ISO 21434 Overview

Understanding automotive cybersecurity engineering requirements

Last updated: December 13, 20248 min read

UNECE WP.29 Connection

ISO 21434 is the primary standard referenced by UNECE WP.29 R155, which mandates cybersecurity management systems for type approval in over 60 countries.

What is ISO 21434?

ISO/SAE 21434 "Road vehicles — Cybersecurity engineering" is the international standard for cybersecurity in the automotive industry. It provides a framework for managing cybersecurity risks throughout the entire vehicle lifecycle.

Key Concepts

TARA (Threat Analysis and Risk Assessment)

TARA is the core methodology in ISO 21434 for identifying and evaluating cybersecurity risks. It includes:

  • Asset identification
  • Threat scenario identification
  • Impact rating
  • Attack path analysis
  • Attack feasibility rating
  • Risk determination
  • Risk treatment decision

Cybersecurity Lifecycle

ISO 21434 covers the complete product lifecycle:

PhaseKey Activities
ConceptItem definition, TARA, cybersecurity goals
DevelopmentCybersecurity requirements, design, implementation
ProductionProduction control, secure manufacturing
OperationsIncident response, vulnerability management
DecommissioningSecure disposal procedures

Required Work Products

ISO 21434 defines numerous work products including:

  • Cybersecurity Plan
  • Cybersecurity Case
  • TARA Reports
  • Cybersecurity Requirements
  • Cybersecurity Specifications
  • Verification and Validation Reports

How TARA Flow Helps

TARA Flow dramatically accelerates ISO 21434 compliance:

  • Automated TARA - Generate complete threat analysis from architecture diagrams in minutes
  • Work Product Generation - Automatically create audit-ready documentation
  • Attack Tree Analysis - Visual attack path modeling
  • Risk Calculation - Automated impact and feasibility ratings
  • Traceability - Full traceability from threats to mitigations

Trusted by 50+ OEMs and Tier-1 Suppliers

TARA Flow is used by leading automotive companies worldwide to streamline ISO 21434 compliance.

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