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Cyber Security for Automotive: Secure Supply Chains, Dealerships, and Connected Vehicles

The modern vehicle is a data centre on wheels with components from over 100 vendors, and it remains on the road for 15+ years requiring security long after leaving the factory. TISAX determines whether suppliers can participate in the European and UK OEM ecosystem. Dealership networks hold consumer finance data under FCA regulation, and EV charging infrastructure faces mandatory security under UK law. From tier 2/3 component suppliers to franchise networks and smart mobility startups, the automotive sector requires specialist cyber security.

  • CREST accredited penetration testing for dealership platforms, telematics backends, and EV charging infrastructure
  • TISAX gap analysis, WP.29 compliance, and ISO/SAE 21434 alignment for supply chain suppliers
  • CE+ certification, UK GDPR compliance, and FCA alignment for dealership networks
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Why Automotive Needs Specialist Cyber Security

  • TISAX is mandatory for supplying OEMs like JLR, BMW, VW, and Audi, and without a TISAX label suppliers are commercially locked out regardless of product quality
  • Ransomware targeting Dealer Management Systems halts vehicle sales, finance, and service across entire franchise networks
  • Tier 2/3 supplier VPN compromise is used to pivot into OEM networks, making small manufacturers the preferred entry point
  • The Electric Vehicles (Smart Charge Points) Regulations 2021 mandate encryption, tamper-proofing, and no default passwords for UK EV chargers
  • Vehicles remain on the road 15+ years requiring OTA update security and software integrity under WP.29 R155 and R156
  • A crashed server is disruptive but a compromised vehicle operating system is potentially fatal, making automotive security a safety obligation
AUTOMOTIVE SECURITY SPECIALISMS
TISAX and Supply Chain Compliance
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2
Dealership and DMS Security
EV Charging Infrastructure
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Connected Vehicle and Telematics
WP.29 and ISO/SAE 21434 Alignment
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Let's discuss your automotive security concerns

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Why Automotive Companies Choose Cyphere

Tier 1, 2, and 3 Component Suppliers
Manufacturers of infotainment, braking sensors, and battery management systems driven by OEM compliance. TISAX mandatory for European and UK OEM supply. ISO/SAE 21434 security-by-design gap analysis. Secure Software Development Lifecycle support. SBOM management for automotive code. Manufacturing OT and production system security. Small manufacturer VPN compromise used to reach OEM networks.
Dealerships and Franchise Networks
DMS controlling vehicle sales, finance processing, and service operations. Ransomware halting entire franchise networks. Consumer finance data under FCA regulation for credit brokers. CRM and customer PII. PCI DSS for payment processing. BEC targeting finance departments during high-value purchases. M365 as primary platform and attack vector.
EV Charging, Smart Mobility, and Telematics
Charge Point Operators and EV app developers. Smart Charge Points Regulations 2021 mandating encryption and tamper-proofing. Charging payment platform and mobile app security. Telematics cloud backends. Connected car APIs allowing apps to unlock doors and track locations. Malicious apps targeting EV owners with fake payment portals.
Aftermarket, Diagnostics, and Fleet Management
OBD-II diagnostic tools and physical port exploitation risk. Third-party software tuning and aftermarket firmware. Fleet tracking hardware and cloud platforms. GPS spoofing and telematics manipulation. Mechanic device security where laptops plug directly into vehicle diagnostic ports.
Automotive R&D, Engineering, and IP Protection
Battery chemistry, aerodynamic, and vehicle design IP held by outsourced consultancies. CAD/CAM and PLM platform security. Nation-state targeting of UK automotive R&D. Insider threats from departing engineers taking design files. Pre-production IP at vulnerable stages.
Supply Chain, OEM Integration, and Third-Party Risk
Tier 2/3 compromise as preferred entry to OEM networks. Supplier portal and EDI exploitation. Equipment firmware updates for production systems. Contractor access across manufacturing and R&D. Dark web sale of dealership and supplier VPN credentials. Concentration risk where multiple suppliers share technology providers.

Why Trust Cyphere with Your Automotive Cybersecurity?

