contributors, repositories.

- 39 items

### [CRA Over-the-Air Updates FAQ | OTA, Automatic Updates, Secure Distribution, Offline Paths](/artifacts/eu/cyber-resilience-act/faq/over-the-air-updates.md)

CRA FAQ on over-the-air updates covering OTA versus automatic updates, secure distribution, screenless products, gateways, offline update paths.

- 25 items

### [CRA Penalties and Fines FAQ | Fine Tiers, Turnover Caps, SME Carve-Outs, Stewards](/artifacts/eu/cyber-resilience-act/faq/penalties-and-fines.md)

CRA FAQ on penalties and fines covering Article 64 fine tiers, turnover caps, SME carve-outs, steward exemptions, cumulative fines, criminal sanctions.

- 23 items

### [CRA Product Families FAQ | Variants, Shared Assessments, Family Reuse, Conformity Scope](/artifacts/eu/cyber-resilience-act/faq/product-families.md)

CRA FAQ on product families covering shared risk assessments, family-wide documentation reuse, cybersecurity-relevant variant differences.

- 16 items

### [CRA Remote Data Processing Solutions FAQ | RDPS Scope, Cloud Services, SaaS Boundaries, Documentation](/artifacts/eu/cyber-resilience-act/faq/remote-data-processing-solutions.md)

CRA FAQ on remote data processing solutions covering Article 3(2) RDPS tests, cloud-service boundaries, websites and portals, third-party SaaS, backend scope.

- 21 items

### [CRA Repairs and Spare Parts FAQ | Repairs, Refurbishment, Spare-Part Exemption, Compatibility](/artifacts/eu/cyber-resilience-act/faq/repairs-and-spare-parts.md)

CRA FAQ on repairs and spare parts covering substantial modification, Article 2(6) identical spare parts, non-identical replacements.

- 18 items

### [CRA Reporting Obligations FAQ | Article 14 Deadlines, CSIRT Filing, User Notices, Legacy Products](/artifacts/eu/cyber-resilience-act/faq/reporting-obligations.md)

CRA FAQ on reporting obligations covering Article 14 deadlines, actively exploited vulnerabilities, severe incidents, CSIRT routing, user notifications.

- 35 items

### [CRA Scope FAQ | Products with Digital Elements, Connections, Software, Exclusions](/artifacts/eu/cyber-resilience-act/faq/scope-and-products-with-digital-elements.md)

CRA FAQ on scope and products with digital elements covering software, firmware, components, direct and indirect connections, offline products, exclusions.

- 30 items

### [CRA Secure-by-Default FAQ | Default Configuration, Auto Updates, Tailor-Made Limits](/artifacts/eu/cyber-resilience-act/faq/secure-by-default.md)

CRA FAQ on secure by default covering Annex I default configuration, automatic security updates, opt-outs, components, inapplicability.

- 18 items

### [CRA Security Updates vs Functionality Updates FAQ | Separation, Free Updates, Article 13(10)](/artifacts/eu/cyber-resilience-act/faq/security-updates-vs-functionality-updates.md)

CRA FAQ on security updates versus functionality updates covering separation where technically feasible, free security updates, automatic updates.

- 24 items

### [CRA Substantial Modification FAQ | Post-Market Changes, New Manufacturer, Legacy Products](/artifacts/eu/cyber-resilience-act/faq/substantial-modification.md)

CRA FAQ on substantial modification covering Article 3(30), software updates, repairs, new manufacturer status, conformity reassessment.

- 27 items

### [CRA Support Period FAQ | Placement on the Market, Unit-Level Timing, Update Availability](/artifacts/eu/cyber-resilience-act/faq/support-period.md)

CRA FAQ on support periods covering Article 13(8), placement on the market timing, unit-level support periods, standalone software, update availability.

- 71 items

### [CRA Tailor-Made Products FAQ | Business-User Exception, Paid Updates, Evidence](/artifacts/eu/cyber-resilience-act/faq/tailor-made-products.md)

CRA FAQ on tailor-made products covering the narrow business-user carve-out, secure-by-default and paid-update deviations, required evidence.

- 17 items

### [CRA Technical Documentation FAQ | Annex VII, Languages, Authority Access, Updates](/artifacts/eu/cyber-resilience-act/faq/technical-documentation.md)

CRA FAQ on technical documentation covering Annex VII content, timing, languages, versioning, authority access, reused documentation, simplified formats.

