Automotive cybersecurity management system (CSMS) assessment

An automotive cybersecurity management system (CSMS) assessment audits a vehicle manufacturer or OEM's cybersecurity framework and assures that robust cybersecurity processes exist. TÜV SÜD’s expert assessment identifies if your processes provide a suitable cybersecurity framework across the product lifecycle. It also assesses if the CSMS requirements of the UNECE cybersecurity regulation are fulfilled. This ensures you are prepared for CSMS certification, so that you can sell your vehicles in the EU and all UNECE countries.

The introduction of the UNECE cybersecurity regulation (UNECE R155) makes cybersecurity mandatory for all new vehicles and systems. The regulation covers both organizational and product level cybersecurity. The UNECE regulation mandates that cybersecurity enforcement be implemented throughout the entire automotive supply chain. The assessment ensures that the requirements of UNECE R155 are met. This must be assessed and renewed at least every three years.

ISO/SAE 21434 defines the technical processes for managing vehicle cybersecurity, while UN R155 is the legal regulation that requires manufacturers to demonstrate those processes through an effective CSMS.

As today's connected, automated, and autonomous vehicles become more complex, the danger of potential cyberattacks increases. To protect vehicles and components, manufacturers must focus beyond the product. They must create an organizational cybersecurity environment that enables safe and secure product development and operations.

The CSMS ensures that the appropriate security measures are in place across development, production, and post-production processes. An automotive cybersecurity management system assessment ensures that robust cybersecurity processes exist across the entire value chain.

Without evidence of a CSMS, automotive manufacturers cannot gain type approval and will be unable to sell vehicles in the EU. Consequently, Tier 1 and Tier 2 manufacturers, and hardware and software suppliers, have evidence about their capabilities. This includes their organizational and engineering cybersecurity processes.

A CSMS assessment helps your business to reduce risk by ensuring your processes and products fulfil all cybersecurity requirements according to the UNECE cybersecurity regulation. The improvement of product development cybersecurity process efficiency also minimises time to market. By demonstrating your dedication to accurately assessing cybersecurity in line with existing regulations, you also increase customer confidence.

Not sure if you're ready for a full assessment? Start with a gap analysis. Our CSMS experts work with your key stakeholders to understand the maturity of your cybersecurity processes, identifying strengths, gaps, and risks. We map your current position against ISO/SAE 21434 and UN R155 requirements, providing clear, actionable recommendations to guide your next steps toward compliance. Learn more about our ISO/SAE 21434 process certification services.

TÜV SÜD’s automotive cybersecurity management system assessment identifies whether you have a sufficient cybersecurity framework in place across the entire product lifecycle. We verify that your CSMS meets UNECE R155 requirements.

TÜV SÜD has over a century of automotive experience and our experts actively participate in developing the latest cybersecurity standards including ISO/SAE 21434 and ISO 24089. Therefore, we can provide you with the most up-to-date knowledge of current and future requirements.

We also participate in relevant UNECE committees to develop regulations on cybersecurity and software updates for vehicles (such as UNECE WP.29 GRVA).

Our systematic and holistic CSMS assessment reports enable you to design and verify secure automotive components and systems for connected and automated vehicles. 

TÜV SÜD’s automotive cybersecurity management system assessment identifies whether you have a sufficient cybersecurity framework in place across the entire product lifecycle. We verify that your CSMS meets UNECE R155 requirements.

TÜV SÜD has over a century of automotive experience and our experts actively participate in developing the latest cybersecurity standards including ISO/SAE 21434 and ISO 24089. Therefore, we can provide you with the most up-to-date knowledge of current and future requirements.

We also participate in relevant UNECE committees to develop regulations on cybersecurity and software updates for vehicles (such as UNECE WP.29 GRVA).

Our systematic and holistic CSMS assessment reports enable you to design and verify secure automotive components and systems for connected and automated vehicles. 

A TÜV SÜD CSMS assessment follows a structured, end-to-end process to evaluate your cybersecurity framework against ISO/SAE 21434 and UN R155 requirements.

1. Scoping and planning 

We define the assessment scope with your team, identifying relevant systems, lifecycle phases, and stakeholders across your organisation.

2. Documentation review 

Our experts review your existing policies, processes, risk assessments, and technical documentation to understand your current cybersecurity approach.

3. Stakeholder interviews 

We engage key stakeholders to validate how cybersecurity activities are implemented in practice and gather supporting evidence.

4. Process audit and gap analysis 

Your processes are assessed against ISO/SAE 21434 requirements and regulatory expectations, identifying gaps, inconsistencies, and risks.

5. Reporting and recommendations 

You receive a detailed technical report outlining maturity levels, identified gaps, and clear, prioritized remediation actions.

6. Next steps toward certification

Following the assessment, you can progress toward CSMS certification, a key step in achieving UN R155 type approval for your vehicles.

Timeline and ongoing requirements 

The assessment is typically completed over a defined project period depending on scope and complexity. The UNECE Cybersecurity Regulation requires automotive manufacturers to maintain a certified CSMS, which must be assessed and renewed at least every three years. 

UN R155 type approval is the formal regulatory approval required to sell vehicles in the EU and other UNECE member states. It demonstrates that your organization has established, implemented, and maintains a compliant cybersecurity management system across the vehicle lifecycle.

This requirement applies to OEMs and, increasingly, suppliers supporting vehicle development in regulated markets adopting UNECE WP.29 cybersecurity regulations.

Once your CSMS assessment is complete and your system is certified, you can proceed toward type approval. A certified CSMS is a mandatory prerequisite under UN R155 and type approval cannot be granted without it.

TÜV SÜD supports this process as an independent technical partner, providing assessments and certification evidence expected by type approval authorities and helping you prepare for submission. TÜV SÜD certification is widely recognized by leading European type approval authorities (such as KBA, RDW, VCA), supporting efficient approval and market access.