Hello, you are using an old browser that's unsafe and no longer supported. Please consider updating your browser to a newer version, or downloading a modern browser.

Global Accelerated Learning • Est. 1999
Glossary Term CAN Bus

Training Camp • Cybersecurity Glossary

What is CAN Bus?

The Controller Area Network CAN bus links vehicle and industrial ECUs over ISO 11898; lacking native authentication, it is a key automotive and OT security focus.

Glossary > OT, ICS & IoT Security > CAN Bus

Understanding CAN Bus

The Controller Area Network (CAN) bus is a robust serial communication standard, originally developed by Bosch and standardized as ISO 11898, that lets microcontrollers and electronic control units in vehicles and industrial machinery exchange messages without a host computer. Its design prioritizes reliability and real-time performance but lacks built-in authentication and encryption, so any node on the bus can read or inject broadcast frames. This makes CAN bus security a key concern in automotive and OT environments, addressed through gateways, segmentation, intrusion detection, and message authentication overlays.

Learn More About CAN Bus:

Ready to Get Certified?

Turn knowledge into credentials with our instructor-led cybersecurity boot camps.

View All Courses →