Securing the Internet of Things: Connected Cars

By Ranjeet Khanna, Director of Product Management–IoT/Embedded Security, Entrust Datacard

Establishing safety and security in automotive design goes far beyond crash test dummies.

By 2022, the global automotive Internet of Things (IoT) market is expected to skyrocket to $82.79 billion – and manufacturers are racing to capitalize on this growing opportunity. While embedded computation and networking has been around since the 1980s, the advent of connectivity opens up an array of new options for automakers. From advanced collision detection and predictive diagnostics, to entertainment systems that load a driver’s favorite tunes the second they sit down, connected cars are poised to enhance the consumer experience.

Those extra conveniences, however, aren’t without their downsides. If not properly secured, connected cars threaten to expose sensitive consumer information. With data being passed between so many different connected channels, it’s easier than ever for hackers to get their hands on personally identifiable information.

In 2015, Chrysler announced a recall of 1.4 million vehicles after two technology researchers hacked into a Jeep Cherokee’s dashboard connectivity system. But the right security solutions can make such incidents a thing of the past.

Through new IoT security solutions, automotive manufacturers are able to assign a trusted identity to each and every device – regardless of whether it’s located inside a vehicle or across the IoT ecosystem. This extra layer of security sets the stage for trusted communication between authorized users, devices and applications. Ensuring the right security level for the right device helps prevent data being made accessible to unauthorized users or devices. Using cryptographic protection as well as strong authorization requirements will restrict access to those things, systems and users with the proper privileges.

In addition to creating a trusted IoT ecosystem, automotive designers also stand to realize significant business value. Instead of spending precious time determining which devices to trust, ioTrust makes it easy to not only recognize trusted devices, but operationalize them. That same convenience also extends to the supply chain, where manufacturers can get a better look at a product’s entire lifecycle – from creation to release.

IoT has burst onto the scene in a big way, especially in the quest to securely design the next connected car. But before making the most of automotive IoT, manufacturers must consider how to keep consumer data under wraps. By provisioning managed identities and authorization privileges, ioTrust paves the way for securely connected automotive systems.

Note: This is part of a blog series on Securing the IoT.