01CREST-Accredited
Testing
02TISAX
Gap Analysis
03CE+
Certification Body
04ICA
Certification Body
05EV
Infrastructure Experience
06Supply
Chain Understanding
07Automotive
Sector Record

Cyber Essentials Plus Certification to meet OEM supply chain requirements

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The Most Critical Cyber Threats Facing the UK Automotive Sector

Ransomware Targeting Dealerships, DMS, and Manufacturing
Supply Chain Pivot Through Tier 2/3 Suppliers
Connected Vehicle, OTA, and Telematics Exploitation
EV Charging Infrastructure and Payment Fraud
R&D IP Theft and Design File Exfiltration
BEC, Dealership Finance Fraud, and Credential Theft
01

Ransomware Targeting Dealerships, DMS, and Manufacturing

Ransomware encrypting DMS, CRM, and finance systems halting sales across franchise networks. Manufacturing disruption cascading through JIT supply chains. Double-extortion threatening customer finance data. Dealerships unable to print contracts or process sales during attacks.

02

Supply Chain Pivot Through Tier 2/3 Suppliers

Small manufacturer VPN compromise accessing OEM networks. Supplier portal and EDI exploitation. Component firmware manipulation. TISAX non-compliance leaving suppliers security-immature and commercially excluded.

03

Connected Vehicle, OTA, and Telematics Exploitation

Remote exploitation via OTA updates and CAN bus injection. Telematics API compromise allowing unauthorised vehicle access. Infotainment data harvesting from synced driver phones. GPS spoofing affecting fleet operations.

04

EV Charging Infrastructure and Payment Fraud

Charge point exploitation and CPO backend compromise. Malicious apps mimicking charging payment portals. Smart Charge Points Regulations non-compliance. Payment data theft from charging networks.

05

R&D IP Theft and Design File Exfiltration

Battery chemistry and aerodynamic design theft from R&D consultancies. CAD/CAM platform compromise. Insider threats from departing engineers. Nation-state targeting of UK automotive IP.

06

BEC, Dealership Finance Fraud, and Credential Theft

BEC targeting dealership finance during high-value purchases. Parts procurement invoice fraud. Dark web sale of VPN credentials. OBD-II diagnostic port exploitation by malicious technicians.

Navigating Automotive Regulatory Complexity

UK automotive companies face OEM compliance demands, vehicle safety regulations, and EV infrastructure legislation. TISAX determines whether suppliers can participate in the OEM ecosystem.
01

TISAX

Mandatory information security assessment for OEM supply chain

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UNECE WP.29 R155

Cyber Security Management System for connected vehicles

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UNECE WP.29 R156

Software Update Management System for OTA updates

04

ISO/SAE 21434

Security-by-design for automotive components

05

Smart Charge Points Regulations 2021

UK law mandating EV charger security

06

Cyber Essentials Plus

Supply chain baseline for OEM and public sector contracts

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UK GDPR and DPA 2018

Driver data, location, telemetry, and dealership customer PII

08

FCA Regulations

Operational resilience for dealerships acting as credit brokers

09

PCI DSS v4.0

Payment security for dealerships and EV charging operators

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IEC 62443

OT/ICS security for automotive manufacturing

Cyphere's Automotive Security Projects

Dealership, DMS, and Franchise Network Security

DMS and CRM penetration testing. Dealership network segmentation. Customer finance data protection. M365 and email security. BEC prevention.

Telematics, Connected Vehicle, and EV Charging Security

Telematics API and cloud backend testing. EV charging platform and payment app security. Fleet management reviews. Smart Charge Points Regulations compliance.

Supply Chain and Manufacturing Security

Tier 2/3 infrastructure testing. Manufacturing OT assessments. Supplier portal and EDI security. VPN and remote access reviews. SBOM advisory.

Automotive R&D and IP Protection

CAD/CAM and PLM assessments. R&D network security. Design data access controls. Pre-production IP exposure reviews.

TISAX, WP.29, and Compliance Readiness

TISAX gap analysis and label preparation. WP.29 R155/R156 support. ISO/SAE 21434 alignment. CE+ and ICA certification. FCA compliance.

Awareness, Phishing, and Incident Response

Phishing simulations for dealership sales, service, and finance staff. Supply chain training. Incident response for DMS and production shutdown scenarios.

