Cybersecurity in EV charging: what it means for your operations

A more connected ecosystem-and a broader attack surface
Modern EV charging networks operate as multi-vendor ecosystems. Chargers, charge station management systems (CSMS), roaming platforms, payment services and grid interfaces are tightly interconnected. This architecture enables scale and flexibility. It also introduces dependency. A vulnerability in one component-particularly in central platforms-can propagate across the network. As networks grow, impact scales non-linearly. The same connectivity that enables optimisation and control also amplifies systemic risk.

Where control really sits: digital control layers The most critical risks are increasingly concentrated in digital control layers:

• Certificate and identity management
• Firmware integrity and update mechanisms
• Backend platforms and remote control systems

These layers determine how infrastructure behaves at scale. If compromised, they can affect not only availability, but also load distribution, charging behaviour and grid interaction. Cybersecurity therefore becomes a question of operational control. Maintaining integrity in these layers is essential to ensuring reliability and predictability across the system. Open standards as both enabler and risk control Interoperability remains fundamental to the EV charging ecosystem, with OCPP firmly established as the industry standard. There is now a clear push-both from industry and regulators-towards stricter alignment with OCPP 2.0.1 and emerging versions such as 2.1. The objective is to reduce ambiguity and eliminate fragmented implementations that introduce vulnerabilities. Standardisation serves a dual purpose:

• Enabling interoperability and ecosystem scale
• Establishing a consistent baseline for security implementation

Openness enables scale-but only when paired with disciplined, standard-compliant execution. From regulation to operational reality Europe has established a comprehensive regulatory framework for cybersecurity in connected infrastructure. The challenge now lies in execution. The Cyber Resilience Act introduces continuous risk management across the full lifecycle of hardware and software. NIS2 reinforces accountability at organisational level, while AFIR continues to shape sector-specific requirements. For operators and partners, this translates into:

• Continuous risk assessment and monitoring

• Structured update and patch management
• Increased scrutiny of supply chains and components
• Clear accountability for security performance

Cybersecurity is no longer a compliance checkpoint. It is an operational discipline directly linked to uptime, revenue assurance and system control. Testing, validation and real-world resilience Certification alone is no longer sufficient. The industry is moving towards continuous validation through real-world testing. Initiatives such as "Pown2Own" and sector-specific bug bounty programmes reflect this shift. By actively inviting ethical hackers to identify vulnerabilities, manufacturers gain insight into real attack methods and strengthen systems before issues are exploited. At the same time, certification programmes are evolving to provide greater transparency, including full visibility of active interfaces on devices. Together, certification and continuous testing are becoming the baseline for credible, resilient security. Digital sovereignty and supply chain control As EV charging becomes system-critical, cybersecurity extends beyond technical design to strategic control. Digital sovereignty centres on control over:

• Certificate chains and trust anchors
• Firmware development and signing processes
• Backend systems and data flows
• The broader software and hardware supply chain

European policy is moving towards greater transparency and accountability across this entire stack, down to individual components and software dependencies. Supplier choice therefore becomes part of the security model. Operating within the European regulatory and industrial ecosystem supports greater control over critical digital infrastructure. At the same time, open standards-and where appropriate, open-source approaches-support transparency, scrutiny and resilience. Looking ahead: software-defined infrastructure and AI EV charging infrastructure is becoming increasingly software-defined. Functionality evolves through firmware and cloud-based services rather than fixed hardware. This expands the attack surface, but also strengthens the ability to detect and respond to threats. Artificial intelligence will play a growing role in identifying anomalous behaviour-such as coordinated charging patterns or early-stage attack signals-across large networks. Cybersecurity is therefore evolving from protective to predictive, embedded directly into system operations. In short: Our advice for your operations EV charging is now part of Europe's critical infrastructure. This shifts cybersecurity from a technical requirement to a core operational and strategic capability-directly linked to uptime, control and revenue assurance. The focus is no longer on protecting individual components. It is about maintaining control across interconnected systems: charge points, backend platforms, certificate chains and firmware layers that determine behaviour at scale. For charge point operators, utilities, fleet managers, installers and platform providers, this requires a transition from isolated security measures to managing resilient, controllable and transparent systems-across the full ecosystem. At Alfen, this is approached as a balance. Open interoperability remains essential to enable scale and flexibility. At the same time, control over security-critical components-such as firmware integrity, certificate management and backend access-is treated as a core design and operational principle. This approach is anchored in a European context, where regulatory frameworks (CRA, NIS2, AFIR) are converging with increasing focus on digital sovereignty. As infrastructure becomes system-critical, where and how technology is developed, secured and operated becomes part of the overall risk model. In practice, this means moving beyond compliance towards continuous lifecycle management-ensuring that your infrastructure remains secure, reliable and controllable as it scales.