Collaboration essential in combatting cyber security threats

The concept of sharing information with your closest rivals can seem alien to many companies, and understandably so. In such a competitive industry many players, both big and small, may be somewhat resistant to an idea that could dull a company’s own competitive edge. However, this is exactly the mindset that the Auto-ISAC is trying to iron out.

When 14 automakers came together back in 2015 to form this information sharing community, a precedent was set for the industry, one which arguably provides the strongest defence against the new concept of hackable vehicles – and it is one that has flourished since the tactical information sharing process began in 2016, as the Auto-ISAC’s Executive Director, Faye Francy, explained to Automotive World.

“We have grown since 2016 and are now up to 47 members – and that includes not only OEMs but also now it includes suppliers,” said Francy. “It includes heavy vehicles, so trucks and also carriers and fleets. Right now, we are solely focused on cyber product security, but we are talking about maturing and extending that as we get our processes and tactical operations in place to include any IT/OT integration as it relates to the product. And of course, probably expanding that as we need to as well.”