Automotive Security Challenges

Dealership, DMS, and Franchise Network Security

TISAX, WP.29, and OEM Compliance Requirements

EV Charging Infrastructure and Smart Mobility

Tier 2/3 Supply Chain and Manufacturing OT Risk

Connected Vehicle, Telematics, and OTA Security

Automotive R&D, IP Protection, and Design Data

Recommended Read

Explore Cyphere's automotive and compliance case studies

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Key Cyber Security Areas in the Automotive Sector

Cyphere’s automotive experience spans tier 2/3 suppliers, dealership networks, EV infrastructure, and R&D consultancies covering TISAX, connected vehicle security, and manufacturing OT across the UK automotive ecosystem.
  • TISAX and OEM Supply Chain Compliance — TISAX gap analysis and label preparation. OEM audit readiness. Supply chain certification for JLR, BMW, VW, and Audi.
  • Dealership and Franchise Network Security — DMS testing, customer finance protection, FCA compliance, and BEC prevention for dealership operations.
  • EV Charging and Smart Mobility — Smart Charge Points Regulations compliance, CPO platform security, charging app testing, and telematics assessments.
  • WP.29, ISO/SAE 21434, and Vehicle Security — WP.29 R155/R156 compliance. ISO/SAE 21434 alignment. OTA security. SSDLC and SBOM advisory.
  • Cyber Essentials Plus and ICA Certification — Authorised CE+ and ICA body. OEM and public sector supply chain eligibility. Insurance compliance.
  • Supply Chain, R&D, and Third-Party Risk — Tier 2/3 assessments, R&D IP protection, manufacturing OT, and supplier portal security.

Cyber security compliance guidance for automotive companies

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why is the automotive supply chain a prime target for cyber attacks?
Tier 2/3 suppliers are targeted because their VPN and network compromise provides direct access to OEM environments. Attackers prefer breaching smaller manufacturers with less mature security rather than attacking major brands directly.
What is TISAX and why do UK automotive suppliers need it?
TISAX is the mandatory information security assessment for supplying European and UK OEMs including JLR, BMW, VW, and Audi. Without a TISAX label, suppliers are commercially locked out regardless of product quality.
How do you secure dealership networks and Dealer Management Systems?
We conduct penetration testing across DMS, CRM, and finance platforms to identify vulnerabilities that enable ransomware and data breach. Our assessments cover network segmentation, customer data protection, and M365 email security.
How does Cyphere help comply with WP.29, ISO/SAE 21434, and TISAX?
We deliver TISAX gap analysis, WP.29 R155/R156 compliance support, and ISO/SAE 21434 alignment through structured assessments. Our approach ensures technical controls satisfy both OEM audit requirements and regulatory obligations.
Can you test EV charging infrastructure and smart mobility platforms?
Yes, we assess EV charging platforms, payment apps, and CPO cloud backends against Smart Charge Points Regulations 2021 requirements. Testing covers encryption, authentication, and tamper-proofing obligations.
What controls protect automotive R&D and design IP?
We assess CAD/CAM platforms, PLM systems, and R&D network security for access control weaknesses and data exfiltration risk. Testing identifies where battery chemistry data and design files could be stolen.
How do you prevent supply chain pivot attacks through tier 2/3 suppliers?
We test supplier VPN infrastructure, remote access controls, and network segmentation to identify paths attackers could use to reach OEM environments. Supplier portal and EDI security is assessed for exploitation risk.
What training addresses BEC and phishing for dealership staff?
Targeted phishing simulations covering BEC on high-value vehicle finance transactions and parts procurement fraud. Training designed for sales, service, and finance teams across franchise networks.
Can Cyphere help with CE+, ICA, and FCA compliance for dealerships?
As an authorised CE+ and ICA certification body, we deliver certification for OEM and public sector requirements. We also support FCA compliance for dealerships operating as credit brokers.
How often should automotive companies conduct penetration testing?
Annual CREST accredited testing is the baseline for TISAX and CE+ maintenance. New vehicle platform launches, EV charging deployments, or supplier onboarding should trigger immediate assessment.
What makes Cyphere's approach unique for the automotive sector?
We understand that automotive security spans dealership finance, tier 2/3 supply chains, EV infrastructure, and connected vehicles. Our assessments target the specific compliance and commercial drivers of the UK automotive ecosystem.

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