Skip to main content

Vehicle Cyber Security Research and Development Trends

Market development activities for connected vehicle applications will increase dramatically during 2016, once automotive cyber security concerns are finally addressed, and those offering assurances are certain that deployment won't negatively affect the functional safety of vehicles.

In its recent worldwide market study, ABI Research analyzed all the available security solutions for automotive embedded capabilities, security software and secure wireless network connectivity.

They concluded that the emerging global hardware security module (HSM) market -- including both consumer and commercial vehicle applications -- will reach 2.3 billion units by 2020.

"In a car, there are typically about 100 different electrical control units, and right now, most cars do not contain secure-enough hardware," said Michela Menting, research director at ABI Research.

Automotive manufacturers acknowledge the vast upside potential for the Internet of Things (IoT) use cases, but it’s difficult to apply enterprise cyber security models into mobile cyber physical systems. New purpose-built security solutions are likely to be required -- in order to ensure success.

Demand for Vehicle Security R&D Investment

The key challenges for automotive manufacturers are learning to work with established security vendors, becoming more involved in the design and implementation of security standards and strategically incorporating validated security solutions at their research and development (R&D) level.

Data protection is also a relevant concern, and automobile OEMs will need to work closely with cyber security solution corporations to determine how to protect a connected vehicle's data and set necessary privacy parameters.

ABI believes that these OEMs must learn to relinquish some control as they integrate their business models with security vendors so that, together, the two can achieve the best in-breed security model.

Connected cars will communicate and share data with a number of systems and infrastructures. Therefore, the vehicle cyber security ecosystem must collectively address potential outside security threats from potential hackers, and the fundamental consumer privacy concerns for the vehicle owner.

"Cyber security is far behind in the automotive industry," according to Menting's assessment. "Different players are thinking about the idea, but actually unleashing commercially available vehicles equipped with cyber security solutions into the market has yet to happen."

Popular posts from this blog

Bold Broadband Policy: Yes We Can, America

Try to imagine this scenario, that General Motors and Ford were given exclusive franchises to build America's interstate highway system, and also all the highways that connect local communities. Now imagine that, based upon a financial crisis, these troubled companies decided to convert all "their" local arteries into toll-roads -- they then use incremental toll fees to severely limit all travel to and from small businesses. Why? This handicapping process reduced the need to invest in building better new roads, or repairing the dilapidated ones. But, wouldn't that short-sighted decision have a detrimental impact on the overall national economy? It's a moot point -- pure fantasy -- you say. The U.S. political leadership would never knowingly risk the nation's social and economic future on the financial viability of a restrictive duopoly. Or, would they? The 21st century Global Networked Economy travels across essential broadband infrastructure. The forced intro...