- 21 items

### [CRA Transition Period FAQ | Key Dates, Legacy Products, Pre-CRA Stock, RED Interplay](/artifacts/eu/cyber-resilience-act/faq/transition-period.md)

CRA FAQ on the transition period covering entry into force, phased application dates, legacy products, stock and customs timing, standalone software.

- 23 items

### [CRA Update Availability and Archives FAQ | Article 13(9), Archives, Historical Versions](/artifacts/eu/cyber-resilience-act/faq/update-availability-and-archives.md)

CRA FAQ on update availability and software archives covering Article 13(9), Article 13(10), Article 13(11), retention of issued security updates.

- 24 items

### [CRA User Information and Transparency FAQ | Annex II, Support Disclosure, User Notices](/artifacts/eu/cyber-resilience-act/faq/user-information-and-transparency.md)

CRA FAQ on user information and transparency covering Annex II instructions, support-period disclosure, end-of-support notices, vulnerability notices.

- 28 items

### [CRA Vulnerability Handling FAQ | Lifecycle Duties, Components, Disclosure, Fix Sharing](/artifacts/eu/cyber-resilience-act/faq/vulnerability-handling.md)

CRA FAQ on vulnerability handling covering Annex I Part II duties, component vulnerabilities, upstream reporting and fix sharing.

- 29 items

Browse all indexed questions: [/artifacts/eu/cyber-resilience-act/faq/items](/artifacts/eu/cyber-resilience-act/faq/items.md)

## All FAQ items

*Page 12 of 54. Showing 20 of 1072 items.*

### [Does the standalone-software placement logic also apply when software forms part of a hardware-software product?](/artifacts/eu/cyber-resilience-act/faq/hardware-software-boundaries.md#does-the-standalone-software-placement-logic-also-apply-when-software-forms-part-of-a-hardware-software-product)

*Module: [CRA Hardware and Software Boundaries](/artifacts/eu/cyber-resilience-act/faq/hardware-software-boundaries.md)*

No.

Sources for this answer:

- [Draft Commission guidance on the CRA (March 2026 draft)](https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/16959-Draft-Commission-guidance-on-the-Cyber-Resilience-Act_en?ref=sorena.io) - point 16

### [If software is supplied on a USB device or other physical medium, is the CRA analysis the same as for digitally delivered standalone software?](/artifacts/eu/cyber-resilience-act/faq/hardware-software-boundaries.md#if-software-is-supplied-on-a-usb-device-or-other-physical-medium-is-the-cra-analysis-the-same-as-for-digitally-delivered-standalone-software)

*Module: [CRA Hardware and Software Boundaries](/artifacts/eu/cyber-resilience-act/faq/hardware-software-boundaries.md)*

No.

Sources for this answer:

- [Draft Commission guidance on the CRA (March 2026 draft)](https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/16959-Draft-Commission-guidance-on-the-Cyber-Resilience-Act_en?ref=sorena.io) - point 16

### [Is source code capable of being a software product under the CRA?](/artifacts/eu/cyber-resilience-act/faq/hardware-software-boundaries.md#is-source-code-capable-of-being-a-software-product-under-the-cra)

*Module: [CRA Hardware and Software Boundaries](/artifacts/eu/cyber-resilience-act/faq/hardware-software-boundaries.md)*

Yes.

Sources for this answer:

- [Cyber Resilience Act](https://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/2847/oj?ref=sorena.io) - Article 3(4)
- [Draft Commission guidance on the CRA (March 2026 draft)](https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/16959-Draft-Commission-guidance-on-the-Cyber-Resilience-Act_en?ref=sorena.io) - points 20-22

### [Does source code fall outside the CRA just because it still has to be compiled or interpreted?](/artifacts/eu/cyber-resilience-act/faq/hardware-software-boundaries.md#does-source-code-fall-outside-the-cra-just-because-it-still-has-to-be-compiled-or-interpreted)

*Module: [CRA Hardware and Software Boundaries](/artifacts/eu/cyber-resilience-act/faq/hardware-software-boundaries.md)*

No.

