Guest Article: 1000 Things Worth Knowing in Automotive Cybersecurity

For many years, dissecto and the CYEQT Knowledge Base have shared a common goal: bringing sustainable, real-world impact to automotive cybersecurity. CYEQT Knowledge Base is a global authority in sustainable automotive cybersecurity, and its unique ecosystem promotes lasting skill development and sets new standards for professional growth in the connected vehicle industry. As a trusted partner, we are pleased to offer them this platform, as we believe our audience can benefit from the insights shared in their latest publication.

In the world of automotive cybersecurity, there is often a gap between theory and everyday practice – this is exactly where the new reference book 1000 Things Worth Knowing in Automotive Cybersecurity comes in. This work closes the still widespread knowledge gap between theoretical regulations and practical implementation. At the same time, it links the extensive theory of standardization efforts in vehicle cybersecurity with practical experience from implementation in the industry. The book thus serves as a valuable resource for both management and engineering, enabling abstract concepts to be put into practice.

Spanning over 300 pages and nine logically structured chapters, 1000 Things Worth Knowing in Automotive Cybersecurity offers a comprehensive overview of the current state of vehicle cybersecurity—from the basics to its application in real-world development projects. 

The book is aimed at specialists and managers who not only need to understand cybersecurity, but also have to implement it operationally. It provides guidance in a complex subject area and shows how regulatory requirements, technical measures, and organizational responsibility can be reconciled. At the heart of this comprehensive compendium is a holistic view – not only of individual control units or protective mechanisms, but also of the interaction across different fields of action, domains, and interfaces. This is particularly important given the long product life cycle in the automotive environment.

Anyone who wants to be successful in automotive cybersecurity today needs much more than just specialist knowledge in a narrow field. Rather, it requires a generalist understanding – the ability to think across levels and translate theory into effective practice. This work is intended to be a practical companion for anyone who wants to make vehicle cybersecurity productive in everyday life.

Review: The Essential Guide to ISO/SAE 21434, the world’s first specialist publication on the most important industry standard

Before we take a closer look at 1000 Things Worth Knowing in Automotive Cybersecurity, it is worth taking a look back. In 2021, the ISO/SAE 21434 standard (based on the DIS and FDIS versions) was officially published in its first edition. In the same year, The Essential Guide to ISO/SAE 21434 was published, authored by Philipp Veronesi and Manuel Sandler and published at the time by the former CYRES Consulting.

This internationally acclaimed specialist publication was the first officially ISO/DIN-licensed reference work on the new ISO/SAE 21434 standard. Since its publication, it has served countless pioneers in automotive cybersecurity as a bridge between the language of standards and everyday development work. Even back then, the aim of this now completely sold-out publication was not only to reproduce the standard, but also to be a living tool for engineers, developers, project managers, auditors, and many others.

Voices from the industry confirm that even today, the Essential Guide still serves as a knowledge-sharing companion for many, especially where understanding of the standard structure, terminology, and systematics is still in the process of being established and expanded. The book (which at the time was only available as a hard copy for licensing reasons) is still considered a milestone today: the first printed manual that helped the industry make ISO/SAE 21434 tangible. 

The Essential Guide to ISO/SAE 21434 paved the way for the ambitious and completely revised new edition, the Second Edition. After many years of intensive work, this has now finally been published as an ebook/PDF in English: 1000 Things Worth Knowing in Automotive Cybersecurity.

Over 5 years of international practical experience in automotive cybersecurity consulting in book form

Since UN Regulation No. 155 (CSMS) and ISO/SAE 21434 have shaken up the automotive and vehicle industry worldwide, reliable information and knowledge resources, as well as interpretation aids relating to vehicle cybersecurity, are still rare.

The book 1000 Things Worth Knowing in Automotive Cybersecurity is likely to provide more than a thousand insights. It brings together knowledge from more than five years of consulting experience in projects with OEMs, Tier 1 suppliers, and development service providers worldwide. Authors Philipp Veronesi and Manuel Sandler draw on their experience from countless consulting mandates, implementations, and training courses that they have accompanied in various markets—from Europe to North America to Asia.

