This section establishes a foundational understanding of regulatory requirements, focusing on UN R155 and the Cyber Resilience Act (CRA). These regulations define how automotive products must manage cybersecurity risks throughout their lifecycle. A basic overview of the automotive cybersecurity ecosystem is also provided, encompassing vehicles, backend systems, communication networks, and external interfaces.

Cybersecurity begins at the organizational level with the implementation of a Cybersecurity Management System (CSMS), which defines how cybersecurity is structured and governed. Within development projects, cybersecurity planning and execution must align with this system. Activities such as threat assessments, risk analysis, secure architecture design, and process controls are integrated into the development lifecycle to ensure regulatory compliance and organizational consistency.

Cybersecurity responsibilities are shared across customers, suppliers, and other stakeholders, requiring coordinated effort across the embedded supply chain. Each phase of the automotive lifecycle—concept, development, production, operation, and decommissioning—involves specific cybersecurity tasks. Roles and responsibilities must be clearly defined to ensure smooth execution and secure integration across systems and organizations.

CCSA includes ongoing processes such as cybersecurity information collection, evaluations, and vulnerability management. These are essential to maintaining cybersecurity throughout the vehicle’s operational life. An effective incident response process is also crucial, including detection, assessment, reporting, and resolution. Roles, responsibilities, and procedures must be clearly defined and aligned with best practices and regulatory requirements.

In the development phase, threats are identified, analyzed for feasibility and impact, and risks are assessed accordingly. This leads to the definition of cybersecurity goals and claims based on a clear understanding of the item and its environment. During post-development, cybersecurity must be actively managed through monitoring, patching, and vulnerability handling. Compliance with ongoing regulatory requirements ensures that products in the field remain protected against evolving threats.