A Non-Negotiable: TISAX for Automotive Industry Suppliers

Competition. In the world of automotive manufacturing, it's fierce. This means that before you even think of a partnership with Germany's automotive industry giants, a TISAX Certification is a mandatory benchmark you must obtain.

Many businesses wait until a TISAX certification is requested within the partnership application process, but in this dynamic industry, you risk missing it entirely.

In this blog, we will outline the need to move beyond mere documentation and instead utilise the TISAX label to showcase genuine operational security maturity.

Featured in this article:

Is TISAX Your Next Non-Negotiable? Understanding the Standard.

Who Needs a TISAX Label and Why Does It Matter?

Why TISAX Isn't Optional: The Supplier's Imperative.

The Path to TISAX Compliance: Your Journey to Security Maturity.

How TMW Resilience Can Support Your TISAX Journey.

Final Thoughts: Compliance as a Competitive Differentiator

Is TISAX Your Next Non-Negotiable? Understanding the Standard.

The Trusted Information Security Assessment Exchange (TISAX) is a security framework developed by the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA), based on the VDA Information Security Assessment (ISA). It aims to ensure consistency and aid mutual recognition of the information security assessment across the automotive supply chain.

Overall, it was designed with the primary goal of ensuring that automotive suppliers, manufacturers, and service providers who handle confidential data (such as prototypes) meet these uniformly agreed-upon security standards. This shared model is trusted by leading automotive companies like BMW, Audi, VW and Mercedes-Benz, meaning the necessity for this label is only going to increase.

To ensure your IT security aligns with the level of data sensitivity your business handles, you should explore the three levels of TISAX assessment - each level builds upon the last.

Who Needs a TISAX Label and Why Does It Matter?

TISAX for the Automotive Industry:

It's easy to think of the Tier 1 suppliers that are directly connected to vehicle assembly lines, but in reality, the list is far more expansive. TISAX compliance is essential for any company handling sensitive data within the automotive industry, as it ensures compliance with industry requirements and verifies trust and data security.

A number of different businesses, beyond tier 1, in the automotive supply chain require the TISAX label, including:

1. Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs):

   OEMs, like BMW, use TISAX to ensure consistent standards for their internal processes, setting a standard for their partners. This is a top-down requirement for handling sensitive data, such as vehicle designs.

   
   

2. Tier 1 & Tier 2 Suppliers:

   Both direct and indirect suppliers of vehicle production, providing all sorts of complex components, must demonstrate TISAX compliance to ensure trust through secure data exchange. This ensures protection of intellectual property.

   
   

3. Engineering and R&D Firms:

   From designing prototypes to developing advanced automotive technologies, TISAX is essential in the process of securing innovative contributions to maintain the confidentiality of future product developments.

   
   

4. IT and Data Processing Providers:

   Increasingly connected cars and autonomous driving mean that businesses managing cloud services are responsible for vast amounts of vehicle data. Due to the critical responsibility of processing this data and offering complex cybersecurity solutions, these businesses need TISAX to guarantee secure and compliant handling of this information.

   
   

5. Logistics and Warehouse Providers:

   The movement and storage of automotive goods involve constant exchanges of sensitive logistics data. The TISAX label comes into play by ensuring the operational details are protected against data breaches, avoiding disruptions in global supply chains, and improving business continuity management.

   
   

6. Marketing Agencies Handling Automotive Data:

   By handling sensitive data, including product launches and customer data, they will need to demonstrate TISAX compliance to protect pre-release information and customer privacy (vital for successful market introductions).

   
   

7. Consulting Firms Handling Automotive Data:

   Any service that requires access to an OEM's confidential business data (market research, legal advice), a TISAX label proves your business's capability to protect sensitive strategic and operational information.

   
   

8. Firms handling OEM Personally Identifiable Information (PII) data:

   For consulting firms that access or process Personally Identifiable Information (PII) originating from OEMs (e.g., driver behaviour analytics), TISAX demonstrates your adherence to stringent data privacy and security standards, building trust and ensuring compliance with privacy regulations like GDPR.

