meta_id 3364761

On July 30, 2026, the European Union Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA) published the Secure by Design and Default Playbook, a practical guide addressing the challenges small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) face when implementing secure by design and secure by default principles. The playbook provides tangible guidance on applying secure by design and default requirements throughout a product's lifecycle. It translates these principles into clear, repeatable actions that organisations can integrate into existing engineering, product, and release processes. The publication recognises that while modern digital products are increasingly expected to be secure by design and secure by default, many SMEs lack targeted solutions to implement these concepts consistently across their operations. The playbook comprises 22 individual Secure by Design and Secure by Default playbooks, all available in an easy-to-navigate format on a dedicated GitHub repository at https://github.com/enisaeu/enisa-sbd-playbook/. The guidance is designed for national and EU authorities as well as the private sector, with particular emphasis on supporting smaller organisations in strengthening their cybersecurity posture. This publication aligns with ENISA's broader support activities for SMEs preparing for the Cyber Resilience Act (CRA). The agency has simultaneously released complementary resources, including the SME Cyber Resilience Maturity Assessment Model, to help micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises evaluate and strengthen their overall cyber resilience while meeting CRA requirements. Together, these resources provide SMEs with structured, practical approaches to understanding and implementing modern cybersecurity standards and regulatory obligations.