LG Uplus has obtained Management Level 3 (ML3) certification for a cybersecurity management system (CSMS) based on the international automotive cybersecurity standard ISO/SAE 21434, becoming the first South Korean telecoms company to do so.

LG Uplus said on Nov. 10 it held a certificate award ceremony with global testing and certification body TUV Rheinland on Nov. 9 at its Yongsan office in Seoul. The certification is valid for 3 years.

ISO/SAE 21434 is an international standard for managing cybersecurity risks that may arise across a vehicle's life cycle, from planning and development to operation and maintenance. ML3 assesses not only whether a security management system is in place but also whether it is consistently applied to actual vehicle software development projects.

LG Uplus built a cybersecurity management system based on ISO/SAE 21434 last year and secured ML2 level. It then advanced the security framework in the vehicle infotainment (IVI) software development process and applied it to IVI service development projects for global automakers to obtain ML3 certification.

The certification comes as the importance of vehicle cybersecurity rises with the spread of software-defined vehicles (SDVs) and connected cars. LG Uplus is currently pursuing vehicle infotainment software development and operations projects for global automaker brands including Toyota, Lexus and Mercedes-Benz.

LG Uplus will apply the certified management system sequentially to new vehicle software projects. It also plans to foster cybersecurity specialists and further advance an AI-based vehicle security monitoring and response system.

Sung-yul Park (박성율), executive vice president and head of LG Uplus' Enterprise Business Innovation Group, said, "This certification is meaningful in that we have established a cybersecurity management system that meets international standards from vehicle software development through operations, and our ability to execute actual projects has been recognised." He added, "We will expand cooperation with global automakers and continue to strengthen competitiveness in our vehicle software business."