PKI in Railway Operations
In modern railway operations, safety-critical systems such as trains, track infrastructure and control centers must communicate with each other reliably, tamper-proof and in real time.
We develop PKI solutions designed precisely for this purpose: to ensure secure communication links using trusted digital identities.
From Specification and implementation to Audit Preparation, we design robust and scalable PKI systems for vehicle communication, control and safety technology, and operational IT systems.
Use Case: Secure Communication in Railway Operations
Core Services:
For a leading European rail infrastructure operator, we have designed and implemented a public key infrastructure that ensures the confidentiality and authenticity of communication links between on-board units (OBUs), radio block centers (RBCs) and the responsible key management center.
The challenge was to create scalable systems that meet both the high safety requirements of rail operations and the regulatory standards under the European Train Control System (ETCS).
TLS-based authentication mutually verifies the endpoints of the train control system – each vehicle module and each route RBC has its own PKI-based identity. Certificate Lifecycle Management (CLM) manages the entire lifecycle of certificates – from secure issuance and automated renewal to the revocation of compromised keys. This led, among other things, to the basis for the use of automatic train operation (ATO) has been laid.
- Development of a scalable PKI architecture for safety-critical communication systems
- Definition of certificate profiles and processes according to ETCS specifications
- Integration into existing network and key management systems
- Automated provision and renewal of certificates via CMP
- Creation of policy and operational documents (e.g. CP, CPS, Monitoring, Emergency Plan)
The Result:
A highly available, auditable and future-proof PKI solution that ensures secure train-to-track communication and meets regulatory requirements in the field of critical OT infrastructures.