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As the industry has shifted from
mainly mechanical to increasingly
digital solutions, the need to con-
stantly monitor and assess risks has
become crucial.
"This means not only meeting
mandatory regulations but also
voluntarily adopting international
standards such as ISO 27001,
which protects data and systems
through a structured and inde-
pendently audited framework,"
explains Kelly Gill.
To raise the bar for cyber securi-
ty across Europe EU has introduced
the Network and Information
Security Directive 2 (NIS2) and
the Cyber Resilience Act (CRA).
The new regulations
NIS2 is reshaping cyber secu-
rity expectations by setting higher
standards to reduce risk, improve
transparency, and protect data and
services. Alongside it, the CRA
introduces mandatory require-
ments for products with digital
components. This makes "secure
by design," regular updates, and
compliance checks essential before
products can enter the EU market.
"For companies in our industry,
responsibilities now extend well
beyond internal systems," Gill
notes. "Organisations must also
ensure that suppliers and service
providers comply, with regular risk
assessments forming a central part
of the process. The consequences
of falling short are severe from
significant fines and audits to the
potential withdrawal of products
from the market."
For customers, the message is
clear: security must be built in from
the start.
Competitive advantage
Gill is eager to stress that compli-
ance is not just about meeting
regulations -- it is also a competi-
tive advantage.
"At Assa Abloy Opening Solu-
tions EMEIA, security is part of
our DNA," she says. "We embed
these standards into everything
we do, giving customers solutions
they can trust to be compliant and
resilient."
The rise of AI
AI is transforming the digital
security landscape. It cannot be
separated from the regulatory
framework shaping the industry.
With AI advancing rapidly and
new regulations coming into force,
Kelly Gill is convinced that Assa
Abloy has established a digital com-
pliance framework to stay ahead of
the curve and use AI as an enabler
to improve security and achieve
compliance.
"AI brings powerful benefits,
including more intelligent moni-
toring, faster anomaly detection,
and smarter tools for operational
efficiency," Gill explains. "These
capabilities directly support NIS2
and the CRA, particularly in proac-
tive risk management and incident
response."
"On the other hand, AI
introduces new risks. The attack
surface is expanding, and threats
such as deepfakes and smarter
phishing create serious challenges
that regulators are determined to
address. Both NIS2 and the CRA
emphasise continuous monitoring,
transparency and accountability --
principles that must now also guide
the responsible use of AI."
According to Gill, Assa Abloy
Opening Solutions EMEIA sees AI
not just as a risk to mitigate, but as
a capability to strengthen resilience
and trust.
"That's why we are embedding
strong governance practices around
AI and building cyber security
standards into every stage of prod-
uct development," she says. "By
doing so, we help our customers
align with new regulations while
ensuring AI serves as a tool for
greater security and confidence."
Trust and compliance
Gill emphasises that Assa Abloy
Opening Solutions EMEIA is tak-
ing NIS2, the CRA and the rise of
cyber threats seriously -- ensuring
compliance and enhancing trust
with all customers.
"We have reinforced supplier
oversight, streamlined incident
reporting, and embedded cyber
security into every stage of product
development and lifecycle manage-
ment," she explains. "Our teams
also conduct ongoing risk assess-
ments and post-incident reviews
to ensure lessons are learned and
improvements made."
By taking these steps, Assa
Abloy Opening Solutions not only
meets regulatory requirements but
also strengthens the resilience of
its supply chain -- and the trust
customers place in the company.
Another key commitment is
supporting customers on their
compliance journey. Recent ini-
tiatives include the newly released
whitepaper "Enhancing Cyber
Physical Resilience with Digital
Access Solutions" and a detailed
NIS2 whitepaper from last year,
both providing clear and practical
guidance.
"By showing what these regula-
tions mean in practice and how
intelligent access solutions can
directly support compliance, we
aim to make the path forward less
complex and more achievable for
our customers," Gill says.
Looking ahead
The days when security threats to
businesses and products were purely
physical are long gone. Today, the
digital realm poses even greater and
constantly evolving challenges.
"It's crucial that, as an industry,
we take the necessary steps to meet
the directives of NIS2 and the
CRA and continually monitor the
rise of AI.Only by doing so can we
protect our customers, preserve our
reputations, and build the trust that
defines true leadership in security,"
Gill concludes.
In today's connected world, attacks are more likely
to target digital rather than physical entry points,
states Kelly Gill, SVP and CTO at Assa Abloy Open-
ing Solutions EMEIA.
In this article she shares her insights on today's
regulatory environment -- including NIS2 and the
Cyber Resilience Act and what the access control
industry must do to remain digitally secure.
Kelly Gill, SVP and CTO at Assa Abloy
Opening Solutions EMEIA.
Kelly Gill, Assa Abloy Opening Solutions:
Special Feature: Access Control
Editor: Lennart Alexandrie
Staying secure in today's
digital landscape