Sources for this answer:

- [Draft Commission guidance on the CRA (March 2026 draft)](https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/16959-Draft-Commission-guidance-on-the-Cyber-Resilience-Act_en?ref=sorena.io) - points 20-22

### [If a manufacturer supplies source code to customers as part of a commercial activity, is that code considered placed on the market?](/artifacts/eu/cyber-resilience-act/faq/hardware-software-boundaries.md#if-a-manufacturer-supplies-source-code-to-customers-as-part-of-a-commercial-activity-is-that-code-considered-placed-on-the-market)

*Module: [CRA Hardware and Software Boundaries](/artifacts/eu/cyber-resilience-act/faq/hardware-software-boundaries.md)*

Yes.

Sources for this answer:

- [Draft Commission guidance on the CRA (March 2026 draft)](https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/16959-Draft-Commission-guidance-on-the-Cyber-Resilience-Act_en?ref=sorena.io) - point 22

### [If source code is licensed to a customer for later adaptation, who is responsible for what under the CRA?](/artifacts/eu/cyber-resilience-act/faq/hardware-software-boundaries.md#if-source-code-is-licensed-to-a-customer-for-later-adaptation-who-is-responsible-for-what-under-the-cra)

*Module: [CRA Hardware and Software Boundaries](/artifacts/eu/cyber-resilience-act/faq/hardware-software-boundaries.md)*

The draft guidance says the original supplier is responsible for the code it placed on the market. The customer's later adaptations and compilation are a separate matter.

Sources for this answer:

- [Draft Commission guidance on the CRA (March 2026 draft)](https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/16959-Draft-Commission-guidance-on-the-Cyber-Resilience-Act_en?ref=sorena.io) - Example 5

### [Are sample code snippets, tutorial code or demo code automatically treated as products placed on the market?](/artifacts/eu/cyber-resilience-act/faq/hardware-software-boundaries.md#are-sample-code-snippets-tutorial-code-or-demo-code-automatically-treated-as-products-placed-on-the-market)

*Module: [CRA Hardware and Software Boundaries](/artifacts/eu/cyber-resilience-act/faq/hardware-software-boundaries.md)*

No.

Sources for this answer:

- [Draft Commission guidance on the CRA (March 2026 draft)](https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/16959-Draft-Commission-guidance-on-the-Cyber-Resilience-Act_en?ref=sorena.io) - point 21

### [Is unfinished code shared during design and development automatically treated as a product placed on the market?](/artifacts/eu/cyber-resilience-act/faq/hardware-software-boundaries.md#is-unfinished-code-shared-during-design-and-development-automatically-treated-as-a-product-placed-on-the-market)

*Module: [CRA Hardware and Software Boundaries](/artifacts/eu/cyber-resilience-act/faq/hardware-software-boundaries.md)*

No.

Sources for this answer:

- [Draft Commission guidance on the CRA (March 2026 draft)](https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/16959-Draft-Commission-guidance-on-the-Cyber-Resilience-Act_en?ref=sorena.io) - point 21
- [Cyber Resilience Act](https://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/2847/oj?ref=sorena.io) - Article 4(3)
- [European Commission CRA FAQs (January 2026)](https://ec.europa.eu/newsroom/dae/redirection/document/122331?ref=sorena.io) - section 1.6

### [Are separately marketed software or hardware components still products in their own right under the CRA?](/artifacts/eu/cyber-resilience-act/faq/hardware-software-boundaries.md#are-separately-marketed-software-or-hardware-components-still-products-in-their-own-right-under-the-cra)

*Module: [CRA Hardware and Software Boundaries](/artifacts/eu/cyber-resilience-act/faq/hardware-software-boundaries.md)*

Yes.

Sources for this answer:

- [Cyber Resilience Act](https://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/2847/oj?ref=sorena.io) - Article 3(1)
- [European Commission CRA FAQs (January 2026)](https://ec.europa.eu/newsroom/dae/redirection/document/122331?ref=sorena.io) - section 1.2

### [Are websites or SaaS offerings automatically products with digital elements?](/artifacts/eu/cyber-resilience-act/faq/hardware-software-boundaries.md#are-websites-or-saas-offerings-automatically-products-with-digital-elements)

*Module: [CRA Hardware and Software Boundaries](/artifacts/eu/cyber-resilience-act/faq/hardware-software-boundaries.md)*

No.

