Cyber security

Ashish Kolte is a Marketing Manager at Dataintelo with expertise in marketing, market intelligence, and business strategy. He combines marketing insights with industry research to help organizations understand market dynamics, identify growth opportunities, and make data-driven decisions. His areas of interest include emerging technologies, artificial intelligence, healthcare, industrial markets, and global business trends. Through his writing, Ashish shares research-backed perspectives on evolving industries and strategic market developments.

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Today, all the technology such as ECUs, sensors, wireless communication and software makes the creator of braking systems, entertainment, navigation and battery performance. As reported by the recent study by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, there are still around 150 electronic control units and 100 million lines of software in modern cars. The advancement in technological connections and communications has led to development of automotive cybersecurity tools, which protect vehicles’ electronics, as well as driver information and services.

Why Vehicle Cybersecurity Matters

Connected vehicles make use of communication with mobile devices, cloud services, sensors, as well as other systems. A vulnerability in a single part of the automobile system could pose security threat to the others, unless the limits of communication are protected. Thus, it becomes crucial for manufacturers to protect not only the individual components, but their links. NHTSA offers information concerning how to resolve a cybersecurity incident to maintain the integrity of contemporary vehicle systems. 

According to Dataintelo Research report, the automotive cybersecurity market size was valued at $4.2 billion in 2025 and is set to reach $14.8 billion by 2034, at a CAGR of 15.0% from 2026 to 2034. The reason of the market growth is the increasing requirement for the protection of communications system, software of the automobile, electronic component and connected services in the automobile.

Main Cybersecurity Technologies in Modern Cars

1. Secure Electronic Control Units

A car can have as many as 150 different ECUs. Each of these is responsible for specific electronic processes. The controllers help in the implementing processes, like those related to driving assistance or engine controls. If any ECU is hacked, it can affect all other components connected to it. Hence, the manufacturers must first identify and ensure the security of the crucial systems.

The secures boot program verifies the software installed in an ECU even before it starts working. The available hardware security modules take care of the sensitive operations and cryptographic keys essential for verification purposes. These technologies serve to create trust in vehicle software and credentials.

2. In-Vehicle Network Protection

The process of communication is made possible by two types of technologies: The Controller Area Network (CAN) and automotive Ethernet. The announcement regarding the automotive cybersecurity made by UNECE sheds light on the increasing sophistication of vehicle software as well as the duties that the public sector should undertake to comply with the requests for the safety in terms of software updates. As the connected systems are becoming much more complicated, there is a crucial need to keep the information flow safe.

Security gateways act as an instrument, dividing the systems related to infotainment, diagnostics, and safety into special zones, where they can be controlled and monitored. The intrusion detection systems deal with the observation of new messages, numerous requests, and unusual movement. When used together, the systems can prevent unauthorised communication while responding to dangerous situations.

3. Encryption and Digital Authentication

Connected cars exchange data including location information, login credentials, diagnostic information, and command messages to the external service. The data is protected by encryption and verification of electronic devices and software used during the exchange through digital certificates and authentication tools. Then they can make the connected features work such as car unlocking, digital keys, and car tracking. Any verification process that requires multiple types of confirmation of an individual’s identity is classed as multifactor authentication. When business vendors in the automotive industry use it, they can help improve the security of the credentials required to access a connected car account, including sensitive data sent remotely.

Credentials can include uniquely designed passwords, regulated access rights, and secure key management.

4. Secure Over-the-Air Updates

Over-the-air (OTA) technology enables auto manufacturers to make software updates transmission without transporting a vehicle to repair shops. It serves to resolve security breaches and enhance functionality, among other things. However, a flawed authentication process can introduce compromised software into your vehicle, which makes the authentication process necessity.

A secure OTA process should have at least four controls: signature verification, checking car compatibility, monitoring installation processes, and recovery. These controls help to ensure that the software is genuine and is installed correctly. It is also important to keep all records of updates in order to define the affected cars and see whether security patches were installed.

5. Intrusion Detection and Security Monitoring

An intrusion detection system tracks vehicle networks and their connected platforms for unusual behaviours. It could measure the number of times authentication attempts fail, identify unusual requests or follow unusual communications patterns. Detection can be achieved either inside the vehicle or by means of monitoring data through the cloud, depending on system architecture and the amount of available data.

An effective surveillance process should take three steps: identification of a potential incident, investigation of its root causes and application of some remedies. In this way, the security team can determine which software versions have been compromised and the criticalness of a vulnerability and also implement a solution or fix.

How Automotive Cybersecurity Technologies Work Together

No one device exists that can defend every element of a system against every possible threat. Defense-in-depth takes an approach that involves secure hardware, network segmentation, authenticators, encryption and software validation. If one area is breached, other layers may be able to contain the breach.

The seven technology areas cover various types of vehicle security. Some should be tested by the maker prior to production and when major software updates occur, to observe the interactions among the controls. Perform ongoing testing and record vulnerability handling to assist engineering in finding weak spots missed during component tests.

Protecting Driver Data and Connected Services

Depending on the make of the vehicle, connected cars could reveal location and account information, contacts, and information about the car’s operation. If only mechanical parts are hacked into, the attacker can access confidential information. Manufacturers need to follow three fundamental principles: do less data collection, allow only authorized personnel access to data, and defend the data as it is stored and transmitted.

Drivers can keep their accounts safe with complicated passwords, two-factor authentication, and good cybersecurity with connected devices.

The Role of Manufacturers and Repair Professionals

Tight collaboration between auto manufacturers, component suppliers, developers of software, and the automotive technicians is essential in the field of automotive cybersecurity. Principles for the treatment of risks and managing software-updating in automotive cybersecurity are presented in the UNECE’s cybersecurity and software-updating regulations. The recommended practices should continue to be used beyond the factory, as diagnostic activities, software modifications, and internet services introduce additional risks.

Repair shops can contribute to cybersecurity through three practical steps: checking diagnostic tools, ensuring that the correct software version is being used, and following the approved programming techniques. Technicians should be cautious not to use unverified firmware and diagnostic equipment. If there is an abnormal electonic issue, qualified technicians must not assume that this is a cyberattack.

For vehicle owners, it is especially important to choose a competent service station in case the job requires a work with electronic units, driver-assistance systems, or programming. If a repair or windscreen replacement has been performed with an ADAS system equipped with a camera, vehicle calibration must be done according to the manufacturer’s specifications.

Challenges and the Road Ahead

The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) is raising awareness of the growing complexity of vehicle software as it predicts an increase in the number of lines of code from around 100 million to 300 million by 2030. With increasing complexity comes a challenge in terms of testing, tracking vulnerabilities, and performing maintenance of the vehicle software. It is crucial for manufacturers to recognize that automobiles, their suppliers, and software usage vary throughout the lifespan of the vehicle.

To tackle issues related to vehicle software, it is essential to adopt an effective lifecycle strategy that helps to implement secure design practices, conduct security assessments, and create incident response plans. Cybersecurity management and software update management are noted as two key areas of regulation. Proper execution of these strategies ensures that manufacturers are able to remain secure as the technology continues to advance.

Conclusion

As we rely more and more on software, electronic control units (ECUs) and communication technology, automotive cybersecurity is gaining momentum. This is the concept of secure ECUs, network gateways, encryption, validated over-the-air updates and intrusion detection. Vehicle manufacturers and repair service personnel as well as owners need to make sure that they use reliable software, certified diagnostic tools and conduct their work in an appropriate manner. As vehicle technologies change and develop, cybersecurity must stay in the center of attention in engineering and maintenance practices.

Source: Dataintelo Automotive Cybersecurity Market