Automotive Cybersecurity Compliance: Frameworks and Threat Modeling
The Role of Threat Modeling in Automotive Compliance
As vehicles evolve into software-defined platforms, global regulators are mandating proactive cybersecurity across the automotive lifecycle. Standards like ISO/SAE 21434, UNECE WP.29, and NHTSA guidance require manufacturers and suppliers to assess threats, implement secure-by-design practices, and continuously manage cyber risks.
TARA (Threat Analysis and Risk Assessment) is central to these efforts. It is a structured methodology for identifying cybersecurity threats, evaluating risk impact and feasibility, and defining appropriate mitigations. TARA is formally required or referenced in nearly every major automotive cybersecurity framework.
ThreatModeler enables OEMs and suppliers to operationalize TARA at scale. Our platform automates threat identification, visualizes attack paths, derives cybersecurity goals, and validates mitigations, ensuring continuous risk management from concept design through post-production updates.
The summaries below highlight major global regulations and guidance, showing how TARA and threat modeling align with compliance requirements and how ThreatModeler supports these mandates efficiently and at scale.
TARA (Threat Analysis and Risk Assessment)
TARA is a structured methodology for identifying potential cybersecurity threats, assessing associated risks, and defining security requirements. Widely adopted in the automotive industry—primarily through standards like ISO/SAE 21434 and UNECE WP.29—TARA enables organizations to analyze how vulnerabilities, attack paths, and system weaknesses could impact vehicle safety, data integrity, and operational reliability.
The TARA process involves:
- Asset identification: Understanding functions and system boundaries
- Threat scenario development: Enumerating potential attacks and vectors
- Risk assessment: Evaluating likelihood and potential impact
- Risk prioritization: Assigning scores and deriving cybersecurity goals
- Mitigation design and validation: Defining and verifying security controls
ThreatModeler supports TARA by enabling teams to automate threat identification, visualize attack paths, assess risk severity, and map mitigations directly to system architecture. This ensures TARA activities are consistent, traceable, and scalable across the entire vehicle lifecycle, from concept design to post-production updates.
As defined in ISO/SAE 21434,
“The organization shall conduct threat analysis and risk assessment (TARA) activities to identify threats, assess impact, analyze attack feasibility, and derive cybersecurity goals and requirements for road vehicle systems.”
This approach is further reinforced by UNECE WP.29, which mandates:
“The manufacturer shall perform a risk assessment to identify and manage risks to vehicle cyber threats, including attack paths and impact assessments.”
Geography: European Union
UNECE WP.29 UN Regulation No. 155 – Cybersecurity and Cybersecurity Management System (CSMS)
Description: Mandatory for vehicle type approvals in over 60 countries; requires OEMs to implement a cybersecurity management system.
Specifics: Applies to all vehicle types in scope; focused on mitigating cyber threats throughout the vehicle lifecycle.
Threat Modeling Alignment: Explicitly aligns with threat modeling through threat identification, risk assessment, and lifecycle risk management.
As specified in the regulation:
“The manufacturer shall demonstrate that the vehicle is free from unreasonable risks to cybersecurity. The manufacturer shall perform a risk assessment to identify and manage risks to vehicle cyber threats, including attack paths and impact assessments.”
Geography: United States
NHTSA Cybersecurity Best Practices for the Safety of Modern Vehicles (2022)
Description: Non-binding guidance published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for automotive cybersecurity.
Specifics: Covers organizational risk management, vehicle architecture security, and post-production updates.
Threat Modeling Alignment: While not regulatory, it explicitly recommends threat modeling as a design and validation method.
As specified in the guidance:
“Threat modeling should be used as a design method to identify potential threats and implement appropriate mitigations throughout the lifecycle of the vehicle.”
Geography: Japan
JASPAR Automotive Cybersecurity Guidelines
Description: Collaborative Japanese guidelines by OEMs and suppliers, aligned with ISO/SAE 21434 and WP.29.
Specifics: Supports secure development lifecycle (SDL) and TARA (Threat Analysis and Risk Assessment).
Threat Modeling Alignment: Strongly supports threat modeling through formalized TARA processes.
As specified in the guideline:
“Threat Analysis and Risk Assessment (TARA) shall be conducted throughout the system lifecycle to identify and analyze potential threats, vulnerabilities, and attack paths, and to define necessary security controls based on risk levels.”
Geography: International
ISO/SAE 21434:2021 – Road Vehicles Cybersecurity Engineering
Description: Global standard for vehicle cybersecurity risk management across concept, development, and post-production phases.
Specifics: Applies to OEMs, suppliers, and engineering teams; referenced by UNECE WP.29.
Threat Modeling Alignment: Threat modeling is a foundational requirement; it mandates iterative risk assessments using TARA.
As specified in the standard:
“The organization shall conduct threat analysis and risk assessment (TARA) activities to identify threats, assess impact, analyze attack feasibility, and derive cybersecurity goals and requirements for road vehicle systems.”
Geography: APAC (excluding Japan)
Singapore Cybersecurity Guidelines for Automotive Systems
Description: Industry guidance for securing automotive software and networked vehicle systems.
Specifics: Draws from ISO/SAE 21434 and includes a reference to secure software development.
Threat Modeling Alignment: Encourages risk analysis and vehicle-specific threat identification.
As stated in the guidelines:
“Risk assessments should be conducted throughout the development lifecycle to identify cybersecurity threats and determine corresponding protective controls.”
Geography: EMEA (non-EU)
SAMI – Saudi Automotive Manufacturing Initiative
Description: Emerging national guidance and initiatives promoting secure vehicle production and embedded systems resilience.
Specifics: Aligned with WP.29 and includes CSMS-based principles.
Threat Modeling Alignment: Threat modeling is supported through early design threat identification and control mapping.
As outlined in public summaries:
“Manufacturers must apply a structured approach to identifying cybersecurity threats to vehicle platforms and take mitigating actions during early design and supplier evaluation.”
Geography: United Kingdom
UK DfT Vehicle Cyber Security Principles
Description: Guidance from the UK Department for Transport on vehicle cybersecurity.
Specifics: Encourages secure design and continuous risk management.
Threat Modeling Alignment: Supports threat modeling by requiring the identification and evaluation of threats and attack vectors.
As specified in the guidance:
“Organizations must understand and manage the risks associated with cyber threats, including the identification of potential attack paths that could impact vehicle safety or security.”
Geography: Latin America
National Automotive Cybersecurity Initiatives – Brazil / LATAM
Description: Early-stage programs and ISO 21434 adoption by OEMs in LATAM markets.
Specifics: Focuses on compliance with global regulations and risk management requirements.
Threat Modeling Alignment: While no LATAM-specific mandate exists, adopting ISO/SAE 21434 implies threat modeling as part of TARA.
As practiced:
“OEMs in Brazil and other LATAM countries follow ISO 21434-based approaches, including the implementation of TARA methods for identifying, analyzing, and mitigating vehicle cybersecurity threats.”
Geography:North America (Non-U.S.)
Transport Canada Cybersecurity Guidance
Description: Voluntary best practices for automotive cybersecurity for Canadian manufacturers and importers.
Specifics: Aligns with U.S. NHTSA and ISO/SAE 21434.
Threat Modeling Alignment: Threat modeling is referenced under system security analysis and development.
As outlined:
“Manufacturers are encouraged to adopt system security assessment practices, including threat modeling, to guide secure design of electronic vehicle systems.”