The company is the first Korean battery manufacturer to receive TÜV Rheinland certification for cyber security management system.
SK On, a leader in the manufacture of batteries for electric vehicles, today announced that its battery management system has been awarded the TÜV Rheinland Cybersecurity Management Systems (CSMS) certification, making the company the first Korean battery manufacturer to receive such prestigious recognition.
CSMS certification is awarded to companies that have solutions in place to monitor potential cyber-attacks, detect and respond to cybersecurity threats to automotive software and components. The certification is usually issued following a thorough audit of organisational processes and production management systems.
Last year, SK On asked TÜV Rheinland, one of the leading providers of testing, inspection and certification services in the automotive industry with a track record of more than 150 years, to carry out tests based on the international automotive cyber security standard ISO/SAE 21434 in order to obtain CSMS certification. SK On successfully obtained the certification after a year-long assessment process.
With the latest certification, SK On is expected to accelerate its global expansion, as a CSMS certificate compliant with UNR155 is required for an automotive manufacturer to sell its vehicles in major global markets, including Europe and the United States.
UNR155 is a mandatory motor vehicle safety regulation issued by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), which entered into force in 2021.The regulation will be mandatory for all new vehicle types from July 2022 and will apply to all newly produced vehicles from July 2024.
UNR155 is a de facto global standard, as UNECE member countries include not only European countries, but also North American and Asian countries. There are currently 56 UNECE member countries.
As vehicles become increasingly connected with advanced self-driving technologies and thus more complex, the importance of cybersecurity in automotive software and components is growing. Given these circumstances, global car manufacturers are requiring their suppliers to have CSMS-certified products.
SK On is strengthening the company’s cybersecurity capabilities while enhancing the quality of its battery management system (BMS). In 2021, the company has developed cybersecurity policies and established related units and development processes to improve cybersecurity solutions.
SK On has already obtained two other certificates to ensure the quality of its battery management system. The company holds the A-SPICE CL2 certificate, awarded after an assessment of practices and processes used in the development of automotive software, and ISO 26262 FSM (Functional Safety Management), an international functional safety standard for the development of electrical and electronic systems for road vehicles.
Lee Ji-Seok, Head of SK On’s Systems Development Office, said, “With this latest certification, SK On has once again demonstrated its development capabilities and the quality of its battery management system developments.” He added: “This now gives us another powerful weapon to secure orders and expand globally.”