   
   

9. High-Risk OEM data:

   If your firm engages with exceptionally high-risk OEM data, such as pre-production vehicle specifications, unreleased model roadmaps, or highly sensitive financial forecasts, a TISAX label, particularly at higher assessment levels, is essential. It provides verifiable assurance that your information security controls are robust enough to protect the most critical and potentially damaging information from breaches.

   
   

Why TISAX Isn't Optional: The Supplier's Imperative.

In order to address specific information security challenges, TISAX was created to streamline the process of security maturity. In the automotive industry, collaboration and secure partnerships are crucial, so the alignment of IT security practices is essential when data sharing is heavily relied on.

Beyond the label, TISAX demonstrates trust and maturity within an organisation: vital signals to show your business is ready to partner with an OEM.

Why Supply Chain Security At All Levels Matters More Than Ever

While OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers) typically invest heavily in securing their own infrastructure, the sheer scale and complexity of their supply chains introduce significant vulnerabilities. Modern automotive production is a deeply interconnected ecosystem, meaning that even a single weak link, such as a Tier 2 supplier, can present a backdoor for threat actors.

This is where frameworks like TISAX (Trusted Information Security Assessment Exchange) become critical.

By standardising information security requirements across the entire value chain, TISAX helps OEMs ensure that their security posture isn't compromised by suppliers operating with lower standards. In effect, it prevents attackers from bypassing front-line OEM defences and gaining access through less protected partners deeper in the supply chain.

Benefits from following TISAX requirements also include:

The Path to TISAX Compliance: Your Journey to Security Maturity.

TISAX isn’t just a certification - it’s a signal of organisational maturity.

For businesses operating in the automotive value chain, TISAX compliance is a clear demonstration that you’re not merely aiming to improve information security; you’re actively embedding it into your operations. It shifts the conversation from intention to action, validating the systems you’ve put in place to protect sensitive information.

At its core, TISAX requires the development and maintenance of a robust Information Security Management System (ISMS). This is not a one-off exercise - it’s a strategic, ongoing commitment to managing information risk.

Tailored specifically to the automotive industry and based on ISO 27001, the TISAX framework addresses sector-specific concerns, such as prototype protection and controlled data exchange, while encouraging scalable, risk-based implementation across Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 suppliers alike.

In a highly connected supply chain, your level of security maturity doesn’t exist in isolation. TISAX helps ensure that your posture supports - not undermines - the integrity of the entire ecosystem.

The Path to TISAX Compliance

To achieve a TISAX label, timelines vary depending on the complexity of your operations, the selected assessment level and your organisation's current readiness; it takes approximately 3-6 months.

The process involves five typical steps:

1. Self-assessment (ISA Catalogue)

2. Gap analysis and action plan

3. Implementation and cultural enablement

4. Audit and ENX association coordination

5. Certification and readiness for future renewal

   
   

Planning ahead of time when TISAX is required for your organisation by conducting a pre-assessment can help reduce costs and shorten the timeline.

Building Towards TISAX: A Maturity-Driven Journey

Achieving a TISAX label is not just a compliance milestone - it’s a strategic step in maturing your organisation’s information security posture.

While timelines can vary based on operational complexity, assessment level, and current readiness, most organisations can expect the journey to take between three to six months. But beyond ticking boxes, the process is about building systems and behaviours that scale with evolving threats.

The typical path includes five core stages:

1. Self-Assessment (ISA Catalogue)

   Benchmark your current controls and practices against industry standards.

2. Gap Analysis & Action Planning

   Identify priority areas for improvement and define a clear remediation roadmap.

3. Implementation & Cultural Enablement

   Embed changes across technology, process, and people - transforming intent into capability.

4. Audit & ENX Coordination

   Engage an accredited auditor and coordinate outcomes with the TISAX governing body (ENX).

