Tijmen Molema, certification specialist at Liftinstituut, is a well-known speaker at major lift industry events both in the Netherlands and internationally. His message in every presentation: step on board the cybersecurity ship now. Every time he explains why a strategic focus on cybersecurity today – even if legislation still has to be introduced – is essential. While some may see it as an inconvenience, Molema stresses that early adoption brings significant advantages and prepares companies for a stronger future.
Molema observes: “The world around us is changing at an ever-increasing pace. While new discoveries unlock tremendous opportunities, they also come with costs. Take Industry 4.0: it has leapfrogged productivity and made concepts like just-in-time manufacturing possible. But at the same time, it has opened up a new risk: cyber-attacks. If just one link in the supply chain is compromised, the entire system can grind to a halt.”
“That new reality has made cybersecurity a necessity.” Still, Molema notices that companies often approach the subject in the wrong way. “Everybody acts a bit panicked. New rules are coming, and the first reaction is often: ‘This is terrible, we don’t want to comply.’ But there’s also another way of looking at it. Some companies ask: ‘What’s in it for me?’ Those are the ones that will take the lead. With the new regulations, a market reshuffle is coming.”
Competitive advantages
Instead of a burden, cybersecurity should be seen as a strategic advantage, Tijmen states. “Company-wide awareness of cybersecurity and its requirements can act as a powerful catalyst for process improvement. Well-defined processes benefit product quality, team cooperation, and internal communication. If you modernize your processes with cybersecurity in mind, you don’t just meet higher standards, you also provide greater value to your customers.”
He points out that the upcoming Machinery Regulation (MR) and Cyber Resilience Act (CRA) goes beyond product design. “It demands ongoing product security and support, including software updates. That makes products more valuable. Every meaningful update extends the lifetime of a product, which lowers depreciation. And it helps filter out companies that used to disrupt the market by abandoning products without fulfilling their responsibilities. Customers will increasingly value trustworthiness.”
Molema also sees that customers themselves are adopting. “More and more of them are directly affected by cybersecurity legislation. Some are directly impacted by the NIS-2,” he explains. “A product that already covers those requirements gives you a huge competitive advantage. It saves customers from buying extra cybersecurity solutions and simplifies installation, maintenance, and operation. The least complex solution – a single product instead of multiple systems – will always create higher user satisfaction.”
“Don’t miss the boat”
For Molema, the conclusion is clear. “Early adoption of cybersecurity avoids the common pitfalls. It strengthens your company culture, improves your products, and shows customers that you take cybersecurity seriously. Yes, there are new rules. Yes, they may feel like a burden. But if you ask ‘what’s in it for me?’ you’ll discover that cybersecurity is not just about risk mitigation, it is about creating opportunities. The companies that understand this will be the ones that lead the market.”
“So don’t miss the boat. Make sure you know the ins and outs of cybersecurity. Liftinstituut is ready to support you with its training programs and its certification expertise.”