Linux and Open Source
– for Industrial Systems
A strategic platform for security and digital sovereignty
Linux and Open Source – At our core since 2001
Nord Technology has worked professionally with Linux and open source since 2001. For us, open source is not just an operating system choice, but a strategic platform that enables us to deliver secure and future-proof solutions for IoT gateways, edge computing, and industrial systems.
Interest in Linux and open source is growing. Many companies and public sector organizations are seeking greater independence from Big Tech while requirements for IT security, cybersecurity, and data protection continue to increase. NIS2 and the Cyber Resilience Act play a key role in this shift by introducing demands for documentation, lifecycle management, and secure-by-design.
Hardware has become part of the security architecture
Our core focus is industrial hardware, and today hardware is an active part of the security architecture. It is no longer enough to install secure software on an arbitrary platform. Stable operation, secure boot, signed firmware, and long product lifecycles are essential to building solutions that are documentable, updatable, and compliant throughout their entire lifespan.
When hardware and Linux are designed as a single integrated platform, it becomes possible to build systems with high uptime, controlled operations, and a consistent security model – even in distributed edge and IoT deployments.
Open Source as a security choice
Choosing Linux and open source today is an active security decision.
It provides:
- full insight into the system architecture
- the ability to implement hardening and reduce the attack surface
- a controlled update strategy
- independence from vendors and licensing models
At the same time, it enables centralized and secure remote device management, allowing devices to be monitored, maintained, and updated across locations without losing control of data and configuration.
This is a key prerequisite for digital sovereignty and for meeting the new compliance requirements.
Linux in relation to NIS2 and the Cyber Resilience Act
NIS2 and the Cyber Resilience Act require security to be built into the hardware solution from the outset and managed throughout the entire system lifecycle. With Linux-based platforms, software components can be documented, patch management can be controlled, and updates can be deployed in a controlled manner without dependency on a single vendor. This makes compliance a natural part of the architecture rather than a later add-on.
Why do companies choose Linux for industrial systems?
Linux provides full control over data and infrastructure, a stable long-lifecycle platform, and the ability to consolidate operations, monitoring, and updates into a single secure management solution. At the same time, vendor dependency is reduced, and organizations can define their own security level.
Linux vs. Windows IoT in edge environments
In edge and IoT solutions, the choice of operating system is a strategic decision.
Linux typically provides greater flexibility for hardening, lifecycle management, vendor independence, and integration with your own management and security solutions. This makes the platform well suited for environments with high requirements for documentation, uptime, and control over updates.
Windows IoT remains relevant in solutions that depend on specific Windows applications or where the Microsoft management ecosystem is already a central part of the infrastructure.
The right choice always depends on the application, security requirements, and lifecycle strategy.
Do you want to use Linux as part of your security strategy?
We advise on the selection of hardware and software platforms based on security, lifecycle, and operational requirements. We assist with migration from existing systems, implementation of Linux-based solutions, and the development of a secure and well-documented platform ready for future compliance demands.
Kevin Peter Gade
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