Automotive cybersecurity is the practice of protecting vehicle systems, electronic control units (ECUs), and in-vehicle networks from unauthorized access, data breaches, and cyberattacks that could impact safety, performance, or privacy.
Automotive cybersecurity goes beyond traditional information security. It bridges compliance requirements such as ISO 21434 (road-vehicle cybersecurity engineering), ISO 27001 (information security), and GDPR (data privacy). Together, these frameworks ensure that both vehicle systems and customer data remain secure across the entire product lifecycle.
We at Embitel, have delivered multiple automotive projects with cybersecurity at their core. So, we know where to put the plug! Automotive cybersecurity is all-pervasive, hardware, software, network, and cloud; we help you secure each one of them. From building secure bootloaders and Transport layer security to Trusted Applications for automotive cybersecurity and Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) services , we implement cybersecurity in all its forms.
Secure Your SDV TodayA top automotive OEM wanted a secure solution for the development of next generation IVI and cockpit system. They needed to identify cybersecurity risks early, before the hardware and software architecture was finalized.
The system included Bluetooth, WiFi and OTA updates, creating multiple attack surfaces that had to meet compliance requirements. Alongside, with several Tier1 suppliers involved, the OEM lacked a single set of cybersecurity requirements. This created bottlenecks for them to manage interfaces and maintain security traceability across the solution.
A Tier1 supplier developing a network gateway ECU needed stronger cybersecurity measures to secure in vehicle communication. The existing firmware lacked protection against flooding, spoofing and unauthorized diagnostic access.
The gateway handled traffic between multiple vehicle networks, making it a critical control point. Without proper filtering and authentication, attackers could inject malicious frames, overload the network or access restricted OBD diagnostics. The supplier needed clear cybersecurity controls and reliable testing to ensure the gateway met program level security requirements.
An automotive OEM preparing a connected vehicle program required cybersecurity validation of its Telematics Control Unit (TCU).
An automotive OEM developing an Infotainment Cockpit Controller (ICC) required validation to validate the lifecycle of cryptographic keys used for secure communication and authentication across their vehicle ECUs.
The key generation and distribution were handled by client’s inhouse team. However, the Vehicle Key Management System (VKMS) implementation required a structured functional validation. Initially there was no confirmed assurance that keys were being correctly injected, distributed and authenticated across ECUs as the system required. Alongside, the client wanted to verify behaviour under invalid input conditions, ensuring the system rejected malformed or unauthorised keys without failing.
A Tier-1 supplier developing a Body Control Module (BCM) wanted us to validate their SecOC implementation. The security layer was responsible for ensuring the authenticity and integrity of messages exchanged between vehicle ECUs.
Without proper validation, attackers could inject spoofed or replayed messages into the vehicle network, potentially manipulating ECU behaviour and triggering unintended vehicle functions.
The core challenge was confirming if the in-vehicle messages were being correctly authenticated, with no path being spoofed or replayed messages to pass through undetected. Additionally, the freshness value mechanism, critical for preventing replay attacks, needed verify under both normal and edge case conditions, where synchronisation failures could silently undermine the entire authentication layer.
An automotive OEM integrating an Android-based user interface into their ADAS HMI controller engaged us to validate that their Android hardening implementation. They wanted to verify if it was effective and that the platform was secured against unauthorised access before program sign-off.
The Android environment manages user-facing applications and connected services, making it a meaningful target for attackers. The core challenge was confirming that the hardening policies applied to the Android platform were correctly enforced, while ensuring that the application sandbox and platform security configurations held up under test conditions.
We work across the end-to-end cybersecurity lifecycle of active vehicle programs. Our offerings align with ISO/SAE 21434 and UN R155 covering all the facets automotive cybersecurity including risk assessment, security engineering, controls development, and functional testing validation.
Aligned with Clause (8, 9, 15) of ISO/SAE 21434, we identify attack surfaces, assess risk, and produce structured outputs that feed directly into security requirements, controls, and compliance evidence.
TARA: attack path mapping, damage scenarios, risk classification (STRIDE / EVITA)
Vulnerability Analysis: software, interfaces, and protocol-level weakness identification
Item Definition: asset boundaries, interfaces, and cybersecurity assumptions
Cybersecurity Concept Development: goals, requirements, and architectural decisions from TARA findings
Cybersecurity Management Planning: plan, roles, and process framework across the program lifecycle
Release & Production Support: cybersecurity case and evidence generation for UN R155 type approval
Compliant with Clause 10 & 11, we translate threat analysis findings into concrete security architectures and testable requirements across hardware, software, and network layers.
