Establishing a Unified Security Architecture: The 8ra Collaborative Security Framework (CSF)
30, March, 2026
The 8ra Initiative’s Cross-Workstream on Security has released the first version of the Collaborative Security Framework (CSF). To build a foundation for standardised security components and ensure baseline compliance across all building blocks of the IPCEI-CIS, the CSF has been published as a collaborative effort of the 8ra projects. The Collaborative Security Framework complements the IPCEI-CIS Reference Architecture.
From Individual Contributions to a Unified Framework
The individual projects within the initiative contribute at least one major security component. The framework’s role is to identify, classify, and integrate these components into a comprehensive, cohesive structure.
By using a standardised building block approach, the CSF ensures that:
- Security Components are identified and classified based on their specific purpose and architectural layer.
- Interoperability is maintained through a standardised integration language, allowing different components to work together seamlessly.
- Gaps are identified proactively, with the framework proposing solutions for any missing essential security elements.
A 10-Step Roadmap to Maturity
In the 8ra ecosystem security is a continuous process. The CSF implements a 10-step iterative roadmap to reach high security maturity:
- Identification of security components within IPCEI-CIS projects.
- Classification of components based on topic, purpose, architectural integration layer, and additional relevant attributes.
- Analysis and documentation of differences between similar or duplicate components
- Collection of technical and functional details about each security component’s operation.
- Identification of gaps and proposition of solutions for missing essential security components.
- Establishing a baseline compliance posture and a standardised integration language.
- Evaluation of the security posture compliance for each component through the various pilots in the 8ra Initiative.
- Facilitation of collaboration with partners to align with baseline security requirements.
- Development of a standardised integration language to ensure compatibility across the components.
- Iteration through the steps of this process to reach a robust security baseline and maturity.
Ensuring a Resilient Digital Future
The completeness of the CSF represents the collective commitment of the 8ra partners to transparency and resilience. By establishing a security-by-design principle at the infrastructure level, the 8ra Initiative provides a reliable foundation for sovereign digital applications in Europe.
As technical requirements and threat landscapes evolve, the Collaborative Security Framework will be constantly updated to reflect the latest developments in the Cloud-Edge Continuum.
Explore & Contribute
The CSF is now publicly available and awaits your feedback. To ensure this framework remains resilient against an evolving threat landscape, we invite security architects, developers, and digital sovereignty advocates to help refine its trajectory. Here is the guide on how you can submit your comments.