5. Certification & Continuous Readiness

   Achieve your TISAX label and establish systems for future renewals and ongoing maturity.

   
   

Proactively conducting a pre-assessment before TISAX becomes a contractual requirement can accelerate your timeline, reduce friction, and lower long-term costs, turning compliance into a competitive advantage.

How TMW Resilience Can Support Your TISAX Journey.

Navigating the complexities of TISAX compliance can seem daunting, especially when faced with the dual pressures of maintaining operational excellence and securing vital OEM partnerships. However, this critical step doesn't have to be a burden. At TMW Resilience, achieving TISAX security maturity is not just about ticking boxes, but about strategically enhancing your entire information security posture, positioning your business for sustained success in the demanding automotive supply chain. We are here to transform this challenge into a manageable and ultimately rewarding journey.

As your dedicated and experienced strategic partner, TMW Resilience will become your trusted advisor, making the journey to achieving a TISAX label structured, efficient, and genuinely manageable. We understand the nuances of the automotive sector and the specific demands of the TISAX framework, allowing us to guide you with precision and expertise.

We will implement our proven approach to security success by following these three crucial steps:

Discover:

First, we will conduct a thorough and insightful assessment of your current information security posture. This vital initial step allows us to uncover your existing strengths and precisely identify any gaps against the rigorous TISAX requirements. Based on this comprehensive understanding, we will then customise a precise plan, specifically tailored to your unique operational goals and security needs.

Build:

With a clear roadmap in hand, we will work alongside your team as true collaborators. Our experts will guide you through the process of developing and implementing all necessary TISAX requirements. We pride ourselves on embedding these TISAX-aligned processes seamlessly within your existing systems, ensuring minimal disruption. This integrated approach allows us to streamline your practices, solidify your information security policies, implement robust controls, and meticulously develop all essential documentation.

Sustain:

Achieving your TISAX label is a significant milestone, but maintaining security maturity is an ongoing commitment. Through practical, engaging training, we ensure your team is not just audit-ready, but genuinely security-aware. Even after certification, TMW Resilience remains a dedicated partner, providing continuous support for monitoring compliance, adapting to evolving threats, and proactively responding to changes in TISAX requirements. We help you embed a culture of security that ensures your hard-won TISAX status remains a consistent asset for your business.

Choosing the right partner for your TISAX journey is as critical as the certification itself. With TMW Resilience, you gain more than just a service provider; you gain a strategic ally committed to securing your current operations and expanding your future opportunities within the global automotive industry. Let us help you confidently navigate the path to TISAX compliance and solidify your position as a trusted leader in the automotive supply chain.

Final Thoughts: Compliance as a Competitive Differentiator

In a competitive and highly regulated automotive sector, information security is no longer a back-office function - it’s a frontline differentiator.

Investing in TISAX compliance is more than a contractual obligation; it’s a strategic signal of your readiness to operate at the highest tier of supply chain integrity. For German OEMs and their global networks, a TISAX label is a trusted shorthand that tells partners that your organisation is secure, resilient, and committed to continuous improvement.

With the right guidance, achieving TISAX becomes not just attainable but advantageous, positioning your business as a reliable, future-ready partner in an increasingly interconnected ecosystem.

What is a TISAX label?

The Trusted Information Security Assessment Exchange (see above for a more detailed description).

How much does it cost to obtain?

The total cost depends on how mature your security systems are at the start and how much work is needed to fill in the gaps to meet TISAX requirements; it varies between £10,000 (for a well-mature organisation) and 200,000 (for a less mature organisation).

How long will it take?

The entire process, from initial preparation to final label issuance, typically takes between 3 and 9 months, depending on your current security maturity and the scope of the assessment.

Is it mandatory in the UK?

Not currently required by UK regulators, but if you serve German OEMs or are part of their global supply chains, TISAX is likely to be requested or contractually required.

If you're unsure whether TISAX will affect your organisation, visit our TISAX Compliance Support Hub.