Modern industries that rely on embedded systems are increasingly subject to cybersecurity standards and regulations. Using Metalware can help organizations meet and demonstrate compliance with these rigorous standards by providing evidence of thorough firmware testing and risk mitigation. Below we outline how Metalware aligns with key industry standards across different sectors:
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Automotive (ISO/SAE 21434 & UNECE WP.29)
The automotive industry has new cybersecurity requirements both from standards (ISO/SAE 21434 for road vehicle cybersecurity engineering) and regulations (UNECE WP.29 mandates cybersecurity management for vehicle homologation). Metalware assists automotive manufacturers and suppliers in addressing these by automatically performing vulnerability testing on in-vehicle firmware (ECUs, etc.) and generating detailed, traceable test reports. These reports map discovered issues to specific requirements in ISO 21434, streamlining the audit and certification process.
In practice, that means if ISO 21434 requires verification of robustness against fuzzing or input attacks, Metalware’s report will provide the evidence. For WP.29, which requires demonstrating that reasonable risks are addressed, Metalware provides the “robust testing evidence” regulators expect.
By integrating Metalware, automotive firms can proactively find and fix firmware issues that might compromise safety (e.g., braking or steering ECU vulnerabilities) before vehicles hit the road. This not only helps avoid costly non-compliance penalties, but also prevents recalls due to firmware bugs. In essence, Metalware enables a shift-left security approach in automotive, satisfying the “vulnerability analysis and testing” clauses of ISO 21434 in a repeatable, automated way.
Medical Devices (FDA Cybersecurity Guidance & IEC 62304)
Medical devices are regulated to ensure they are safe and effective, which now explicitly includes cybersecurity safety. The FDA’s premarket cybersecurity guidance (and upcoming SECURE premarket requirements) urge manufacturers to perform robust testing like fuzzing on device software.
IEC 62304 is a standard for medical device software lifecycle processes that requires risk management and testing commensurate with risk. Metalware helps meet these by performing rigorous fuzz testing of medical device firmware (for devices such as infusion pumps, pacemakers, diagnostic machines) to uncover vulnerabilities that could affect patient safety. It produces comprehensive test reports aligned with FDA and IEC 62304 documentation requirements, which can be used in regulatory submissions. Those reports are traceable artifacts showing test cases, results, and identified issues, which greatly simplify audits or FDA review meetings.
By integrating Metalware into the development of medical device firmware, manufacturers can demonstrate due diligence in cybersecurity – a factor the FDA now considers in approval decisions. Metalware effectively provides an automated way to comply with the “verification of security controls” and “ongoing testing” expectations of regulators. Ultimately this ensures that by the time a device goes to market, its firmware has been vetted against memory corruptions or failures that could cause malfunctions, thus protecting patients. The use of Metalware can also support a manufacturer’s IEC 62304 risk management file by providing objective evidence of testing to mitigate software risks.
Aerospace/Defense & Aviation (DO-326A/ED-202A & NIST 800-53)
In aerospace and defense, there are extremely stringent requirements for software assurance due to the high stakes (mission- and life-critical systems). DO-326A (and ED-202A in Europe) provides guidelines for airworthiness security – essentially cybersecurity certification of aircraft systems.
NIST SP 800-53 is a broader set of security controls often required in U.S. defense contracts (with controls for secure software development and vulnerability testing). Metalware supports compliance here by enabling continuous, thorough testing of firmware in avionics, satellites, military communication devices, etc. It generates detailed test reports mapped to DO-326A requirements, simplifying the evidence needed for certification of airborne systems. For example, DO-326A requires verifying that no anomalous behaviors can be induced in the software – Metalware’s fuzzing of flight control firmware provides a documented assurance that the code was subjected to exhaustive random testing and no exploitable fault was found. These artifacts give confidence to regulators (like the FAA or military authorities) that the system is robust.
Furthermore, Metalware is designed to work in isolated, offline environments, which is important for defense use (where systems may be classified or not cloud-connected). This supports compliance with emerging military cybersecurity mandates that often disallow sending sensitive firmware to external cloud services. In terms of NIST 800-53, Metalware helps fulfill controls such as RA-5 (Vulnerability Monitoring and Scanning) by acting as an automated vulnerability scanner for firmware, and SI-2/3 (Flaw Remediation) by facilitating discovery and remediation of flaws during development. Essentially, it brings a level of rigor and traceability to firmware testing that aligns with the meticulous process requirements of aerospace and defense standards.
