Swedish state-owned research institute RISE is in the pilot phase of opening what it claims to be Europe’s most advanced cybersecurity hub for vehicles, which has been in the making since 2021. The RISE Cyber Test Lab for Automotive facilitates the testing of vehicles, harnessing the latest in cyber technology and the most rigorous analysis methods available across the globe.
Outfitted with various test benches, developers will be able to assess vulnerabilities across key areas – virtual testing and digital twins, embedded software in-vehicle units (ECU) and vehicle cloud-based software. Evaluation services available will include simulation/virtualization, subsystem testing and semi-virtual and full vehicle evaluation in controlled environments.
According to RISE, Cyber Test Lab will provide a complete chain of testing capabilities by interconnecting RISE’s existing Cyber Range digital test bed with its driverless vehicle test areas at Automotive Wireless Test and Research Facility and AstaZero, which are both also located in Sweden. Developers can thus stress test new technologies and products throughout the whole R&D process in a range of means.
Most notably, Cyber Test Lab will offer specialist knowledge through tie-ups with telecom experts and ethical hackers. Tomas Bodeklint, head of operations at Cyber Test Lab, commented on the industry’s use of ethical hackers: “It might sound controversial, but we firmly believe working with ethical hackers is critical in testing vehicles to their limits. The ethical hackers are selected partners from our existing Cyber Range in Stockholm. This launch of the Cyber Test Lab is especially important at a time when cyberattacks and cyber threats against infrastructure and connected technology have become a fast-growing problem around the world.”
Operations at Cyber Test Lab are scheduled to come online by the beginning of 2023. Pilot projects are already in full swing in preparation, involving simulations of cyberattacks on vehicles and electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
“We are deploying a world-leading hub with several testbeds and scientists together with carefully selected partners. We will address the burgeoning cyber threat around connected vehicles today and in the future. A single automotive manufacturer cannot work alone in finding ways to combat cyberattacks. This must be done with the broadest range of expertise to ensure that the whole industry benefits from centralized research,” said Pia Sandvik, CEO of RISE.