Cybersecurity in cars

New standard just published to help keep the hackers at bay.

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As our cars get more connected, the risk of cybersecurity breaches increases on board. While the industry charged with combatting vehicle hackers is booming, it’s a constant battle to keep up with increasingly sophisticated technology. A new standard has just been published to help manufacturers get one step ahead.

ISO/SAE 21434, Road vehicles – Cybersecurity engineering, addresses the cybersecurity perspective in engineering of electrical and electronic (E/E) systems within road vehicles. It will help manufacturers keep abreast of changing technologies and cyber-attack methods, and defines the vocabulary, objectives, requirements and guidelines related to cybersecurity engineering for a common understanding throughout the supply chain.

The standard, developed in collaboration with SAE International, a global association of engineers and a key ISO partner, draws on the recommendations detailed in SAE J3061, Cybersecurity guidebook for cyber-physical vehicle systems, offering more comprehensive guidance and the input of experts all around the world.

Standard
ISO/SAE 21434:2021
Road vehicles
Cybersecurity engineering

Dr Gido Scharfenberger-Fabian, Convenor of the group of ISO experts that developed the standard, said it will enable organizations to define cybersecurity policies and processes, manage cybersecurity risk and foster a cybersecurity culture.

“ISO/SAE 21434 will help consider cybersecurity issues at every stage of the development process and in the field, increasing the vehicle’s own cybersecurity defences and mitigating the risk of potential vulnerabilities for every component,” he said.

“What’s more, the framework provided in this standard will enhance the collaboration on cybersecurity within the industry and thereby lead to technology and solutions that better meet today’s and tomorrow’s cybersecurity challenges.”

Jack Pokrzywa, Director of global ground vehicle standards at SAE International, said: “We are pleased to see the fruits of this unique collaborative partnership between SAE and ISO. We see this standard as a critical tool in the arsenal of cybersecurity professionals and product developers around the globe.”

ISO/SAE 21434 was developed by technical committee ISO/TC 22, Road vehicles, subcommittee SC 32, Electrical and electronic components and general system aspects, in collaboration with SAE International’s Vehicle Cybersecurity Systems Engineering Committee. The secretariat of ISO/TC 22/SC 32 is JISC, ISO’s member for Japan.

The standard can be purchased from your national ISO member or the ISO Store.

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