Production processes are becoming more digital, interconnected, and increasingly software-controlled – often in company-owned, self-hosted environments. However, with increasing digitization, the demands for security and compliance also grow. KUKA provides a clear answer: With its new operating system iiQKA.OS2 and the KR C5 control platform, the robotic system achieves Security Level 2 according to IEC 62443-4-2 and already meets the requirements of Regulation (EU) 2024/2847 Cyber Resilience. Additionally, it fully complies with the requirements of EN ISO 10218-1:2025 – a crucial milestone for safe, future-proof automation.
The increasing interconnection of industrial production systems fundamentally changes the requirements for automation. Where functional safety was once the primary focus, today digital control processes, data flows, and communication interfaces must also be reliably protected. This is exactly where iiQKA.OS2 comes in, combining cybersecurity and performance on a single platform.
Pioneers in industrial cybersecurity
KUKA was the first robotics manufacturer to be certified for Security Level 2 according to IEC 62443-4-2 with its iiQKA.OS2 robotic systems. This sets a new standard for securing interconnected production environments and specifically addresses the challenges of connected production environments – from controlled access to protected communication. For companies that consciously host and control their automation solutions, cybersecurity is already an integral part of value creation.
"With iiQKA.OS2, we are laying the foundation for a new generation of industrial automation: more intuitive, interconnected, and secure," says Marc Steigerwald, Strategic Program Manager at KUKA. "Product Security Level 2 is an important step. Because cybersecurity is no longer an additional topic today, but a central requirement for robust, future-proof production systems."
Compliance as a stable foundation
Additionally, KUKA's robotic systems with iiQKA.OS2 meet the requirements of EN ISO 10218-1:2025 and already meet the requirements of the new Regulation (EU) 2023/1230 for Machinery and related products, thus providing a future-proof, compliant basis for industrial applications. Safety functions such as Normal Stop, Restart Interlock, and monitoring of all axes ensure that production systems can be operated not only efficiently but also reliably, safely, and in compliance with regulations – an essential requirement for new machine concepts and regulatory requirements worldwide.
More performance for software-driven control
At the same time, iiQKA.OS2, in combination with the new control family KR C5 for iiQKA.OS2, impresses with a powerful, modern system architecture. The optimized system architecture enables more intuitive operation, more efficient processes, and higher performance compared to previous generations of controls. This makes software the central driver of productive and flexible automation.
KUKA is further expanding the strategic role of iiQKA.OS2 as a forward-looking platform for robotics. The operating system combines KUKA System Software's long-standing experience with modern technology stacks, a web-based user interface, and a scalable architecture. It was developed to make robots easier to operate, accelerate engineering processes, and make automation more accessible across various industries and applications.
Equally crucial: The close integration with the engineering platform iiQWorks elevates efficiency in the entire automation process to a new level. While iiQKA.OS2 provides a secure and high-performance runtime environment, iiQWorks enables seamless planning, simulation, and commissioning – digitally and independently of physical hardware.
iiQWorks – the digital twin as a new foundation of engineering
With iiQWorks, KUKA offers a central platform for configuration, simulation, and offline programming, thus creating the foundation for seamless digital engineering processes. The centerpiece is iiQWorks.Sim, which allows planning, programming, and validation of robot cells even before commissioning. The platform is complemented by the AI-supported iiQWorks.Copilot, which simplifies engineering tasks and supports users in their daily workflow.
A platform that sets the standard
KUKA is further expanding the strategic role of iiQKA.OS2 as a forward-looking platform for robotics. In combination with iiQWorks, a seamless ecosystem of secure runtime environment and powerful engineering framework emerges. The combination of compliance, cybersecurity, performance, and digital twin creates the foundation for a new generation of automation solutions – integrated, scalable, and consistently thought digitally.
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