Telecom (FCC Regulations & ETSI Network Security Standards)
Telecom equipment (routers, switches, base stations, etc.) falls under regulatory oversight for network security and reliability. In the US, the FCC has started focusing on network device security (for example, requiring carriers to ensure the integrity of network gear to prevent collapses or eavesdropping). In the EU, ETSI standards like ETSI EN 303 645 for IoT security and other telecom-specific security specs call for testing against robust criteria.
Metalware aids compliance by aligning its testing reports with those regulatory expectations. It produces reports that match the mandates of FCC, ETSI, and other global telecom agencies, which simplifies proving compliance during audits. For instance, ETSI guidelines suggest fuzz testing of network protocol implementations; Metalware can directly provide evidence of such fuzz tests on a router’s firmware (showing no crashes under malformed packets, etc.). In operational terms, telecom operators can integrate Metalware into their network equipment qualification process to ensure every firmware update is fuzz-tested. This provides continuous security testing, as encouraged by many regulators.
Additionally, by detecting vulnerabilities before deployment, Metalware helps avoid breaches or outages that could violate telecom service continuity requirements. The continuous testing and documentation also feed into operators’ risk management and compliance tracking, demonstrating a proactive stance to regulators. In summary, Metalware helps telecom companies maintain secure network operations and meet legal obligations by systematically hardening the firmware that underpins critical communication infrastructure.
Consumer Electronics & IoT (California IoT Security Law & EU Cybersecurity Act/CRA)
Consumer IoT devices are now subject to security requirements as well. California’s IoT Security Law, for example, requires “reasonable security features” in any IoT device sold – which implicitly includes testing for known vulnerabilities. The EU Cybersecurity Act is establishing certification schemes (such as the upcoming EU Cyber Resilience Act) that will likely mandate vulnerability assessments for IoT products.
Metalware helps IoT manufacturers get ahead of these regulations by providing an automated security validation for device firmware. It can be part of the “reasonable security measures” by ensuring firmware is not easily exploitable. As new standards like the U.S. Cyber Trust Mark labeling scheme emerge, which will require demonstrating that devices underwent robust testing, Metalware’s results can serve as that proof.
Moreover, the EU’s regulations will require documentation of cybersecurity due diligence – Metalware’s traceable reports show that a product was fuzz-tested against a wide range of inputs, satisfying that due diligence. For example, an IoT camera manufacturer can use Metalware to fuzz test the camera’s firmware (network stack, OTA update mechanism, etc.), and include the results in a compliance folder to claim the device is secure by design.
By catching issues early, Metalware also protects consumer data and privacy, which is the core goal of these laws. In essence, it enables IoT developers to embed security testing into their SDLC, thereby meeting legal requirements and also using security as a quality differentiator (since consumers and regulators alike can see the device was thoroughly tested). Metalware keeps manufacturers ahead of emerging rules: as stricter IoT security standards come into force, the platform ensures you already have comprehensive test reports to demonstrate compliance.
Industrial Controls (IEC 62443 & NERC CIP)
Industrial control systems (ICS) and critical infrastructure (energy, utilities) face standards like IEC 62443 (for control system security) and NERC CIP (for electrical grid cybersecurity). These standards mandate rigorous vulnerability management for all software, including firmware in PLCs, RTUs, and other controllers.
Metalware directly supports these requirements. It produces detailed test reports aligned with IEC 62443-4-1/4-2 (which require secure development lifecycle and component technical security requirements). Implementing Metalware in the development of an ICS device provides evidence that the firmware was fuzz-tested for robustness (covering requirements for vulnerability testing in IEC 62443). This can be a competitive advantage when undergoing certification for IEC 62443 compliance. For NERC CIP (e.g., CIP-010 requires vulnerability assessments of cyber assets), Metalware can be used by electric utilities to regularly test firmware updates of substation devices or turbine controllers.
Metalware offers continuous automated testing and documentation that helps fulfill CIP requirements for annual or ongoing vulnerability evaluation. By running Metalware, an ICS operator can generate a report showing each critical device’s firmware has been tested against thousands of fault scenarios, and no exploitable condition was found (or any found were mitigated). This not only reduces the risk of downtime due to cyber incidents but also provides auditors with tangible proof of compliance.
Additionally, because Metalware can integrate into maintenance workflows, even firmware updates pushed to industrial devices (including OTA updates) are fuzz-tested before deployment, ensuring security is maintained throughout the system lifecycle, as required by standards. In short, for industrial contexts, Metalware is a powerful tool to operationalize the security and testing practices demanded by IEC 62443 and NERC CIP, thereby safeguarding critical infrastructure and avoiding regulatory penalties.