Sources for this answer:

- [European Commission CRA FAQs (January 2026)](https://ec.europa.eu/newsroom/dae/redirection/document/122331?ref=sorena.io) - section 1.2
- [Cyber Resilience Act](https://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/2847/oj?ref=sorena.io) - Article 3(2), recital 12

### [Can a complex system composed of multiple hardware and software elements be a single CRA product?](/artifacts/eu/cyber-resilience-act/faq/hardware-software-boundaries.md#can-a-complex-system-composed-of-multiple-hardware-and-software-elements-be-a-single-cra-product)

*Module: [CRA Hardware and Software Boundaries](/artifacts/eu/cyber-resilience-act/faq/hardware-software-boundaries.md)*

Yes.

Sources for this answer:

- [Draft Commission guidance on the CRA (March 2026 draft)](https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/16959-Draft-Commission-guidance-on-the-Cyber-Resilience-Act_en?ref=sorena.io) - point 26
- [Cyber Resilience Act](https://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/2847/oj?ref=sorena.io) - Article 3(1)

### [Do long development cycles, legacy architectures or interoperability constraints take a complex system outside the CRA?](/artifacts/eu/cyber-resilience-act/faq/hardware-software-boundaries.md#do-long-development-cycles-legacy-architectures-or-interoperability-constraints-take-a-complex-system-outside-the-cra)

*Module: [CRA Hardware and Software Boundaries](/artifacts/eu/cyber-resilience-act/faq/hardware-software-boundaries.md)*

No.

Sources for this answer:

- [Draft Commission guidance on the CRA (March 2026 draft)](https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/16959-Draft-Commission-guidance-on-the-Cyber-Resilience-Act_en?ref=sorena.io) - points 27-29
- [Cyber Resilience Act](https://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/2847/oj?ref=sorena.io) - Article 13(2)-(4), recital 55

### [Can remote data processing solutions be part of the same CRA product boundary?](/artifacts/eu/cyber-resilience-act/faq/hardware-software-boundaries.md#can-remote-data-processing-solutions-be-part-of-the-same-cra-product-boundary)

*Module: [CRA Hardware and Software Boundaries](/artifacts/eu/cyber-resilience-act/faq/hardware-software-boundaries.md)*

Yes.

Sources for this answer:

- [Cyber Resilience Act](https://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/2847/oj?ref=sorena.io) - Article 3(1), Article 3(2)
- [European Commission CRA FAQs (January 2026)](https://ec.europa.eu/newsroom/dae/redirection/document/122331?ref=sorena.io) - section 1.2

### [Can external engineering or programming tools still form part of the same CRA product boundary?](/artifacts/eu/cyber-resilience-act/faq/hardware-software-boundaries.md#can-external-engineering-or-programming-tools-still-form-part-of-the-same-cra-product-boundary)

*Module: [CRA Hardware and Software Boundaries](/artifacts/eu/cyber-resilience-act/faq/hardware-software-boundaries.md)*

Yes.

Sources for this answer:

- [European Commission CRA FAQs (January 2026)](https://ec.europa.eu/newsroom/dae/redirection/document/122331?ref=sorena.io) - section 1.2
- [Draft Commission guidance on the CRA (March 2026 draft)](https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/16959-Draft-Commission-guidance-on-the-Cyber-Resilience-Act_en?ref=sorena.io) - point 19

### [If a required app runs on a user's separate smartphone or computer, does that host device automatically become part of the same CRA product?](/artifacts/eu/cyber-resilience-act/faq/hardware-software-boundaries.md#if-a-required-app-runs-on-a-users-separate-smartphone-or-computer-does-that-host-device-automatically-become-part-of-the-same-cra-product)

*Module: [CRA Hardware and Software Boundaries](/artifacts/eu/cyber-resilience-act/faq/hardware-software-boundaries.md)*

Not automatically.

Sources for this answer:

- [Draft Commission guidance on the CRA (March 2026 draft)](https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/16959-Draft-Commission-guidance-on-the-Cyber-Resilience-Act_en?ref=sorena.io) - point 19, Example 4
- [European Commission CRA FAQs (January 2026)](https://ec.europa.eu/newsroom/dae/redirection/document/122331?ref=sorena.io) - section 1.2

### [Can remote software developed by an external provider still be part of the CRA product boundary?](/artifacts/eu/cyber-resilience-act/faq/hardware-software-boundaries.md#can-remote-software-developed-by-an-external-provider-still-be-part-of-the-cra-product-boundary)

*Module: [CRA Hardware and Software Boundaries](/artifacts/eu/cyber-resilience-act/faq/hardware-software-boundaries.md)*

Yes, if it is designed and developed under the manufacturer's responsibility.

