Why Automakers Can't Ignore Cybersecurity?

In the automotive industry, cybersecurity is new challenge. However, automakers, OEMs, and suppliers must come to common terms to face this challenge.

FREMONT, CA: In the past, cars were used to take the driver from point A to point B. Today that is no longer the case as the digital innovation influx has cars running on millions of lines of code. Advanced cars have technologies from infotainment connectivity to over-the-air software updates. These technologies are turning vehicles into information clearinghouses. While technologically advanced, these vehicles have a downside. Hackers and black-hat intruders try to gain access to critical vehicle data, potentially compromising safety functions and customer privacy.

Cybersecurity is crucial for the automotive industry because of the introduction of new personal-mobility concepts, autonomous driving, car connectivity, and vehicle electrification. It has become the center of all activities owing to the digitization of in-car systems, the creation of new and entirely digital mobility services, and the propagation of software. These services have several car apps and features that customers can buy and unlock online.

The cybersecurity of autonomous cars can be breached with the right state-of-the-art tools; the attacks are low-effort and relatively affordable. The automotive industry does not have the proper approach to dealing with cybersecurity. The automotive suppliers have a hard time balancing the regular security requirements integrated into their core products against the software adjustments made for individual OEMs. In many cases, current supplier relationships and contractual arrangements hinder the testing of the end-to-end cybersecurity of a vehicle platform.

However, current supplier relationships and contractual arrangements often do not allow OEMs to test the end-to-end cybersecurity of a vehicle platform or technology stack made up of parts sourced from various suppliers. That can make it difficult for both suppliers and OEMs to work together to achieve effective cybersecurity during automotive software development and testing.

As the threat of cybersecurity remains an ongoing concern, automakers must consider cybersecurity as an integral part of their core business functions. Automakers need to must embrace a security culture among core teams and need to assign its ownership along with core value-chain activities. Similarly, suppliers must consider OEM concerns on cybersecurity, and develop capabilities to integrate best security practices in the components and collaborate effectively with OEMs. To overcome the cybersecurity challenges, the automotive industry must develop common cybersecurity standards to control development and maintenance costs. The OEMs and suppliers must be on the same page to ensure flexible and end-to-end secure solutions. 

See also: Top Cybersecurity Companies

Check This Out: The Cybersecurity Review