Functional safety and cybersecurity were once considered two different disciplines. Safety protecting people and systems against hazards caused by malfunction, while cybersecurity was meant to protect systems against malicious attacks. In the present connected world, the two now are inseparable.
Cyberattacks on connected cars, industrial robots, or medical devices can now cause safety failures as efficiently as do physical malfunctions. Thus, regulators and standards bodies now require manufacturers to consider safety and security together.
In the modern era, safety-critical systems heavily rely on networked communication. This brings in numerous other vulnerabilities.
An industrial safety system can be compromised if its communication protocol is exploited. Breaking into a connected car may disable braking or steering functions. Medical devices can be manipulated remotely, endangering patient lives. These risks make manufacturers show that functional safety and cybersecurity are managed together.
Several standards and regulations today explicitly set the safety-security linkage:
The position of Nemko on functional safety and cyber security places it at the epicentre of compliance innovation. By contributing to industry discussion and staying ahead of regulatory changes, Nemko guarantees that manufacturers are prepared for new obligations.
This is what makes Nemko a thought leader and trusted partner with companies as they enter new markets or innovate with connect.
As compliance requirements change, safety and security will become more connected. Manufacturers that tackle them together will not only meet regulatory expectations but also earn customer trust.
With Nemko as a partner, companies can turn compliance challenges into opportunities, showing leadership in innovation, safety, and trust.