University, U.S. firm partner to bolster students' skills in auto cybersecurity

University of Windsor's SHIELD Automotive Cybersecurity Centre of Excellence and automotive cybersecurity firm Block Harbor are partnering to provide students with experiential learning opportunities using actual test cases.

The decade-old Detroit company works closely with type approval auditors and government agencies to develop and implement a series of tests, collectively termed the Breakwater UNR155 Mitigation Test Suite. Block Harbor will supply the University of Windsor with Breakwater test cases that integrate seamlessly with their Automotive Cybersecurity Penetration Test Platform.

Beginning in July 2024, all road vehicles in United Nations member states must undergo and pass this test audit.

“The automotive cybersecurity sector faces significant challenges, notably the scarcity of professionals with the necessary specialized skills and the lack of effective tools,” said Block Harbor's director of products Wenjuan Lu.

“We're eager to collaborate with the University of Windsor to provide their students with up-to-date knowledge and in-demand skills. Our joint projects aim to develop valuable tools for integration into our advanced Vehicle Security Engineering Cloud platform, enhancing cybersecurity engineering processes with a comprehensive platform that supports automated security testing, threat and risk management, compliance checks and more.”

Block Harbor recently introduced the Vehicle Security Engineering Cloud, a new product, with Breakwater UNR155 Mitigation Test Suite to the community of vehicle cybersecurity auditors, automakers and suppliers.

University of Windsor cybersecurity students using the type approval audit will test vehicles against threats and suggested mitigations outlined in the regulation.

“Given Detroit and Windsor's close proximity, we anticipate numerous opportunities for regular and meaningful interaction,” said Mitra Mirhassani, co-director of the SHIELD Automotive Cybersecurity Centre of Excellence.

“SHIELD was founded with the objective of nurturing experts in this dynamic field. Automotive cybersecurity demands a practical approach, making the partnership with Block Harbor pivotal in bridging the gap between the university and the industry.”