SHIELD Automotive Cybersecurity Centre of Excellence at the University of Windsor and Keysight Technologies have teamed up for automotive cybersecurity training with the Keysight SA8710A Automotive Cybersecurity Penetration Test Platform.

SHIELD is dedicated to advancing and developing automotive cybersecurity solutions by training engineering and computer science students to ensure vehicles are safe and secure. Keysight is a manufacturer of electronics test and measurement equipment.

With a commitment by the federal government to make all vehicles sold electric by 2035, there is a push to ensure those vehicles are safe, as their hyper-connections makes them vulnerable to cybersecurity threats.

Keysight’s automotive cybersecurity test platform provides students with:

• Automated testing – The platform supports a variety of security audits to maximize efficiency, covering attack surfaces such as Bluetooth, WiFi, cellular, CAN (controller area network) and automotive Ethernet.
• Quick spin-up – The software comes pre-programmed for immediate use.
• Open-source environment – Keysight’s PathWave Test Automation is open-source, enabling students to add new capabilities.
• Cybersecurity assessments – Running on Linux, the Keysight IoT Security Assessments platform enables students to learn with predefined audits and add open-source and custom security audits.

SHIELD provides students with:

• Education and training – Custom training of high-quality personnel (HQP) with experiential learning opportunities as well as opportunities for workforce retraining to create an industry-ready talent pipeline in Canada.
• Knowledge transfer – A reference library of information and engagements that raises awareness for the need for mobility cybersecurity.
• Research and innovation – Institutional and industrial collaboration to create ready-made solutions that meet rapidly changing technology and threats.

Mitra Mirhassani, professor of electrical and computer engineering and co-director of SHIELD Automotive Cybersecurity Centre of Excellence, notes it is Canada’s first organization dedicated to countering threats to the connected transportation marketplace.

“We are excited to embark on this partnership with Keysight that provides students with real-life experience,” Dr Mirhassani said. “This allows us to compete at the global level and to provide support and services for Ontario.”

From the partnership, students will gain important skills that will be transferable to many areas of cybersecurity and highly sought out upon their graduation.

“The Windsor-Essex region has gone through an industry-type change. We are building up an ecosystem around it in Ontario and Canada as much as we can,” said Mirhassani. “This is just one of the bridges we are building.”

—Naomi Pelkey