TISAX: Identity, Access Management Strategic Security Pillars

Cybersecurity in the automotive industry has reached new relevance with the introduction of the TISAX (Trusted Information Security Assessment Exchange) security framework. TISAX, designed exclusively for this sector by the German Automotive Industry Association (VDA), establishes rigorous security controls with the objective of safeguarding information in a massive and complex value chain.

Manufacturers must evaluate and anticipate potential information security risks along their supply chain. The objective is not only that every link can respond effectively to threats, but also to establish preventive actions that allow them to strengthen business resilience.

In this context, identity, and access management (IAM) emerges as a strategic pillar, playing a significant role in complying with the information security controls established by TISAX.

IAM is based on a series of policies, processes, and technologies that are used to manage and secure the identities of the people and systems that interact with an organization's resources. This seeks to ensure that users and systems adequately access the necessary applications and data, while protecting the organization against cybersecurity threats by establishing a vision of minimum privilege.

Challenges in TISAX Compliance
The automotive industry operates with extensive and complex supply chains, requiring precise synchronization to avoid interruptions in production and ensure operational efficiency. Therefore, establishing access policies for employees, collaborators and third parties in this value chain poses significant challenges.

TISAX certification is not only a strategic project, but also a constant commitment that involves maintaining specialized controls and adapting to changes in the security framework.

A common mistake is to underestimate the complexity of implementing and maintaining the controls necessary for TISAX compliance. Here, having an information security officer backed by a team of specialists is presented as a critical option.

TISAX and the Importance of Identity Management
TISAX is based on recognized standards, such as ISO 27001 and ISO 27002. For organizations with information security management systems in place, the path to TISAX compliance is simplified; however, TISAX's strategic approach to information security highlights the relevance of IAM, especially regarding technological controls.

IAM, therefore, acts as the guardian of authorized access, implementing controls that guarantee secure identification and authentication. Their collaboration with permit authorization provides a solid basis for meeting TISAX requirements.

Given the evolution of TISAX toward a mandatory standard in the automotive industry, IAM assumes an essential role for continued resilience and security throughout the supply chain.

TISAX Assessment and Certification With IAM
The latest version of TISAX (version 6.0) focuses on meeting 10 protection objectives, ranging from prototype security to the protection of personal data. These objectives can be prioritized and classified into protection levels (AL-1, AL-2 and AL-3). Self-evaluation, evidence, interviews, and on-site visits are methods used to assess compliance.

Collaboration with third parties, such as specialized consulting firms, brings significant value to the certification process. This streamlines the assessment of security breaches, providing a strategic view of risks and potential impacts. In addition, it facilitates the certification required by large car manufacturers.

During the evaluation, there are some key aspects that are of significant relevance:

• Access control and authorization
  Ensuring that only authorized individuals access critical information is vital. IAM plays a central role in implementing and documenting access controls.
   
• Compliance with security policies
  IAM helps to comply with security policies, implementing and enforcing access policies; however, the efficient management of IAM requires expertise in its implementation and operation.
   
• Auditing and traceability
  TISAX highlights the importance of auditing and traceability in all activities related to IAM, including accesses, authorizations, and authentication mechanisms.
   
• Protection of sensitive data 
  IAM plays a key role in protecting sensitive data. Its proper implementation ensures that only the right entities have access to relevant information.

While TISAX is based on well-known information security standards, it is crucial to understand the specific context of the automotive industry to align effective strategies. Identity management and IAM access control not only plays a key role in TISAX compliance, but it also acts as a fundamental enabler for satisfying the controls of this evaluation framework.

Collaboration with experts and the adoption of specialized technologies are essential to ensure continuous security in an industry that increasingly depends on interconnectivity and effective information management.