During a keynote address at the North American International Automotive Show (NAIAS), BlackBerry Limited Executive Chairman and CEO, John Chen, unveiled a “transformational software cybersecurity product” called BlackBerry Jarvis, which is built on BlackBerry’s decades of cybersecurity expertise and proprietary technology.

BlackBerry Jarvis has many potential uses; chief among them, in connected and autonomous vehicles.

Described as a “one-of-its-kind cloud-based static binary code scanning solution that identifies vulnerabilities in software used in automobiles,” Jarvis, in just minutes, scans and delivers deep actionable insights. If done manually, the scanning process would take large numbers of experts and an “impractical amount of time,” according to BlackBerry.

“Connected and autonomous vehicles require some of the most complex software ever developed, creating a significant challenge for automakers who must ensure the code complies with industry and manufacturer-specific standards while simultaneously battle-hardening a very large and tempting attack surface for cybercriminals,” Chen explains.

​The challenge for OEMs is further complicated because vehicles use hundreds of software components, a lot of which are written by an extensive network of third party suppliers spread across several tiers. BlackBerry says that while this distributed supply chain offers a lot of advantages, there are also more opportunities for human error that can slow down production cycles and impact overall quality. This is why Jarvis is so impactful, Chen says.

“Jarvis is a game-changer for OEMs because for the first time they have a complete, consistent, and near real-time view into the security posture of a vehicle's entire code base along with the insights and deep learning needed to predict and fix vulnerabilities, ensure compliance, and remain a step ahead of bad actors.”

Jarvis is offered on a pay-as-you-go usage basis, and is customized for an OEM’s unique needs, as well as their entire software supply chain.

Once Jarvis is initiated, automakers will have online access to it, and they can scan a variety of binary files at every stage of software development, which includes the capability to evaluate new software under consideration, as well as the ability to assess existing software already in production.

Once scanned, development teams have immediate access to the results through user-friendly dashboards with specific cautions and advisories.

BlackBerry Jarvis not only helps save cost and time, but it also makes sure that production software adheres to industry standards such as MISRA and CERT. It also allows OEMs to define custom rules to meet organization-specific objectives.

Blackberry Jarvis is initially being marketed to automakers, but BlackBerry says that Jarvis can be used in other industry segments as well.

Healthcare, industrial automation, aerospace, and defense are just some of the fields that have an immediate need for Jarvis, BlackBerry says.