TISAX compliance is crucial for organizations in the automotive industry to ensure their information security management system (ISMS) meets industry standards. Achieving this involves a detailed self-assessment, followed by a formal information security assessment conducted by an accredited third-party auditor.
The auditor will evaluate your organization’s policies, procedures, controls, and risk management practices. This process ensures that your information security measures align with TISAX requirements, particularly in areas like data protection. If your ISMS meets the necessary criteria, your organization will receive TISAX certification, demonstrating a strong commitment to safeguarding sensitive information.
TISAX penetration testing can play a vital role in this process. Although not mandatory, it helps identify and address vulnerabilities before your TISAX assessment, ensuring your ISMS is fully prepared to meet the high standards required for certification.
This article will cover relevant aspects of penetration testing in the context of TISAX compliance. The goal is to help your organization make informed decisions when choosing pen testing services to support your TISAX assessment.
Who will benefit from this TISAX penetration testing guide?
This guide is intended to serve as a valuable resource for those who need to secure penetration testing services for TISAX audits. It offers relevant insights for the following groups:
- Executive personnel responsible for IT security within the organization, such as CISOs, VPs of security, and CIOs.
- Upper management, including C-level executives (CEOs, CTOs, COOs, CFOs) and board members.
- Audit team members and audit committees involved in the TISAX compliance process.
- Auditors and compliance officers who oversee the organization’s adherence to TISAX standards.
- Cybersecurity professionals, including engineers and analysts working in application security (AppSec), security operations (SecOps), infrastructure security (InfraSec), and related fields.
- Engineering managers and product owners who play a role in the organization’s TISAX compliance efforts.
What is TISAX compliance, and why is it important?
TISAX (Trusted Information Security Assessment Exchange) is a key information security standard for the automotive industry. Developed by the ENX Association in collaboration with major automobile manufacturers, TISAX provides a framework for assessing and improving an organization’s information security management system (ISMS). Unlike ISO 27001, which is more universally recognized, TISAX is specifically tailored to meet the unique needs of the automotive supply chain.
TISAX compliance involves undergoing an information security assessment conducted by an approved audit provider. This assessment ensures that your organization’s ISMS meets the stringent requirements to protect sensitive information, including data protection and risk management practices. The assessment levels are determined by the type of data handled and the achieved protection class required for that data.
During the TISAX assessment, experienced and independent experts evaluate your ISMS based on specific assessment objectives. These objectives guide the assessment levels and the depth of the evaluation. For organizations that handle highly sensitive external data, a penetration test might be required to demonstrate robust security controls. The results of this testing, documented in a detailed test report, play a crucial role in the final assessment.
Compliance with TISAX is increasingly becoming a prerequisite for doing business with major automobile manufacturers. It signals that your organization has reliable and auditable information security processes in place to manage and protect sensitive data.
Is penetration testing a requirement for TISAX in 2024?
Penetration testing is not mandatory for TISAX compliance, but it is highly recommended for companies wishing to strengthen their security posture.
In version 6.0.3 of the VDA ISA (Information Security Assessment) self-assessment, the following two TISAX controls mention penetration testing as a means to fulfill the requirement for those that fall into the category of Additional requirements for high protection needs:
- 5.2.6 To what extent are IT systems and services technically checked (system and service audit)?
- For critical IT systems or services, additional system or service audit requirements have been identified and are fulfilled (e.g., service specific tests and tools and/or human penetration tests, risk-based time intervals) (A)
- 5.3.1 To what extent is information security considered in new or further developed IT systems?
- The security of purpose built software or significantly customized software is tested (e.g. penetration testing) (C, I, A) – during commissioning, in case of significant changes, or at regular intervals
According to the ENX Association’s website, “Information Security Assessment questionnaire that will be the basis of TISAX Assessments starting later than 2024-04-01“. This means that since April 2024, there’s been a recommendation to perform manual pentests for TISAX to fulfill items 5.2.6 and 5.3.1.
While the TISAX assessment does not explicitly demand penetration testing (at least not yet), it can play a critical role in meeting the protection requirements, especially for organizations involved in complex supplier relationships or handling prototype protection.
Even though penetration testing is not a compulsory element of the TISAX assessment, integrating it into your risk management strategy offers significant benefits. Penetration testing helps identify technical security vulnerabilities that could be exploited, providing a clear understanding of potential risks.
Does TISAX require vulnerability scanning?
TISAX recommends vulnerability scanning for compliance.
In the item 5.2.6 Information Security, in the column Additional requirements for very high protection needs:
- IT systems and services are regularly scanned for vulnerabilities. (A) Suitable protective measures must be implemented for systems and services that may not be scanned.
Similarly to penetration testing, vulnerability scanning does not seem to be a mandatory requirement in the TISAX framework – or at least, not yet. However, incorporating such automated security assessments can significantly enhance your information security posture and help meet the broader expectations of a TISAX assessment, particularly in ensuring the protection of customer information.
