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For more than 30 years, Micron has been a leader in the automotive market, driving innovation in memory and storage solutions that meet ever-changing requirements from our partners and demands from end users. In support of this leadership, we are proud to announce our latest automotive certification: ISO 21434 cybersecurity management system (CSMS). This further strengthening our innovation in the three critical axes of automotive: quality, safety and cybersecurity. Micron’s dedication to each of these three foundations underscores our commitment to tier 1 manufacturers, automotive OEMs and even the customers buying vehicles. Read on for more on each foundation and Micron’s support for the emerging cybersecurity axis.
One axis for quality
The automotive industry has always placed significant priority on quality and reliability. Early in the history of automotive electronics, the focus was on ensuring that every component, from microcontrollers to SRAM to EPROMs, met stringent quality standards, to guarantee the overall performance and longevity of vehicles. This singular approach to quality meant that manufacturers and suppliers alike were dedicated to minimizing defects and maximizing durability. As vehicles became more complex, with electronic features defining the vehicles and their architectures, the demand for higher quality standards only intensified. This led to the adoption of rigorous quality management systems and certifications. As electrical and electronic architectures have evolved over time, the failure of any one component like sensors, controllers and memories can lead to the failure of the entire domain or even the entire vehicle. Therefore, the demand for very low defects per million (DPM) became an important requirement.
Micron Technology's market leadership in memory and storage solutions directly supports the automotive industry's stringent quality and reliability standards. The company has been a global leader in memory and storage solutions in the automotive market for over 30 years, with certifications like QS9001, international automotive task force (IATF), and qualifications according to AEC-Q100/104. This success builds on our innovation as well as our close collaboration with the ecosystem of automotive SoC vendors, OEMs and tier 1 suppliers.
Adding a second axis: Safety
As automotive technology evolved, so has the need for enhanced safety measures. The introduction of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and the push towards autonomous driving have brought safety to the forefront of automotive development. This second axis emphasizes the importance of managing component failures to prevent them from compromising safety. Standards like ISO 26262 (functional safety, Fig. 1) have become critical, ensuring that manufacturers integrate safety into every stage of the vehicle's lifecycle.
Fig. 1 Growing trend for functional safety
Applications in ADAS and in-vehicle infotainment (IVI) continue to challenge the industry to deliver higher-performance systems that are not prone to failure. Manufacturers must manage component failures to prevent them from causing safety system failures, which could lead to harm to any person potentially at risk inside or outside the vehicle. We recognize that parts can inherently fail, so we must prevent these failures and detect them if they do occur. Micron has already adopted ISO 26262 and released the automotive market’s first LPDDR5 ASIL-D product in 2022, establishing itself as a market leader. Since then, we have released a full suite of LPDDR5 products meeting this ASIL-D standard and are also extending ASIL capability to our automotive non-volatile storage products.
Adding a third axis: Cybersecurity
In today's connected world, cybersecurity has emerged as a crucial third axis. Modern vehicles are equipped with numerous electronic systems and are increasingly connected to the internet, making them vulnerable to cyber-attacks. Ensuring cybersecurity means protecting vehicles from unauthorized access and potential manipulation of their systems. This involves not only preventing and detecting inherent failures but also safeguarding against external threats. Standards such as ISO 21434 provide a framework for implementing robust cybersecurity measures in the automotive industry.
When designing and developing memory and storage products for automotive, Micron must consider the potential for adverse attacks that could manipulate the expected functionality of our components, leading to unpleasant consequences, including safety issues. When we are in the world as road vehicle users or pedestrians, we aren’t concerned about the cause of the failure, only the effect. Whether it is a quality issue, an undetected failure or a cybersecurity attack, we perceive it as a malfunction of the car, which, in extreme cases, can affect safety systems and cause injuries.
Micron achieves CSMS certification
Building upon Micron’s success in automotive reliability and safety, we have also successfully completed the ISO/SAE 21434:2021 cybersecurity management system (CSMS) certification, in accordance with the guidelines of ISO/PAS 5112. This certification further signifies our support of critical standards such as ISO 26262, automotive software process improvement and capability determination (ASPICE), automotive electronics council (AEC) and IATF, demonstrating an unwavering commitment to excellence and continuous improvement.
This achievement indicates that Micron's processes meet the stringent security requirements of the automotive industry. This achievement is the result of our dedicated efforts and unwavering commitment to excellence across the entire organization. This certification not only reassures our customers and partners of the rigorous cybersecurity processes we have in place but also enhances their confidence in designing and developing faster, more secure solutions with our reliable memory technologies.
What’s next
Some may ask how this latest certification positions Micron for future automotive developments. Regulatory requirements are constantly evolving to keep pace with emerging cyber threats that necessitate robust cybersecurity measures to improve safety, maintain consumer confidence and secure the supply chain. Proactive cybersecurity enhances market competitiveness, compliance with industry standards and, most importantly, a secure vehicle.
Memory and storage solutions play a vital role in the automotive supply chain. By establishing a certified CSMS, Micron contributes to the overall security of the supply chain, reducing the risk of vulnerabilities that could be exploited in the final product.
With this certification, Micron is strengthening its cooperation with global automakers, SoC makers, and major automotive suppliers. We will also lead the next-generation automotive market by building trust with customers based on a thorough security system.
Micron’s comprehensive approach ensures that their automotive memory products not only meet the highest safety standards but also contribute significantly to the advancement of automotive safety technologies. With a global network of 13 dedicated labs provide near 24/7 support to customers during the development phase, Micron ensures the fastest time to market with minimal risk. Beyond lab support, Micron's dedicated safety office (manages company-wide ISO 26262 processes), system architects, and field application engineers work closely with customers to architect systems that meet functional safety ASIL targets at the system level. The company's SAFER framework empowers automotive customers to make informed decisions about automotive memory solutions, enhancing overall safety and reliability.
Learn more about Micron’s automotive memory and storage in addition to key topics related to the company’s commitment to safety and security.
