Automotive Security and Trust Management Case for PKI

This whitepaper discusses the security requirements for connected vehicles, focusing on the implementation of a federated public key infrastructure (PKI) model for trusted key management. It outlines the increasing complexity of vehicle electronics and the associated safety concerns due to potential cyber threats. The paper details how Certicom's managed PKI offering can address these security challenges by facilitating secure interactions among vehicle electronics subsystems. It explains the role of trusted key managers, which leverage existing security technology to manage key distribution and lifecycle management. The document also emphasizes the importance of resilience in security measures, ensuring that enhanced security does not disrupt system functionality. Furthermore, it presents the proven application of the federated PKI model in other industries and suggests its adaptation for automotive systems. The conclusion reinforces the need for a federated PKI-based standard as a comprehensive solution for securing vehicle on-board electronics networks.