In industrial sectors like mining, agriculture, logistics and utilities, vehicles today are part of connected fleets and no longer just standalone machines. Constantly transmitting data to support smarter operations, predictive maintenance and remote diagnostics. This shift to connected mobility is transforming how heavy industries manage uptime, safety and compliance.

Yet this digital shift brings new risks. As vehicles evolve into distributed computing platforms with edge devices, telematics and cloud-based analytics, cybersecurity is of utmost importance. Every connected vehicle, device and data flow becomes a potential target for cyber threats. As operational technology (OT) and information technology (IT) continue to converge, cybersecurity has become essential to keeping operations safe, compliant and running without interruption.

For industries that rely on connected vehicles, the consequences of a security breach go far beyond data loss. A single vulnerability can halt operations, put workers at risk, damage equipment or expose businesses to regulatory penalties.

The industrial cyber threat

Connected vehicle technology has made significant strides, enabling predictive maintenance, real-time diagnostics, route optimisation, remote software updates and emissions monitoring, all of which create immense operational value. But as industrial IoT adoption accelerates, so too does the cyber threat landscape.

Unlike consumer IoT environments, industrial devices often operate in remote, unmonitored and physically exposed conditions. This increases the potential for physical tampering, unauthorised access and malware injection via ports or firmware vulnerabilities.

Further, as these devices communicate with central servers, often via cellular or satellite networks, the opportunity for interception, spoofing or manipulation of data in transit is a growing concern. Add to that an increasingly complex web of global cybersecurity regulations, and the risks multiply. It’s clear for industrial organisations, IoT security is now mission critical.

Three persistent and evolving challenges continue to shape the cybersecurity landscape for connected vehicle operations. Firstly, device-level vulnerabilities remain a key concern. With many connected systems operating at the edge, in the field, often in remote or hard-to-monitor locations, attackers are increasingly targeting individual devices, where physical access is easier and security measures may be less robust.

Secondly, insecure data transmission poses a serious risk. Data moving across distributed networks without proper encryption or authentication is vulnerable to interception, manipulation, or unauthorised access. Finally, growing regulatory pressure is turning cybersecurity from a best-practice consideration into a legal obligation. Standards such as ISO/IEC 27001, UN ECE R155 and R156 and the Cyber Resilience Act in Europe are raising the bar on compliance and reshaping how manufacturers and operators must approach digital security.

ODOS’s cybersecurity philosophy

At ODOS, security is an engineering principle, not just a feature. Every product is designed from the ground up with cybersecurity at its core – from the first line of code to the final hardware casing. In this high-risk, high-performance context, ODOS has engineered a security-first architecture that is robust, transparent and ready for the evolving digital battlefield.  This architecture is evident in ODOS’ range of Cloud-native data loggers, with rugged, IP-rated enclosures designed for harsh industrial environments. But what truly sets the hardware apart is what lies beneath: a secure architecture meticulously engineered to eliminate weak points before they’re exploited.

Tackling device-level risk

The first line of defence lies within the device itself and ODOS takes a hardware-first approach to security. Each device incorporates Secure Boot processes, ensuring that only verified, authorised firmware can be executed when the system powers on. This prevents attackers from injecting malicious code through firmware manipulation. Critical configuration files are encrypted to protect the settings and operational parameters that dictate how the device functions, adding another layer of resilience. Additionally, ODOS disables USB, JTAG and Bluetooth ports by default, commonly exploited entry points in industrial environments, effectively closing off a major avenue for local, physical attacks.

Securing data in motion

Industrial operations rely heavily on the accuracy and integrity of telemetry data, from GPS location and battery performance to energy efficiency and fault codes. ODOS ensures this data remains secure through a robust proprietary communication protocol based on pre-shared keys (PSKs), which both authenticate the device and encrypt all transmissions between the field device and the ODOS cloud. This is supported by rigorous end-to-end encryption that protects data not only while in transit, but across every stage of its journey. Within the ODOS cloud environment, real-time monitoring and anomaly detection capabilities provide an additional layer of protection by identifying and responding immediately to suspicious activity or unauthorised access attempts.

Built for compliance

Security and compliance go hand in hand. ODOS has developed its infrastructure and governance in accordance with ISO/IEC 27006, which builds upon ISO 27001 and ensures that information security management is embedded across the organisation.

In addition, ODOS systems are fully aligned with the UN ECE R155 and R156 regulations, which mandate that connected vehicles meet stringent standards around cybersecurity and software updates. These frameworks are already being adopted in the EU and UK and are likely to become global norms. By designing for compliance today, ODOS clients can futureproof their operations against tomorrow’s regulatory demands.

Cybersecurity as a strategic differentiator

For many industrial firms, cybersecurity is still framed as a risk to be managed. But ODOS sees it as something more: a competitive advantage.

Secure systems enable faster compliance certification. They foster greater customer trust, and they create the conditions to scale with confidence, where manufacturers can deploy connected systems across global fleets without fear of fragmentation or regulatory failure.

By embedding security into its DNA, ODOS enables industrial operators to shift their focus, from reactive IT troubleshooting to proactive fleet-wide performance and growth.

Building digital trust into industrial mobility

At ODOS, cybersecurity is engineered into every layer, from encrypted CAN-to-cloud data pipelines and zero-trust network architectures to hardened edge devices designed for harsh environments. Our solutions safeguard operational integrity, ensure data confidentiality, and protect fleets against evolving cyber threats.

Whether it’s protecting firmware-over-the-air (FOTA) updates, securing remote diagnostics, or ensuring compliance with ISO 21434 and UN R155, ODOS empowers fleet operators and OEMs to innovate confidently, without compromising safety.

In connected operations, downtime is expensive. A breach is catastrophic. Cybersecurity is more than just protection, it’s operational insurance. In a connected fleet, every breach is a threat to uptime, trust and growth.

In the words of our CTO Joachim Englund: “Secure fleets scale faster. ODOS gives OEMs and industrial operators the confidence to innovate, without compromising security, compliance or uptime.”