When it comes to security, one industry that is constantly facing challenges is the automotive industry over the connected vehicle, and even in the manufacturing plants and IT systems. Several challenges appear at every stage of their lifecycle. But, it is important to cover each base to detect, prevent, and react to any possible automotive cybersecurity threats.
Automotive cybersecurity is one a major source of debate and discussion in the cybersecurity community for a very long time.
Cybersecurity today has come into existence for many different reasons that we will discuss in detail here:
On-road vehicles are quite vulnerable to hacking, whether it is in the vehicle itself or through its back-end IT options where they connect. Such kind of security hacks in cars has also attracted several media attention till now. Thus, it has become quite important to secure cars and reassure customers who fear cars are simply getting hacked.
But, it is not just the security of a car itself that has attracted huge attention. But, even the security of the manufacturing plants is one growing concern today, both the primary threats being vehicle integrity as well as production line accessibility.
Navigating through the integration of smart features and connected vehicles involves a vigilant approach to cybersecurity. It’s not just about horsepower and sleek designs; it’s about safeguarding vehicles from cyber threats that can compromise safety and functionality. As we explore the realm of cybersecurity in the automotive industry, we uncover the measures taken to fortify systems, protect sensitive data, and ensure that the driving experience remains not only technologically advanced but also secure from the ever-growing challenges in the digital age.
Challenges Faced by the Automotive Industry
When responding to such a range of cybersecurity threats is quite tough because of some unique functions of today’s automotive industry. Let us check them out in detail:
The first challenge faced is contemporary vehicle complexity. The number of points of attack will be high to make defensive strategies totally unworkable and can get worse later on. One main reason is the number of vehicle nodes keeps on increasing, which will support demand for the additional features. Today, the average vehicle might have over 30 units, and the complex vehicles will comprise over 100 units.
The second challenge is most of the modern vehicles today come with systems that are built by multiple stakeholders, and each to their standard. So, this makes it really tough to integrate various potential attacks that surface in one single and static security platform. There’re various signs that prove it is changing because of dedicated automotive cyber security testing done by many companies out there. However, current cyber-attacks on cars leveraged this vulnerability that will result from the interconnections between various components.
How is Automotive Industry Tackling Security Threats?
Because of cybersecurity concerns, this industry is trying to invest a huge amount of money that will make cars much safer and intelligent just by including cybersecurity solutions in the vehicles from their first stages of development and production, frequently undertaking various security tests.
The contemporary vehicle hardware function has built-in safety features, which will help to protect the safety-critical systems. In contrast, car control systems are isolated from communications-based features such as navigation & satellite radio.
Car manufacturers make use of proven security methods that will help to prevent unauthorized access to the software. The software updates can be delivered often to the drivers, and it needs some special code to activate.
Like other industries out there, even auto engineers make use of “threat modeling” with the latest techniques to test the car’s cybersecurity as well as to help design controls to improve their data integrity.
The automotive industry established the Automotive Information Sharing & Analysis Center in 2015. It shares vital information offline and online and analyses vulnerabilities to the cars, hackers’ attack types, and various associated risks. It allows an enterprise to track down cybersecurity threats to the vehicles and spot any potential weaknesses in the vehicle electronics to improve the defenses against them and stay a step ahead of the cyber-criminals.
Ways to Protect Against Such Cyber Attacks
With these things, we do not mean that connected cars do not have any hope of security in the near future. For instance, the defensive software solutions are housed locally on the individual ECUs — for example, the car’s brakes —that will reinforce ECUs against attacks. Going a level up, the software will protect the car’s internal network just by examining all the network communications properly, flagging out any changes in the standard network behavior as well as stopping attacks from advancing further in a network.
A Quick Overview
The automotive industry has undergone a significant digital transformation over the years, with the advent of connected cars, advanced driver assistance systems, and autonomous vehicles. While these technological advancements have enhanced the driving experience, they have also increased the risk of cybersecurity threats. Cybersecurity in the automotive industry is crucial as it helps protect vehicles, drivers, and passengers from cyber-attacks, which can lead to devastating consequences. In this article, we will explore the importance of cybersecurity in the automotive industry.
- Protecting Personal Data: With the amount of data collected by modern cars, it’s important to ensure that personal data is secure. Cybercriminals can target cars to gain access to personal data such as financial information, contacts, and location data. Cybersecurity measures help to prevent unauthorized access to personal data.
- Ensuring Safety: As vehicles become more connected, cybersecurity threats can affect safety systems such as anti-lock brakes, airbags, and other safety features. An attack on these systems can lead to accidents, injuries, and even fatalities. Cybersecurity in the automotive industry is critical in ensuring the safety of drivers and passengers.
- Preventing Remote Takeover: With connected vehicles, there is a risk of remote takeover, where cybercriminals can take control of a vehicle from a remote location. This can be used to steal the vehicle or cause harm to the driver and passengers—cybersecurity measures such as firewalls and encryption help to prevent a remote takeover.
- Protecting Supply Chain: The automotive industry is a complex network of suppliers, manufacturers, and distributors. A cyber-attack on one part of the supply chain can have a ripple effect throughout the industry. Cybersecurity measures help to protect the supply chain from cyber threats, ensuring that the industry remains resilient.
- Compliance: The automotive industry is subject to various regulations and standards, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and ISO 27001. Compliance with these regulations and standards requires robust cybersecurity measures
Read more: How to Create a Cybersecurity Policy in the Office.
