The majority of the panelists agreed on the necessity of an industry-wide set of minimum, verifiable cybersecurity standards. However, due to the continually changing nature of emerging technology, they also suggested that these standards could only serve as a baseline. As capabilities and threats develop, the best practices would need to be able to evolve at the same pace. The Society of Automotive Engineers’ (SAE) forthcoming cybersecurity standards were offered as a possible starting point, as well as contributions from the automakers Intelligence Sharing and Analysis Center (ISAC) that has been in operation since 2015.
One of the primary points of discussion was the issue of data access. The general consensus of the panelists was that most cyber vulnerabilities are caused by the vehicle owner. Some pointed out that this was an argument for vehicle manufacturers to have greater control over the vehicle software and hardware, as well as dictating who could access the data. Others contended that when a consumer purchases a car, this includes the right to access any and all data. This argument extended to vehicle repair, with several panelists making the case that aftermarket repairers be allowed to access and alter the vehicle’s data at the owner’s request.
A number of members of Congress have introduced vehicle cybersecurity legislation. Vehicle cybersecurity has been an issue discussed in the past several NACE | CARS programs sponsored by the Automotive Service Association (ASA) and is a significant part of the NACE | CARS 2016 program. ASA has hosted several automotive industry meetings related to new vehicle technologies and cybersecurity.
For more information, and to see the program’s full agenda, visit: http://www.nhtsa.gov/Research/Crash+Avoidance/Agenda.
The Automotive Service Association is the largest not-for-profit trade association of its kind dedicated to and governed by independent automotive service and repair professionals. ASA serves an international membership base that includes numerous affiliate, state and chapter groups from both the mechanical and collision repair segments of the automotive service industry.
ASA advances professionalism and excellence in the automotive repair industry through education, representation and member services. For additional information about ASA, including past media releases, go to www.ASAshop.org, or visit ASA’s legislative website at www.TakingTheHill.com.
