An Overview of ISO 21434 for Automotive Cybersecurity

Vehicles are more connected than ever. From WiFi to Bluetooth, LTE, and USB, the number of connected interfaces in automobiles increases every year. According to ABI Research, 30 million new connected cars were sold in 2020 alone—and they predict that number will go up to 115 million cars globally by 2025. But with increased connectivity comes higher security risks, which is why the automotive industry developed new standards to promote cybersecurity in road vehicle systems.

Although driving a connected car has many benefits—5G wireless connectivity to enable self-driving capabilities, advanced navigation systems, and fewer road accidents, to name a few—the increasing amount of software in vehicles has also led to heightened cybersecurity concerns. Networked and semi-autonomous cars are much more vulnerable to cyber-attacks than their traditional predecessors. And as the capabilities of these connected smart cars increase, so do the potential consequences of cyber threats—to drivers, transportation infrastructures, and automakers. As a result, manufacturers worldwide are looking to mitigate those vulnerabilities and reduce the likelihood of accidents and injuries they could cause. That’s where ISO 21434 comes in.

ISO 21434, “Road vehicles - cybersecurity engineering,” is an automotive industry standard developed by the International Standard of Organization (ISO) alongside the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE). Building on the foundation of ISO 26262, which focuses on functional safety, ISO 21434 addresses the cybersecurity risks inherent in the design and development of car electronics. It provides updated guidelines for security management, continued security-related activities, as well as risk assessment and mitigation methods.

ISO 21434 was developed to ensure that OEMs and suppliers take cybersecurity into account at every step of the product lifecycle, from the concept phase all the way through retirement. It also provides the terminology, objectives, requirements, and guidelines that organizations need in order to:

• Define cybersecurity policies and processes

• Analyze, identify, and manage cybersecurity risks

• Champion a ‘security by design’ or cybersecurity culture within the organization

ISO 21434 applies to all software, associated electronic systems and components, and hardware included in vehicles. The standard's overall goal is to provide a comprehensive guideline for automotive developers to help them cover cybersecurity topics throughout the development lifecycle and ensure that the entire supplier chain is covered, too.

Automotive cybersecurity is crucial as modern vehicles heavily rely on software for critical functions such as steering, braking, and navigation. The increased connectivity raises the risk of cyberattacks, which can compromise safety and endanger lives. The ability for large numbers of vehicles to be compromised and used in a network poses additional threats. Connected cars also handle sensitive information that, without proper security, could be vulnerable to identity theft and unauthorized surveillance. The potential hazard that bad actors pose to a single vehicle (or entire fleets of them) is no longer the realm of science fiction. As carmakers race to adjust to a new reality of connected cars with serious smart capabilities, a significant attack on car systems could deal a crippling blow to their reputation, brand, and competitive standing in a fast-moving market.

Robust and effective cybersecurity is mission-critical to maintaining public trust in technologies like autonomous driving and vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communications. While automakers are spending billions to innovate smart capabilities, successful attacks on their vehicles are not only a liability to their brands; they threaten to erode demand for these features seen as a liability. As cybersecurity is quickly becoming as important as crash safety, organizations need strong standards to help ensure the public can trust that their cars are safe. Compliance with standards such as ISO 21434 is the best way for these companies to mitigate risks, prevent financial losses, and protect their reputation.

ISO 21434 intends cybersecurity to be integrated at every stage of the automotive product lifecycle. The standard helps manufacturers and suppliers effectively identify and manage cybersecurity risks from the initial concept phase through production and decommissioning. Ultimately, it aims to protect vehicle systems from cyber threats, ensure user safety, and maintain trust in connected and autonomous vehicle technologies.

Adopting ISO 21434 helps organizations establish and maintain a secure management process by embedding cybersecurity best practices throughout the product lifecycle. This ensures that potential vulnerabilities are identified and addressed early, reducing the risk of costly recalls and safety incidents later.

ISO 21434 provides a structured approach for risk assessment and threat management, allowing organizations to better anticipate and prevent cyberattacks. This comprehensive strategy enhances the overall resilience of vehicle systems and supports the continuous improvement of cybersecurity measures. By mitigating potential threats effectively, automotive companies can protect critical functions and maintain peak safety for users.

Integrating cybersecurity requirements into development workflows promotes improved operational efficiency. ISO 21434 streamlines processes and reduces redundancies, facilitating better collaboration between departments and stakeholders.

Over time, investing in robust cybersecurity measures such as ISO 21434 can lead to significant cost savings. Organizations can minimize financial losses by preventing data breaches, system failures, and potential litigation. Compliance with this standard also helps avoid regulatory fines and legal consequences, making it a cost-effective strategy for long-term security.