Cybersecurity requirements derivation: system, hardware, and software level
Security architecture definition: trust boundaries, cryptographic protocols, key management strategy
Secure boot chain design: hardware root of trust through OS
OTA security architecture: signing, transport security, rollback protection, ECU-side validation
Secure diagnostics: authentication and access control for OBD and UDS interfaces
SecOC design & integration: message authentication, freshness management, key distribution
IDS / IPS design: detection rules, anomaly thresholds, response strategies
HSM integration & Crypto stack: key provisioning, algorithm selection, driver development
We implement security controls across hardware, software, in-vehicle networks, and connected interfaces.
We validate security feature implementations at system level: on HIL and physical bench environments: with full traceability from TARA threat to test result. Our validation outputs have directly supported type approval and homologation processes.
What we cover:
Validations Tools Used: Wireshark | ISOtrist | ODC | In-house Python scripts
Deliverables: Structured test report | Traceability matrix (threat → control → test result) | UN R155 / ISO 21434 compliance evidence
We validate security feature implementations at system level: on HIL and physical bench environments: with full traceability from TARA threat to test result. Our validation outputs have directly supported type approval and homologation processes.
What we cover:
We develop Trusted Applications for automotive-grade TEE environments, ensuring that cryptographic operations, key storage, secure boot enforcement, and authentication logic are isolated from the Rich Operating System (OS).
What we cover:
Trusted Application Development: TA development using OP-TEE, Kinibi, and GlobalPlatform standards.
Hardware-Rooted Security: Secure storage of cryptographic keys, protection of credentials and secrets, and hardware-backed trust enforcement.
Secure Platform Functions: Secure boot enablement, ECU authentication, secure firmware validation, and isolation of cryptographic operations.
Automotive System Coverage: TEE integration across infotainment, ADAS, telematics ECUs, and central compute platforms.
TEE-Based Use Cases: Secure OTP memory access, anti-rollback protection, secure diagnostics authorisation, and runtime protection of high-value operations inside automotive SoCs
We design, deploy, and operate end-to-end PKI systems built for the scale and complexity of automotive and connected device environments.
What we cover:
PKI Architecture & Deployment: Root CA, Sub-CA, and Registration Authority design and implementation.
Certificate Lifecycle Management: Automated certificate issuance, renewal, and revocation across devices and ECUs.
Automotive & IoT Use Cases: Secure ECU-to-ECU and ECU-to-cloud authentication, OTA update signing and verification, Vehicle-to-Cloud trust establishment, and secure manufacturing provisioning at production line.
Cryptographic Key Management: Key generation, storage, and secure injection during production.
Compliance Enablement: PKI architecture aligned with ISO/SAE 21434, UN R155, and V2X certificate policy requirements.
We conduct threat-driven penetration testing across automotive ECUs, vehicle networks, embedded firmware, and connected infrastructure, with test scopes derived from TARA findings.
What we cover:
ECU & Vehicle Network Testing: Hands-on penetration testing of individual ECUs and in-vehicle networks including CAN, LIN, and Automotive Ethernet. Attack scenarios include message injection, fuzzing, replay attacks, spoofing, and diagnostic interface exploitation
Firmware & Hardware Interface Testing: Firmware extraction and reverse engineering, JTAG and UART interface exploitation, secure boot bypass attempts, and hardware-level attack surface enumeration
Wireless & Connectivity Testing: Attack surface validation across Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, LTE, and OTA update channels. Includes passive interception, active injection, and protocol-level weakness identification
IVI & TCU Security Validation: Application-layer testing of infotainment and telematics control units, including API security, authentication bypass, and privilege escalation scenarios
We develop Trusted Applications for automotive-grade TEE environments, ensuring that cryptographic operations, key storage, secure boot enforcement, and authentication logic are isolated from the Rich Operating System (OS).
What we cover:
TA development using OP-TEE, Kinibi, and GlobalPlatform standards.
Secure storage of cryptographic keys, protection of credentials and secrets, and hardware-backed trust enforcement.
Secure boot enablement, ECU authentication, secure firmware validation, and isolation of cryptographic operations.
TEE integration across infotainment, ADAS, telematics ECUs, and central compute platforms.
Secure OTP memory access, anti-rollback protection, secure diagnostics authorisation, and runtime protection of high-value operations inside automotive SoCs
Successful Deliveries: We have delivered secure bootloader solutions, software stacks implemented with Transport Layer Security (TLS) module and state-of-the-art security algorithms
Dedicated Team: A dedicated team of cybersecurity experts manages the project and closely monitors each activity
End to End Cybersecurity: Our automotive cybersecurity approach is designed to cater end-to-end cybersecurity requirements- from gap analysis to compliance
ISO/SAE 21434 is a comprehensive standard that outlines the requirements for cybersecurity risk management in the design and production of automotive systems. This standard is essential for OEMs and Tier-1 suppliers as it guides the integration of cybersecurity measures across the vehicle's lifecycle.
