TISAX ISA v6 — Trusted Information Security Assessment Exchange

Overview

TISAX ISA v6 —Trusted Information Security Assessment Exchange is an informationsecurity assessment framework that supports organizations inevaluating and demonstrating cybersecurity, data protection, andcompliance within the automotive industry. The framework establishesconsistent criteria for assessing the maturity and effectiveness ofsecurity controls across supply chains.

Developed andmaintained by the ENX Association, TISAX is tailored to the needs ofautomotive manufacturers, suppliers, and service providers worldwide.It covers key domains such as information security management, riskassessment, data privacy, and third-party supplier oversight,ensuring alignment with requirements often found in ISO/IEC 27001 andother recognized standards.

Organizationsintegrate TISAX assessments into their risk management and complianceprograms by self-assessing or engaging accredited auditors,addressing identified gaps, and sharing assessment results withtrusted partners. This approach enables systematic evaluation ofinternal controls, strengthens cybersecurity posture, and supportsindustry-specific regulatory obligations in the automotive ecosystem.

Why it Matters

TISAX ISA v6enables organizations in the automotive sector to systematicallyassess and safeguard information security and data protectionrequirements across their supply chain.

Key benefitsinclude:

•  Strengthen cybersecurity governance

Establish clearcriteria and accountability to ensure effective information securitymanagement throughout the automotive value chain.

•  Enhance regulatory alignment

Facilitateconsistent compliance with data protection laws and industrystandards, streamlining regulatory reporting and certificationprocesses.

•  Improve supplier risk oversight

Enablecomprehensive due diligence and continuous monitoring of third-partypartners to reduce cybersecurity and privacy risks.

•  Increase audit transparency

Alloworganizations to reliably demonstrate control effectiveness and shareassessment results with trusted partners, reducing redundant audits.

•  Promote operational resilience

Support ongoingrisk assessments and remediation activities to help maintain businesscontinuity in the face of evolving security threats.

How it Works

The TISAX ISA v6framework structures automotive information security around the VDAISA control catalog, organized into domains such as asset management,access control, cryptography, and supplier security. It establishesassessment scopes and security-level requirements, ties controls torisk management processes, and defines assessment outcomes andlabeling workflows managed by accredited assessment providers.

Organizationsapply TISAX by scoping assessments, mapping ISA controls to existinggovernance and compliance programs, and implementing securitycontrols and monitoring to achieve required security levels. Teamsperform risk assessments, collect evidence for auditors, operatecontinuous monitoring and incident response, and remediate identifiedgaps to maintain certification and demonstrate mature securitypractices to partners.

WithinSmartSuite, teams operationalize TISAX ISA v6 using control librariesmapped to the ISA catalog, a centralized risk register, and policygovernance modules. Evidence collection and compliance tracking feedremediation workflows and audit readiness checklists, while reportingdashboards deliver monitoring, status visibility, and consolidatedaudit reports.

Key Elements

•  Information Security Management System

Establishes thefoundational policies, processes, and organizational structures forsystematic information security governance.

•  Risk Assessment and Treatment

Describesstructured methods for identifying, evaluating, and addressing risksto information and business assets.

•  Data Protection and Privacy Controls

Defines specificrequirements for safeguarding personal data and ensuring compliancewith data privacy regulations.

•  Supplier and Third-Party Security

Specifiescriteria for assessing and overseeing the information securityposture of external partners and service providers.

•  Asset and Access Management

Outlinesmechanisms for managing information assets and controlling accessbased on business needs and roles.

•  Security Incident Handling

Organizesprocedures for reporting, managing, and resolving security incidentswithin the organization.

•  Continuous Improvement Processes

Provides aframework for monitoring, reviewing, and enhancing security controlsto achieve ongoing effectiveness.

Framework Scope

TISAX ISA v6 isused by automotive manufacturers, suppliers, and service providersresponsible for safeguarding information assets and personal datawithin multi-tiered supply chains and enterprise IT environments.Organizations typically integrate TISAX when addressing suppliersecurity requirements or industry mandates, supporting assuranceprograms and continuous improvement in information securitymanagement and compliance oversight.

Framework Objectives

TISAX ISA v6provides a standardized framework for assessing cybersecurity, dataprotection, and compliance in the automotive industry.

•  Strengthen risk management and oversight for informationsecurity controls

•  Enhance cybersecurity posture throughout automotive supplychains

•  Ensure compliance with data protection and regulatoryrequirements

•  Promote robust governance for third-party and supplierrelationships

•  Improve readiness for audits and industry-specific securityassessments

•  Safeguard sensitive information and maintain operationalresilience TISAX (ISA v6) aligns automotive-specific informationsecurity requirements with ISO/IEC 27001 and maps to automotivecybersecurity standards such as ISO/SAE 21434 and UNECE WP.29 R155.Organizations implement TISAX for supplier certification,demonstrating security to OEMs, meeting regulatory obligations, andimproving governance and operational security across automotivesupply chains.

Common Framework Mappings

These frameworksare commonly mapped to TISAX to align assessment controls withinternational standards, automotive-specific cybersecurity, andnational best practices for comprehensive compliance and riskmanagement.

Mappedframeworks include:

CIS CriticalSecurity Controls

ISO/IEC 27001

ISO/IEC 27002

ISO/IEC 27701

ISO/SAE 21434

NISTCybersecurity Framework

NIST SP 800-53

UNECE WP.29 R155