Partners to Assess Cybersecurity Risks to U.S. Transportation Systems

The Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) has received a $750,000 contract to help state and local agencies identify and reduce cybersecurity risks of current transportation systems and safeguard future self-driving connected cars.

SwRI will lead the two-year project with support from Praetorian Group Inc., an Austin, Tex.-based cybersecurity firm. The program will be funded by the private, non-profit National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine’s Transportation Research Board.

There are more than 400,000 traffic signal systems across the U.S. that have varying levels of network access and embedded security, according to San Antonio-based SwRI. The institute says information technology and security personnel need to understand all potential threats, including risks to controllers, dynamic message signs, road-weather information systems and other devices that relay data.

The team will conduct security audits of select traffic management systems and develop safeguarding guides to help transportation agencies. The process will use “white hat” hacking to assess vulnerabilities.

Based on the findings, SwRI and Praetorian will work with transportation agencies to develop advanced network security protocols and mitigation strategies, including low-cost plans for agencies with limited resources. The partners also will evaluate potential access points where hackers could exploit connected vehicles.