Cybersecurity and Innovation
Cybersecurity is a market opportunity for connected products
As expert in secure, smart & connected devices Vention has conducted a benchmark survey to better understand the key drivers in innovation. One of the clearest themes is security.
Cybersecurity is no longer a side topic in innovation. It has become a core design driver. As more products become connected, the benefits are clear: remote management, over-the-air updates, and smarter functionality. But that same connectivity also introduces real security risks. And as threats increase, regulation is evolving just as quickly.
For connected products, cybersecurity is therefore not only a technical requirement. It is increasingly becoming part of the value proposition. Customers expect products to remain secure, updateable and supportable throughout their lifecycle. In markets such as healthcare, energy, industrial automation and public infrastructure, trust is part of the product.
Only logical approach
Cybersecurity is a fundamental part of the innovation process, from hardware and software choices to architecture, documentation, lifecycle support and market strategy. Our research shows that many organisations already feel the pressure: security requirements increasingly influence product decisions. But fewer organisations see cybersecurity as a way to stand out.
That is the opportunity. Companies that embrace secure by design early will not only reduce risk and improve compliance readiness. They will also create connected products that are easier to trust, easier to support and stronger in the market.
60% of respondents say cybersecurity directly influences their hardware choices. 40% see cybersecurity as a market differentiator, not just a cost.
From compliance pressure to strategic advantage
Cybersecurity is often treated as a regulatory burden. That is understandable, because new and evolving requirements are putting more pressure on product developers. From our recent benchmark research, three frameworks stand out as the most impactful:
- CE RED directive
- Cyber Resilience Act
- Privacy regulations
These are not just compliance checkboxes. They are actively shaping how products are designed, developed, documented and maintained.
Our research shows that 62% of respondents agree that security requirements increasingly determine hardware and software choices. At the same time, only 39% agree that cybersecurity offers an opportunity to stand out in the market. This gap is important. It shows that many organisations recognise the pressure, but do not convert it into strategic advantage. Security is still often seen as something that must be added to meet regulations, rather than something that can strengthen the product proposition.
The practical shift is do not ask: what security do we need to add? Ask: what level of trust must this product earn now and in the future, and which architecture decisions are needed to prove it?
Security increasingly shapes architecture decisions
For development teams, the practical consequence is clear: cybersecurity requirements increasingly determine hardware selection, firmware architecture,cloud interfaces, update strategy, production provisioning and long-term support. This means security cannot be isolated to embedded software. It must be managed across the full ecosystem of the product, including products with radiomodules, cloud backends, mobile applications, data flows, manufacturing environments and service processes.
A secure by design approach is the only way to develop connected products.
Most risks can be handled in software, if you plan ahead.
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