If I had to pick one technology that got more than its share of attention at CES, it would be automotive. The products and technologies that were on display in the vast automotive hall (and multiple parking lots) covered pretty much every facet of the car. This includes obvious things like the sound system and other infotainment features to GPS and imaging to lots of other “under the hood” applications.

Then you had the underlying technologies, particularly on the software side, including the platforms and operating systems. For example, BlackBerry QNX announced its latest safety-critical operating system (OS) for automotive, the QNX Software Development Platform 7.0 (QNX SDP 7.0)

Not to be outdone, Integrity Security Services (ISS), a subsidiary of Green Hills Software, launched a device lifecycle management (DLM) service for secure over-the-air (OTA) software updates to network-connected IoT devices in all industries, which obviously includes automotive. The company had a demonstration that featured secure software signing and distribution of updates to fielded devices.

DLM provides the highest level of security with the ability to digitally sign updates to ensure device software is tamper-free from hacks and malware. DLM signs and formats packages for compatibility with leading hardware root-of-trust components. The bottom line is that developers can remotely update and manage their products (cars) and be assured that it can be done in a safe and secure fashion.

One of the beauties the ISS technology is that, while is perfectly suited for automotive applications, it operates seamlessly in the mainstream IoT and Industrial IoT industries. Hence, developers can move easily move between the general IoT environment and the automotive space, allowing them to more easily make use of IoT technologies within the car. In addition, it allows vehicles to move from the “connected manufacturing space” and roll off the assembly line, all the while maintaining the back-end connection to facilitate updates or perform diagnostics. ISS dubs this phenomenon all-in-one security, supply chain asset management, and device management.

Return to slideshow.