"AUVSI and Fortress Information Security Team to Develop Cybersecurity Risk-Based Framework for Uncrewed Vehicles"
The Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) and Fortress Information Security (Fortress) have launched an industry-wide collaboration to create an enterprise cybersecurity model and a set of voluntary standards to address cyber risks unique to uncrewed systems and robotics. AUVSI will lead an effort to build consensus, establish standards, and facilitate proactive cybersecurity policies and actions among uncrewed system manufacturers and suppliers, using previous Fortress work that resulted in the development of voluntary risk-based standards for the utilities industry as a model. Uncrewed aerial, ground, and maritime vehicles are used for national defense, public safety, commercial delivery, critical infrastructure inspection, and other purposes. According to Michael Robbins, Executive Vice President, Government & Public Affairs at AUVSI, these technologies are becoming an increasingly important part of the economic foundation for nations around the world. A cyber-secure foundation built on universal industry standards among industry stakeholders and suppliers will help to ensure that uncrewed vehicles reach their economic and operational potential. AUVSI is forming a collaborative industry Working Group to ensure that the value proposition of this effort is clear to the industry and that the cyber risk mitigation tools make sense. The Working Group will be made up of AUVSI member organizations with subject-matter expertise who will collaborate with Fortress to start developing the cybersecurity framework. A new consumer poll conducted by Fortress and AUVSI reveals that cyberattacks on uncrewed civilian, government, and military vehicles are considered a big deal to US consumers. The vast majority of people, however, believe that an attack should not prevent the use of uncrewed vehicles. This article continues to discuss the new collaborative initiative to develop a cybersecurity risk-based framework for uncrewed vehicles.