Intel Weighs In on IoT, Connected Car Security

5 Recommendations to Secure the Internet of Things

When it comes to the Internet of Things (IoT), security is obviously a major concern. Nowhere is that concern more visibly apparent than in the so-called connected car. After all, millions of people drive cars all around the world every day, so if connected cars can’t be secured, it is unlikely there will be much confidence in anything else having to do with IoT.

Recognizing this issue, Intel today announced the formation of an Automotive Security Review Board (ASRB), which consists of IoT security professionals with expertise in cyberphysical systems that have been recruited from all around the globe. The ASRB will run ongoing security tests and audits to codify best practices and design recommendations for advanced cybersecurity solutions and products for the automotive industry.

However, Lorie Wigle, vice president and general manager for IOT Security Solutions within the Intel security division, says the significance of that effort will go well beyond the automobile industry. The entire supply chain that contributes components that make up automotive vehicles will ultimately be affected, says Wigle. In addition, she added that many of the best practices that wind up being codified by the ASRB will applicable to other vertical industries.

After a high-profile breach of automotive security involving hackers who managed to take control of a Jeep, Wigle says that Intel decided that automotive security within the context of an IoT environment is now a top priority. Not only are there hundreds of processors in a car, but the processors themselves are now connected to everything from smartphones in the driver’s pocket to millions of sensors that will one day be embedded in every road.

In addition to advising on security issues, Wigle says the ASRB will address privacy concerns. Our cars, after all, can tell not only where we are, but they can also tell where we’ve all been lately, says Wigle.

It’s still unclear what will come of this research effort; a lot more work needs to be done in terms of securing IoT in general and vehicles in particular. Until such time as those issues are resolved, many IoT projects may soon become stuck in a perennial state of pilot testing, because the risks associated with deploying an IoT application will far outweigh any of the potential financial benefits.