ISO 21434 Certification

Strengthen trust and safety in vehicle cybersecurity

In an era of increasing digitalization, automation, and connectivity, cybersecurity has become a decisive factor for competitiveness in the automotive industry. ISO/SAE 21434 supports your organization in demonstrating effective cybersecurity risk management across the entire lifecycle of automotive components and systems.

Whether you develop software, electronic control units, embedded systems, or integrated vehicle platforms, a robust cybersecurity framework aligned with ISO 21434 helps you mitigate risks, prepare for regulatory obligations, and strengthen stakeholder confidence.

DQS brings decades of audit experience and strong competencies in the automotive sector, offering efficient certification processes, fast response times, and guidance tailored to your industry challenges.

Demonstrated expertise in automotive cybersecurity audits backed by global industry experience

Fast, transparent, and efficient certification processes tailored to your development environment

Seamless alignment with UNECE R155 requirements for regulatory readiness and OEM acceptance

Integrated certification options with standards like TISAX®, ISO/IEC 27001, and IATF 16949

Why ISO 21434 Certification Matters for Your Company

For automotive manufacturers, suppliers, engineering service providers, and software developers, ISO/SAE 21434 certification is an essential response to the growing cybersecurity risks in connected and automated vehicles. It demonstrates a proactive commitment to protecting vehicle functions and data throughout the supply chain.

Organizations across the global automotive industry are increasingly adopting ISO 21434 certification to meet OEM expectations, demonstrate cybersecurity readiness, and align with evolving regulatory frameworks. Certification has become an industry-recognized way to prove structured cybersecurity management and strengthen market position.

Key benefits include:

Demonstrated cybersecurity risk management across development, production, and operational phases
Enhanced readiness for type approval and regulatory frameworks such as UNECE R155
Greater trust from OEMs, Tier 1 suppliers, and business partners
Improved competitiveness in tenders and new markets
Transparent alignment with industry-wide cybersecurity expectations

ISO 21434 and UNECE WP.29

ISO/SAE 21434 provides an internationally recognized framework that supports compliance with the UNECE WP.29 / UN Regulation No. 155 on vehicle cybersecurity.
For companies supplying into markets covered by UNECE (including the EU and Asia), ISO 21434 certification strengthens readiness for cybersecurity management system (CSMS) approval and vehicle type approval.

Note: While ISO/SAE 21434 does not mandate certification, certification has become a widely accepted way to demonstrate compliance for OEMs and suppliers.

Is Your Company Ready for ISO 21434 Certification?

You are ready to approach a certification body when your organization has implemented and documented the key elements of a Cybersecurity Management System (CSMS). These typically include:

Documented cybersecurity policies, roles, and responsibilities
Threat analysis and risk assessment (TARA) procedures
Cybersecurity concept and system/component-level controls
Verification and validation plans for cybersecurity activities
Cybersecurity incident response and post-development monitoring

Once these essentials are in place, DQS can guide you through the certification process with expertise rooted in real automotive industry experience.

What Does the Certification Process Look Like?

A gap analysis provides an initial comparison between your existing cybersecurity processes and the requirements of ISO 21434. It highlights strengths, uncovers missing elements, and gives your team a clear roadmap for implementation. This makes it especially valuable for organizations beginning their cybersecurity journey.

During the certification audit, our auditors evaluate how well your organization complies with ISO/SAE 21434 across your defined CSMS scope. This includes reviewing processes, roles, documented evidence, and lifecycle activities from concept to decommissioning. The audit ensures that your cybersecurity management practices are implemented consistently and effectively.

Following the audit, you receive a detailed report outlining the results, including strengths, findings, and opportunities for improvement. If all requirements are met, DQS issues your ISO 21434 certificate as formal recognition of your compliant Cybersecurity Management System. This certificate demonstrates trust and credibility to customers, partners, and regulatory bodies.

To ensure continued compliance, annual surveillance audits verify that your CSMS remains effective and up to date with evolving risks and technologies. These audits help maintain process discipline and continuous improvement. A full recertification audit is conducted every three years to extend the validity of your certification.

What Does ISO 21434 Certification Cost?

The Four Assessment Criteria

ISO 21434 follows a structured audit framework, but certification costs depend heavily on your organization’s scope, complexity, and role within the supply chain. There is no universal cost estimate—each proposal is tailored to your specific situation.

The cost of certification is primarily based on the following four criteria:

1. Scope of the CSMS

The CSMS scope always covers the full product lifecycle: design, development, production, operation, maintenance, and decommissioning.
Relevant processes, activities, resources, and locations within your organization’s responsibility must be included. The broader the scope, the greater the audit effort.

2. Your Role in the Automotive Supply Chain

Your position - OEM, Tier 1, Tier 2 and Tier 3 supplier, engineering service provider, or software/component developer—significantly influences the audit depth.
Organizations closer to system integration, vehicle-level functions, or safety-related components typically face higher cybersecurity expectations and a more extensive assessment.

3. Maturity of Your Existing Systems

Higher maturity in related management systems (e.g., ISO/IEC 27001/TISAX®, IATF 16949, Automotive SPICE) can reduce audit effort.
Established processes for change management, configuration management, and production control demonstrate readiness and may streamline the certification process.

4. Complexity

The complexity of your products, systems, and cybersecurity-relevant interfaces directly affects audit duration and cost. Complexity may involve:

Multiple interconnected ECUs and subsystems
Diverse software modules, services, and communication interfaces
High integration across vehicle domains
Multi-tier supplier dependencies
Advanced architectures or emerging technologies (e.g., OTA updates, ADAS, autonomous functions)

The more complex your ecosystem, the more extensive the required review of artifacts, processes, and technical evidence.

Tailored for Your Organization

To provide an accurate cost estimate, we analyze your business model, cybersecurity scope, development processes, and organizational setup.

Talk to us today!

We will prepare a customized proposal aligned with your role, risk profile, and system complexity.

What You Can Expect from DQS

Customer-Centric Excellence
Your needs shape our approach. Expect fast response times, transparent guidance, and efficient processes.
Empowering Professional Performance
We support your growth, market entry, and accelerated product launches by offering all essential certifications - including ISO 21434 - from one trusted source.
Thinking One Step Ahead
DQS helps you achieve compliance today and prepare for the industry expectations of tomorrow.
Global Presence, Local Insight
With operations in 60 countries, we deliver local regulatory expertise backed by global consistency.
Expertise You Can Trust
For over 40 years, DQS auditors have shaped the future of certification across industries.