Sources for this answer:

- [Cyber Resilience Act](https://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/2847/oj?ref=sorena.io) - Article 3(1), Article 3(2)
- [Draft Commission guidance on the CRA (March 2026 draft)](https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/16959-Draft-Commission-guidance-on-the-Cyber-Resilience-Act_en?ref=sorena.io) - point 179

### [Does the CRA product boundary extend to the remote servers or cloud hardware on which a remote function runs?](/artifacts/eu/cyber-resilience-act/faq/hardware-software-boundaries.md#does-the-cra-product-boundary-extend-to-the-remote-servers-or-cloud-hardware-on-which-a-remote-function-runs)

*Module: [CRA Hardware and Software Boundaries](/artifacts/eu/cyber-resilience-act/faq/hardware-software-boundaries.md)*

No, not as such.

Sources for this answer:

- [Cyber Resilience Act](https://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/2847/oj?ref=sorena.io) - Article 3(2), Article 3(4), Article 3(5)
- [Draft Commission guidance on the CRA (March 2026 draft)](https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/16959-Draft-Commission-guidance-on-the-Cyber-Resilience-Act_en?ref=sorena.io) - point 164

### [If a product depends on a third-party SaaS, PaaS or IaaS element that the manufacturer did not design, does that element automatically become part of the product as remote data processing?](/artifacts/eu/cyber-resilience-act/faq/hardware-software-boundaries.md#if-a-product-depends-on-a-third-party-saas-paas-or-iaas-element-that-the-manufacturer-did-not-design-does-that-element-automatically-become-part-of-the-product-as-remote-data-processing)

*Module: [CRA Hardware and Software Boundaries](/artifacts/eu/cyber-resilience-act/faq/hardware-software-boundaries.md)*

No.

Sources for this answer:

- [Cyber Resilience Act](https://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/2847/oj?ref=sorena.io) - Article 3(2), Article 13(5)
- [Draft Commission guidance on the CRA (March 2026 draft)](https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/16959-Draft-Commission-guidance-on-the-Cyber-Resilience-Act_en?ref=sorena.io) - points 179, 184-185

### [What are harmonised standards, common specifications, and European cybersecurity certification schemes under the CRA?](/artifacts/eu/cyber-resilience-act/faq/harmonised-standards-and-common-specifications.md#what-are-harmonised-standards-common-specifications-and-european-cybersecurity-certification-schemes-under-the-cra)

*Module: [CRA Harmonised Standards and Common Specifications](/artifacts/eu/cyber-resilience-act/faq/harmonised-standards-and-common-specifications.md)*

They are the CRA's main technical conformity tools.

Sources for this answer:

- [Cyber Resilience Act](https://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/2847/oj?ref=sorena.io) - Article 27(1)-(9)

### [Are harmonised standards mandatory under the CRA?](/artifacts/eu/cyber-resilience-act/faq/harmonised-standards-and-common-specifications.md#are-harmonised-standards-mandatory-under-the-cra)

*Module: [CRA Harmonised Standards and Common Specifications](/artifacts/eu/cyber-resilience-act/faq/harmonised-standards-and-common-specifications.md)*

No.

Sources for this answer:

- [Cyber Resilience Act](https://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/2847/oj?ref=sorena.io) - Article 27(1), Annex VII point 5
- [European Commission CRA FAQs (January 2026)](https://ec.europa.eu/newsroom/dae/redirection/document/122331?ref=sorena.io) - sections 4.1.7 and 6.10
- [Blue Guide 2022](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:52022XC0629(04)&ref=sorena.io) - sections 4.1.2.2 and 4.1.3

## FAQ Pagination

- Canonical index (page 1): [/artifacts/eu/cyber-resilience-act/faq/items](/artifacts/eu/cyber-resilience-act/faq/items.md)
- Page 1 rule: `/page/1` is intentionally not generated; use the canonical index markdown URL.
- Current page: 12 of 54

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*Recommended next step*

*Placement: after the FAQ section*

## Use the CRA FAQ hub as a cited research workflow

Research Copilot can turn recurring CRA interpretation questions into a reusable workflow tied to your products, evidence, and owners.

- [Open Research Copilot](/solutions/research-copilot.md): Answer CRA scope, conformity, CE marking, and component questions with cited outputs.
- [Talk through your CRA rollout](/contact.md): Review product decisions, evidence gaps, and launch blockers with the Sorena team.


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