What is the average duration of TISAX penetration testing?
The duration of a TISAX penetration test can vary widely depending on the scope and complexity of the systems being tested. In our experience, it can take between 5 and 20 person days on average. More extensive and complex assessments, especially those involving critical infrastructure or sensitive customer information, may extend over several weeks.
Be cautious of service providers offering fast and cheap penetration tests that last only a few days. These tests rely heavily on automated tools or follow a basic checklist, which may not discover all relevant vulnerabilities. Such superficial assessments can leave your organization with a false sense of security, potentially overlooking critical issues that could impact your IT environment, TISAX compliance and overall information security posture.
How to define the scope of a TISAX pentest?
Defining the scope of a TISAX penetration test is a collaborative process between your organization’s team (such as compliance officers, internal auditors, and IT personnel) and the service provider conducting the test. The auditor performing the TISAX assessment will help specify which systems, networks, databases, or applications should be included in the test based on your organization’s particular requirements and the protection needs of customer information.
Organizations typically consider the following elements when determining the scope of their TISAX penetration testing:
- Key products and services, especially those critical to your operations, such as a SaaS platform.
- Internet-facing infrastructure, often hosted in the cloud, could be a target for external threats.
- Internal networks and critical systems, including servers, Active Directory, and Kubernetes clusters.
- APIs and microservices, including REST, GraphQL, and legacy web services, which are integral to your operations.
- Mobile applications, if applicable, to ensure security across all platforms.
- Administrative panels or back-office systems that support user-facing services.
Many organizations choose to conduct penetration tests in a staging environment to avoid disruptions to production systems. This approach is widely accepted as long as the staging environment closely mirrors the production setup. However, it’s advisable to consult with your TISAX auditor to confirm that they approve of this testing methodology before proceeding.
Recommended methodologies for TISAX pentests
Similar to ISO 27001, TISAX does not prescribe specific guidelines for penetration testing methodologies, allowing organizations some flexibility in choosing the most appropriate approach. However, the following recognized methodologies are commonly employed to ensure thorough and effective penetration testing for TISAX compliance:
By employing these methodologies, organizations can ensure that their penetration testing is thorough and aligned with the security objectives necessary for TISAX compliance. This helps achieve certification and maintain a strong and secure information security management system.
Should I perform penetration testing and vulnerability scanning as part of my TISAX audit?
While penetration testing and vulnerability scanning are not explicitly required for TISAX compliance, integrating these activities into your audit process can provide significant benefits, helping you meet industry standards and strengthen your cyber defenses.
- Identification of vulnerabilities: Penetration testing plays a vital role in uncovering security flaws in your systems and networks that malicious actors could exploit. This is especially important for companies in the automotive industry to achieve high standards for information security, data protection and prototype protection.
- Risk reduction and prioritization: The results from penetration tests highlight security gaps and expose risks within your organization. This allows you to prioritize efforts in remediating these vulnerabilities, enhancing your overall security posture, and reducing the risk of cyber threats.
- Challenging security controls: Conducting technical security assessments enables organizations to evaluate the effectiveness of their existing security controls. By challenging these controls, you can identify weaknesses and improve your defenses against potential attacks.
- Demonstrating compliance: Regular penetration testing and vulnerability scanning can bring you closer to meeting TISAX assessment requirements.
- Increased security awareness: Penetration testing also serves as a learning tool for your organization. It raises security awareness among employees and management, emphasizing the importance of cyber defense and making a solid case for ongoing investment in security measures.
What is the suggested frequency for a TISAX penetration test?
It is generally recommended that a penetration test be performed annually, especially since many companies undergo regular audits to maintain compliance. Version 6.0.1 of ISA recommends a pentest during major changes, decommissioning and at regular intervals.
Regardless of your certification timeline, conducting penetration testing regularly is advisable. This ensures your organization continuously improves its cyber defenses and remains resilient against evolving threats.
Final remarks
TISAX is a key standard for organizations in the automotive industry’s supply chain. It provides a robust framework for safeguarding customer data and ensuring strong information security management systems are in place. While penetration testing and vulnerability scanning are not mandatory for TISAX compliance, they are valuable in identifying security vulnerabilities and managing risks within your information systems.
Whether to include penetration testing or vulnerability assessments as part of your TISAX audit should be based on your organization’s unique risk profile and security goals. However, presenting a comprehensive penetration test report detailing technical vulnerabilities, mitigation strategies, compensating controls, and evidence of regular vulnerability scans can greatly enhance auditors’ confidence in your cybersecurity practices.
If your organization is looking for a trusted partner to support your TISAX audit, penetration testing, or other cybersecurity consulting needs, our team of experts is here to help.
Contact us today to ensure your information security controls meet TISAX’s standards and beyond.