This unique foundation of experience shapes each of the nine chapters: the content is not theoretically constructed or compiled without context, but enriched with valuable know-how from specific project situations.

A common thread emerges: successful automotive cybersecurity arises where understanding, methodology, and implementation mesh seamlessly. Against this backdrop, the publisher of this publication, the CYEQT Knowledge Base (formerly CYRES Academy), now sees itself as much more than just a training provider. Over the years, a holistic approach has emerged that combines awareness, expertise, and empowerment (e.g., through training and certification) with practical support (through templates, consulting, etc.).

It is precisely this interplay that the book conveys – in a practical, constructive, and solution-oriented way. Readers benefit from a condensed wealth of experience that highlights typical pitfalls and provides proven approaches for building mature security structures in the automotive environment.

As a partner of the CYEQT Knowledge Base, dissecto is also featured in this publication (see page 15) with our HydraVision toolkit — a cost-effective and transparent solution for security testing of embedded systems. HydraVision enables development teams to validate and harden their systems efficiently, bringing practical, measurable security improvements to the entire product lifecycle.

Included: Mapping with the requirements of the ISO/SAE 21434 standard 

From a compliance perspective, one of the most important added values of 1000 Things Worth Knowing in Automotive Cybersecurity is the included mapping to the requirements of ISO/SAE 21434:2021. While the Essential Guide printed the standard itself in detail and with an official ISO/DIN license, the new work goes one step further: it links the various topics directly to the corresponding requirements of the standard. 

This mapping is woven into the explanatory text, thus creating a bridge between the theoretical concepts of the standard – such as the threat analysis & risk assessment methodology or the cybersecurity concept – and their practical implementation in the real automotive context. This provides readers with guidance on how the complex requirements of the standard can be linked to the reality of development practice in development, supplier, or audit processes.

Important to know: The ISO/SAE 21434:2021 standard is no longer included in this new edition. As it is now widely used in the industry, there is no need for costly licensing for reprinting. This also contributes to the significantly lower price of the new book (net EUR 29.99).

Added value for cybersecurity management and engineering – available chapter by chapter or as a complete work

1000 Things Worth Knowing in Automotive Cybersecurity is deliberately structured to offer added value in both worlds: in management, where strategic decisions and risk assessments are made at the organizational or project level, and in engineering, where security requirements are translated into concrete architectures and tests. This approach also made it possible to accommodate the frequently expressed request that individual chapters (e.g., on regulations and standards or on the topics of V&V and testing) be available for purchase separately.

Each chapter can be used individually for self-study – for example, to deepen specific practices (such as the proper implementation of the threat analysis and risk assessment methodology in Chapter C06 Risk Assessment) or to update basic knowledge in specific fields of action. 

At the same time, the book reveals its true strength as a complete work (with over 300 pages!): it combines the diverse perspectives of automotive cybersecurity. Instead of merely paraphrasing general IT expertise, it creates conceptual and methodological consistency around the growing domain of vehicle cybersecurity. The aim is to provide a reference work that combines theory, standardization, and practice. The result is a contribution that strengthens the ability to act – for OEMs, suppliers, and the numerous consulting, service, and engineering providers involved, as well as individual players.

Let’s get started: Read the online sample now

Regardless of your current level of exposure to the diverse challenges of automotive cybersecurity, this publication lays a solid foundation for a holistic understanding of vehicle cybersecurity from a practical perspective. The publication continues what the Essential Guide began five years ago with the publication of ISO/SAE 21434:2021: it translates regulatory requirements into practical knowledge and provides guidance in an increasingly complex environment. 

Discover the indispensable companion for anyone who wants to truly understand and shape automotive security. Here you will find a free 40-page sample of 1000 Things Worth Knowing in Automotive Cybersecurity.