Argus Cyber Security Responds Quickly to New Threats Via Over-The-Air Updates

February 1, 2019

Matthew Borst

The Argus Security Operations Center (SOC) constantly monitors clients against potential cyber threats. (Argus)

The commercial vehicle (CV) industry provides a unique challenge to cybersecurity companies due to their length of use and multitude of usage profiles that trucks experience. In March 2016, researchers published findings on how simple it is to hack the Telematics Gateway Unit (TGU) on trucks connected to the internet. This report showed existing and potential cybersecurity threats that exist in the CV industry. Argus Cyber Security, a global leader in automotive cybersecurity, recognizes these risks and provides modular solutions to mitigate threats throughout a vehicle’s lifespan.

“We offer end-to-end cyber software solutions that begin with needs of every customer,” Monique Lance, Marketing Director at Argus Cyber Security told Truck and Off-Highway Engineering. “We have a cyber research team that continually looks at vehicles, vehicle components, and fleets to see how vulnerable they are. At this point, we have had 100% success in protecting vehicles we have from our attempts to hack.”

Argus Cyber Security started in 2013 in Tel Aviv, Israel, after recognizing the growing need for virtual vehicle protection. In 2017, Continental acquired the start-up and incorporated it into its Elektrobit (EB) stand-alone software company dedicated to embedded and connected software solutions for the automotive industry. Since then, Argus has expanded its collaboration with companies like Ericsson, Phantom Auto, and Renesas to provide more extensive protection for connected and automated vehicles.

Argus’ approach to cybersecurity is to offer a modular system that can be individualized to each company’s needs. It recognizes that each fleet operator and owner has a unique set of circumstances and needs for virtual vehicle protection and that no single solution is right for every customer. For instance, Argus can provide external protection like penetration testing to evaluate a client’s current protection against a cyber threat. There are also in-vehicle security solutions like dongle options for fleet managers to ensure trucks currently on the road can be secure.

The Argus Security Suite shows a simulated cyber threat. (Argus)

Argus can also evaluate various telematics solutions to ensure secure over-the-air (OTA) updates as current solutions may not be relevant for long. “Cybersecurity solutions put in the vehicle at the moment will not be relevant in two years,” Lance explained. “With how connected vehicles are becoming, you cannot be protected against threats in ten years’ time that we cannot even imagine today.”

OTA security updates also allow for a quick response to any new threats that are found. This can be especially helpful to the CV market where trucks are on the road for ten years or more and can be owned and operated by several fleets over its lifespan.

Another CV industry challenge that Argus recognizes is that companies tend to be more reactive than proactive in their approach to cybersecurity. This can be costly to companies who experience hacks and need to find solutions quickly instead of protecting their vehicles initially.