Implementing ISO 21434 is a surefire way to demonstrate dedication to advanced cybersecurity practices. This commitment enhances reputation and builds customer trust in the safety and reliability of connected and autonomous vehicles. Adherence to stringent cybersecurity standards fosters confidence among stakeholders and helps secure a competitive edge in the evolving automotive industry.

The purpose of ISO 21434 is to encourage automotive OEMs and suppliers to consider cybersecurity concerns and measures throughout the entire lifecycle of the product. To comply with ISO automotive cybersecurity requirements, OEMs and suppliers must demonstrate that they have implemented the recommended safeguards and performed their due diligence. It also requires OEMs and suppliers to address cybersecurity measures across the entire supply chain, with the ultimate responsibility resting on the manufacturer.

ISO 21434 promotes organizations adopting a “security and privacy first” mindset, which is why ISO 21434 lays out guidelines for the whole product development lifecycle. It follows the V-model and details how cybersecurity plays into every phase from requirement definition to design, implementation, testing, and operations from the point of purchase through retirement. Some of the activities OEMs and suppliers will need to execute according to this guideline include:

• Carrying out risk assessments

• Identifying cybersecurity vulnerabilities

• Ensuring development is undertaken with the correct safeguards in place to address these vulnerabilities

• Rigorously testing applications and software/hardware components to make sure these risks have been mitigated

The standard mandates rigorous testing and validation processes to ensure the robustness of cybersecurity measures throughout the automotive lifecycle. Organizations must conduct comprehensive risk assessments, perform penetration testing, and continuously monitor systems to maintain compliance. Modern application lifecycle management (ALM) solutions can help automotive organizations comply with stringent requirements such as ISO 21434 by providing end-to-end traceability, transparency, and efficient collaboration across the engineering lifecycle. This can ultimately ensure a proactive stance on cybersecurity and foster resilience against evolving threats.

ISO 21434 presents a series of requirements for automotive cybersecurity engineering. These serve to analyze vulnerabilities and put safeguards in place to ensure the highest level of cybersecurity possible. The approach is based on the premise that cybersecurity should come first in all design questions and be considered at every step of the product lifecycle, rather than an isolated measure introduced separately at a later stage. For example, this approach affects choices like the programming language used, as secure coding techniques, as well as unambiguous syntax and semantic definitions, must be implemented.

The UN R155 is one of the regulations released by the UNECE World Harmonization Forum for Vehicle Regulations (WP.29), alongside its sibling regulation UN 156. It has been considered binding for new vehicles in the UNECE markets since July 2022.

RN155 mandates the use of a certified cybersecurity management system, as well as paying special attention to:

• Analyzing, assessing, and managing cyber risks with connected vehicles

• The use of cybersecurity ‘by design’ to reduce risks throughout the supply chain

• Keeping vehicle software up to date securely

• Having systems in place that detect and mitigate security incidents in vehicles

UN R155 and ISO 21434 are very similar, with the first being a UN regulation while the second is an industry standard. Both are guidelines with requirements that must be met to promote cybersecurity in the automotive industry. Having the right tooling in place to support compliance is essential for meeting the requirements of both automotive cybersecurity ISO standards and UN regulations, and having your products approved to go to market in a swift and seamless manner.

Cumulatively, these regulations offer safeguards and challenges. While the regulations and standards help avoid negative cybersecurity outcomes, they have forced manufacturers to modify or reinvent significant areas of their business. It could be argued that is precisely the point of these standards. To successfully negotiate this digital transformation, market leaders aren’t just looking at CAD, PLM, and ALM systems but solutions that can integrate both to create a more trusted, agile, and resilient compliance process. The right technology also helps ensure that automakers aren’t forced to choose between rigorous adherence to standards and speed to market.

Before implementing ISO 21434, you should first assess your current cybersecurity framework to understand your needs and gaps. How effectively are you identifying and managing cybersecurity risks at each stage of the product lifecycle? Do you have a robust training program in place to ensure all teams are aware of best practices and compliance needs? Once you have a solid understanding of current processes, you can define a comprehensive cybersecurity policy, train teams on best practices, and integrate risk assessment methodologies into the development lifecycle. Leveraging modern ALM solutions can further streamline these efforts by centralizing processes, enhancing cross-team collaboration, and providing tools to continuously monitor compliance and risk management. The right approach, combined with the right technology investment, can turn the challenge of cybersecurity compliance into a competitive advantage.

With every passing day, more vehicles (and functions within them) are becoming connected. Critical functions that were once manual are now fully dependent on software, and their security is more necessary than ever to ensure user safety and data protection.

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