ABI Research Forecasts Global Hardware Security Module Sales Volume for Vehicles to Hit 2.3 Billion by 2020

With connected cars increasing in availability and popularity, automotive cybersecurity is racing to the forefront of car manufacturers’ minds as new, emerging threat vectors continue to surface, ones capable of critically affecting the functional safety of vehicles. In its recent report, ABI Research, a leader in technology market intelligence, analyzes security solutions for automotive embedded capabilities, software and secure network connectivity as the world gears up to welcome the future of connected cars. The report forecasts that the global hardware security module (HSM) sales volume per vehicles, including both consumer and commercial, will reach 2.3 billion units by 2020.

Read ABI Research’s Automotive Cybersecurity report.

“In a car, there are typically about 100 different electrical control units, and right now, most cars do not contain secure-enough hardware,” says Michela Menting, Research Director at ABI Research. “It’s a difficult challenge to transpose enterprise cybersecurity models into mobile cyber physical systems, but the automotive industry is ramping up to start strategically thinking about and deploying automotive cybersecurity solutions.”

The challenges facing car manufacturers lie in learning to work with security vendors to adapt existing solutions to cars, becoming more involved in the design and implementation of security standards and strategically incorporating security solutions at the research and development level. Data protection is also a relevant concern, and OEMs will need to work closely with cybersecurity solution corporations to determine how to protect a connected car’s data and set necessary privacy parameters.

“OEMs face the obstacle of learning to relinquish a little bit of control as they integrate their business models with security vendors so that, together, the two can achieve the best in-breed security model,” continues Menting. “Connected cars will communicate and share data with a number of systems and infrastructures. Together, OEMs and security vendors will need to address potential outside security threats from hackers, but also more fundamental privacy concerns for the car owner.”

In its report, ABI Research analyzed a number of vendors in the automotive industry, from startups to larger corporations, which are currently proposing dedicated cybersecurity solutions for connected cars. Companies include ARM, Arilou, Argus, BlackBerry, Bosch, Cisco, Cog Systems, Commsignia, Covisint, Elektrobit, Ericsson, ESCRYPT, Freescale, Fujitsu, Green Hills, Harman, Imagination, Infineon, Intel, Integrity Security Services, Link Motion, NXP, Mentor Graphics, Renesas, Security Innovation, SYSGO, TowerSec and Wind River.

“Cybersecurity is far behind in the automotive industry,” concludes Menting. “Different players are thinking about the idea, but actually unleashing commercially available vehicles equipped with cybersecurity solutions into the market has yet to happen. But it will happen in the next few years. If car manufacturers don’t start thinking about security now, they will not be able to have self-driving cars in five years’ time.”

These findings are part of ABI Research’s Cybersecurity Technologies Service, which includes research reports, market data, insights and competitive assessments.

About ABI Research

For more than 25 years, ABI Research has stood at the forefront of technology market intelligence, partnering with innovative business leaders to implement informed, transformative technology decisions. The company employs a global team of senior analysts to provide comprehensive research and consulting services through deep quantitative forecasts, qualitative analyses and teardown services. An industry pioneer, ABI Research is proactive in its approach, frequently uncovering ground-breaking business cycles ahead of the curve and publishing research 18 to 36 months in advance of other organizations. In all, the company covers more than 60 services, spanning 11 technology sectors. For more information, visit www.abiresearch.com.