Risks of Excel as a tool for cybersecurity in the automotive industry

The automotive industry is facing ever new cybersecurity challenges. Vehicles and their systems are becoming increasingly connected and complex, making them more vulnerable to security threats. To address these threats, the automotive industry has developed the ISO/SAE 21434 standard, which provides guidance on the security of vehicle electronics and software. Many companies use universal tools such as Excel to manage security standards and measures. In this blog post, I will highlight why this approach is risky and the benefits of specialized cybersecurity tools.

Automated processes and validation

Specialized cybersecurity tools automate many processes that must be done manually when using Excel. This reduces human error and increases efficiency in implementing the ISO/SAE 21434 standard. The tools also provide data validation capabilities to detect and resolve inconsistencies and errors early.

Scalability and effective management of complexity.

Cybersecurity tools are designed to handle the growing complexity of vehicle systems and associated security requirements. They are better able to handle large amounts of data and organize it effectively to help organizations keep track of security risks and required countermeasures. They also have use-case graphical representations of interrelationships that facilitate quality management.

Improved collaboration and communication

Specialized tools enable better collaboration and communication between teams and departments. They offer features such as collaborative editing, version control, and notifications that facilitate collaboration and ensure everyone is always up to date.

Comprehensive compliance monitoring

Cybersecurity tools are specifically designed to monitor and ensure compliance with security standards such as the ISO/SAE 21434 standard. They enable effective compliance management and can help track changes over time and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and industry standards.

Summary

Although universal tools such as Excel are still used by many companies to manage safety standards and measures, their use in implementing the ISO/SAE 21434 standard in the automotive industry comes with risks. Manual processes, human error and lack of scalability can lead to security gaps and vulnerabilities. Specialized cybersecurity tools, on the other hand, provide automated processes, validation, scalability, enhanced collaboration and comprehensive compliance monitoring.

Using these specialized tools helps ensure the security of vehicle systems and software and facilitates compliance with the ISO/SAE 21434 standard. Companies operating in the automotive industry should therefore consider switching to specialized cybersecurity tools to improve the security of their products and systems and minimize the associated risks.

Ultimately, this will help build customer and public confidence in the automotive industry's advanced technology and ensure consumer protection.