Compliance
CSA

EU Cybersecurity Act — Certification Framework and ENISA Mandate

Guide to the CSA — EU-wide cybersecurity certification for ICT products, services, and processes.

What is CSA?

The EU Cybersecurity Act (Regulation 2019/881) has two main pillars. First, it grants ENISA (the EU Agency for Cybersecurity) a permanent mandate and strengthened role. Second, it establishes a European cybersecurity certification framework for ICT products, services, and processes at three assurance levels: basic, substantial, and high. This framework enables EU-wide certification schemes, replacing fragmented national schemes. While certification is generally voluntary, other EU legislation (such as the CRA) can make specific schemes mandatory.

Who It Applies To

Manufacturers of ICT products seeking EU cybersecurity certification, conformity assessment bodies, national cybersecurity certification authorities, and trust service providers.

Key Articles & Obligations

Article 1

Article 3

Article 4

Article 46

Article 49

Article 52

Article 54

Article 56

Article 58

Article 65

Key Deadlines

Applied since

27 Jun 2019

CSA became applicable across all EU Member States.

Fines & Enforcement

Determined by Member States. Certification bodies face accreditation withdrawal for non-compliance.

EU Cybersecurity Certification Framework

The CSA creates a pan-European certification scheme for ICT products, services, and processes.

  • Three assurance levels: basic (self-assessment), substantial (third-party evaluation), high (advanced evaluation)
  • Certification schemes specify scope, evaluation criteria, and intended assurance level
  • Certified products receive an EU statement of conformity valid across all Member States
  • The EUCC (Common Criteria based) scheme was the first adopted scheme
  • The CRA and other legislation can mandate certification for specific product categories

How Law4Devs Helps with CSA Compliance

Law4Devs provides the full CSA as structured JSON. Query by assurance level, entity type, or certification topic. Cross-reference with the CRA and NIS2.

Related Regulations

Query CSA via API

GET /v1/frameworks/csa/articles
200 OK · structured JSON · official EUR-Lex source

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the EU Cybersecurity Act?

The EU Cybersecurity Act (Regulation EU 2019/881) has two main pillars. First, it grants ENISA (the EU Agency for Cybersecurity) a permanent mandate and strengthened role in supporting Member States, EU institutions, and stakeholders in cybersecurity. Second, it establishes a European cybersecurity certification framework for ICT products, services, and processes. This framework enables the creation of EU-wide certification schemes at three assurance levels (basic, substantial, high), replacing fragmented national schemes.

Who does the Cybersecurity Act apply to?

The CSA applies to ENISA, establishing its objectives and tasks. The certification framework applies to manufacturers of ICT products, providers of ICT services, and providers of ICT processes who wish to (or are required to) obtain EU cybersecurity certification. Conformity assessment bodies (CABs) that carry out certifications must be accredited. National cybersecurity certification authorities (NCCAs) supervise compliance. While certification is generally voluntary, other EU legislation (such as the CRA) can make specific schemes mandatory.

What are the key provisions of the CSA?

The CSA defines three assurance levels for certification schemes: basic (self-assessment possible), substantial (third-party evaluation), and high (advanced third-party evaluation). Certification schemes specify the purpose, scope, evaluation criteria, and intended level of assurance. Certified ICT products receive an EU statement of conformity valid across all Member States, eliminating duplicate national certifications. The EUCC (Common Criteria based) scheme was the first adopted scheme. The CSA is being amended to enable managed security services certification.

How does Law4Devs help with the Cybersecurity Act?

Law4Devs provides the full CSA text as structured JSON via API. Query by topic area (ENISA mandate, certification framework), assurance level, or entity type (manufacturer, CAB, NCCA). Access specific provisions on certification scheme requirements, conformity assessment procedures, and supervisory powers. Cross-reference with the CRA for mandatory product certification requirements and with NIS2 for complementary cybersecurity obligations.

Access CSA as Structured JSON

All articles, recitals, and amendments — queryable, filterable, and always up to date.