It emphasizes the development of a robust cybersecurity management system, systematic risk assessment through TARA, and integrating security into the product development lifecycle.
The standard also focuses on efficient incident response, industry collaboration for knowledge sharing, and stringent documentation practices. Essentially, it ensures that automotive products are secure and compliant in an era of increasing cyber threats.
Ans. ISO 21434 standard has recently been published. However, our cybersecurity team has been closely following the various stages that the standard has gone through. Hence, we have a fair understanding of the standard.
We have been delivering cybersecurity related projects before the release of ISO 21434 standard, primarily based on its draft version. Since, the standard is now published, we follow the automotive cybersecurity guidelines as prescribed in the standard for all cybersecurity related projects.
Ans. Yes, we can make your existing automotive solution compliant to automotive cybersecurity. The process requires gap analysis and an assessment of existing cybersecurity measures. After the gap analysis, we will lay down the requirements and make changes in the solution. The changes might affect the entire system architecture, introduce new validation and verification methods and more depending on various factors.
Ans. Diagnosing a vehicle remotely has emerged as a convenient for the customer as well as the service center. But it also opens up a potential threat of unauthorized access to the vehicle function. We have a ready-to-deploy DoIP protocol software that enables remote ECU diagnostics. It is made secure by the Transport Layer Security module (TLS module) among other features such as Secure Socket Layer (SSL) and IP security.
Ans. We have delivered FOTA solution to our customers with security features as required by the projects’ specifications.
Let’s look at all security features implemented:
Ans. We equip our Secure Bootloader solution with AES-128, CRC32, HMS Drivers, Digital Signature and Secondary Bootloader (SBL) features. These components make sure that that the data transmission between ECUs is completely secure.
A snapshot of our Flash Bootloader’s security features:
Ans-
Ans- Yes, we develop Trusted Applications for automotive cybersecurity use cases. Some of our delivered projects include development of hard/soft OTP TA, blade authentication, cryptographic services etc. We work closely with Tier-1s and OEMs to tailor each TA to their SoC, operating system, and security requirements.
Ans- We’ve delivered the following types of Trusted Applications to customers:
Ans- Automotive industry has adopted ISO26262 as a de-facto standard for making the vehicles safe. This standard has already been practiced in the industry by both OEM and suppliers for vehicle homologation and component development. ISO26262 addresses to limit or eliminate the unintended system behavior that can lead to safety issues. However, this does not address the intentional manipulation of the system by an external entity that could potentially compromise the safety of vehicle, its users and the road occupiers. Hence the security and safety go hand in hand in the modern connected vehicles. ISO 21434 is the standard that guides automotive cybersecurity.
Modern connected vehicles need to be as secure as they are safe. In many aspects, security will be directly responsible for safety of the vehicle. Hence, there is a need for cybersecurity and functional safety to work in tandem.
As cars transform into complex software system with numerous connected ECUs, they become more vulnerable to cyber-attacks. This necessitates a shift in vehicle architecture towards a secure-by-design approach.
What are the cybersecurity risks associated with charging system for electric vehicles? Are there enough preventive measures in place to mitigate these risks?
As vehicles transform into highly connected, software-driven machines, protecting them from cyber threats has become paramount.
Automotive cybersecurity is all about protecting the vehicle electronic components from unauthorized access and control. Growing degree of connectivity in vehicles creates avenues for amazing features. However, connectivity to external entities also makes the systems vulnerable to cyber-attacks. Automotive cybersecurity is a set of measures that can identify and thwart such attacks and keep the vehicle occupants safe.
Cybersecurity for road vehicles has been standardized in ISO 21434 standard. This standard defines the engineering requirements for managing the risks associated with cybersecurity. Right from the concept phase to component decommissioning, the standard has a framework for cybersecurity processes.
Automotive cybersecurity makes sure that the data transmitted to and from the vehicle ECU is delivered unchanged and to the intended party. To achieve this, three important aspects are controlled- Authenticity, Integrity, and Confidentiality.
Authenticity of the data implies that the data has been exchanged in a trustworthy manner and has been delivered to the intended receiver.
Integrity of the data means that the data has not been tampered with and the content is delivered unchanged and complete.
Confidentiality entails that there is encryption algorithm securing the data and to prevent it from being accessed and read by unauthorized recipient.
