Research for IT security solutions in the railway market

IT developments and the increasing use of digital technologies have changed the way train operators work. In order to remain competitive and meet customer expectations, they must turn to the latest innovations. As a result of this digitalisation and the networking of control and security technology, however, the risk of IT attacks increases, new security solutions are needed. 

Since mid-2018, MEN has been part of the HASELNUSS consortium (hardware-based security platform for railway control and security technology), driven by DB Netz AG, the Fraunhofer Institute, Sysgo and TU-Darmstadt. Due to its experience with innovative, reliable and safety-critical hardware solutions in the transport sector, MEN is at the disposal of the research team in an advisory capacity in order to bring together the topic areas ‘Safety’ and ‘Security’ in the IT infrastructure and has already supplied the first hardware for tests. 

Dr Christoph Krauß of the Fraunhofer Institute for Secure Information Technology SIT in Darmstadt, explained: "The aim of this research project is to develop a hardware-based security platform for control and security technology that is adapted to the special requirements of the railways and provides the necessary IT security functions without influencing functional security. The platform offers measures to ensure system integrity and forms the basis for secure networking of the railway infrastructure.”