Checklist for Thinking About Cybersecurity in Connected Vehicles

A comprehensive approach to security is essential for the protection of connected vehicle systems. This article presents a set of security recommendations based on analyzing security risks for each step in developing and deploying AI and other connectivity systems in autonomous vehicles.

The recommendations are intended to be used as a roadmap by vehicle manufacturers, system integrators, suppliers, and other stakeholders to ensure that an end-to-end approach to security is applied throughout the lifecycle of AI components.

Responding to the Threat Landscape

First of all, the threat landscape of the connected and autonomous vehicles (CAV) industry has evolved significantly in recent years. There have been numerous confirmed attacks on critical infrastructure, and each new episode exposes a different attack technique. This growth in cyber-activity shows no signs of slowing down. The automotive industry needs to stay ahead of the curve to develop and manage automated and connected vehicles successfully. 

When a cybersecurity incident occurs, the natural human reaction is to panic and search for answers. While this natural fear is understandable, it can be avoided by correctly analyzing the situation. There are two main ways you can avoid this panic. The first is by actively monitoring your system for signs of compromise. The second is by periodically running security assessments to verify the safety and functionality of your autonomous vehicle systems. 

Security Assessments for Connected Vehicles

Security assessments help ensure that the software installed on our vehicles, systems, and networks is doing what it was designed to do and that there are no unintended interactions between applications or services. This helps to identify any new vulnerabilities that might be introduced and any changes that might affect the way the system works under normal circumstances.

These assessments include data gathered from sensors, outputs from computer systems, and driver reports. These security checks help ensure that the car can be patched in the event of an issue or hack attack and that all data recorded by the system is kept safe and encrypted. The security assessment also ensures that all safety measures are in place and that are no loose connections between vehicles or data held on their systems.

Determining the Risk Profile of CAVs

As more data flows into connected vehicle systems, companies must also focus on cybersecurity to protect customers and employees. This is why assessing the acceptable risk profile for connected cars cybersecurity is a crucial step to be taken by all companies involved with developing, manufacturing, or selling connected and autonomous vehicles, as well as vehicle transport services.

The latest data breaches highlight the importance of establishing a culture of cybersecurity – protecting customer data and assets from any prospective security threats. As cars become more technologically advanced and data-rich, the risks of these threats increase. The focus on cyber security is a must because customer data and safety could be at risk if automakers don’t address these issues.

Digital Transformation in the Automotive Industry

Digital transformation in the automotive sector should be based on two fundamental pillars: mobility, of course, and security. Security should be built into all systems, including the software and hardware of the vehicle and the data and communications links between car and driver. As cyberthreats become more sophisticated and organized, the need for a secure and interconnected automotive infrastructure is even more critical. 

This constant embedded vigilance activity is essential for ensuring vehicular infrastructures remain competitive and engineered to be resilient to various threats, integrating new technology, enhancing business function and efficiency while reducing operational costs. 

Future-Proofing the Connected Vehicle Network

Future-proofing a connected vehicle network means regularly testing and analyzing emerging risks that could cause network disruption or damage. These are non-invasive probes generated simultaneously by thousands of sensors throughout the vehicle network and used to collect data about potential threats.

One big area of concern is how autonomous cars will be protected from hacking attacks. Autonomous driving requires highly reliable and trustworthy artificial intelligence (AI) systems. Making these complex technologies work correctly requires constant monitoring of cyber threats and vulnerabilities from hardware, software, and infrastructure.

Incident Response and Threat Mitigation

If a cyber attack were to occur, several steps would be needed to contain it quickly. Once an attack has been detected, external factors such as external adversaries, internal company policies, employees with malicious intent, or injured party information would need to be considered alongside the security assessment of connected vehicle components, performed regularly throughout their lifecycle. 

The purpose of this process is to ensure that a cyberattack is contained as quickly as possible while minimizing the disruption to vehicles, stakeholders, and customers as possible.

Conclusion

Connected and autonomous vehicles will play an increasingly critical role in the future of transportation. These vehicles will not only make our daily commutes safer and more efficient, but they will essentially transform how we live and work. However, this transformation is being threatened by the proliferation of cyber threats in the connected automotive industry. 

There remains an urgent need to improve our understanding of the cybersecurity risks faced by these systems to develop viable mitigations continually.