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Functional Safety and Cybersecurity for embedded and safety-critical systems

4S Group supports companies, certification bodies and R&D teams in developing, assessing and improving safety-critical electronic systems, software and hardware.

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Functional safety
Cybersecurity
Safety-critical systems
Automotive
Regulatory compliance
Embedded systems
Hardware
ABOUT US

Engineering expertise, applied research and regulatory overview

Founded in 2008, 4S Group specialises in functional safety, cybersecurity, standards and regulations, with extensive experience in the automotive sector and advanced electronic applications.

The company has grown through specialist consultancy, research and development, participation in collaborative projects and ongoing engagement with the world of standardization.

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Our experience

Working in the automotive sector and on safety-critical applications since 2008.

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Functional Safety pioneers

Experience gained before the publication of ISO 26262.

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Research and standardisation

Expertise developed through research, standardisation and European projects.

Functional safety

Functional safety for electronic systems and safety-critical software and hardware

Since 2008, 4S Group has been working on the functional safety of electrical and electronic (E/E) systems, covering both software and hardware, from Hazard Analysis and Risk Assessment (HARA) to Hardware and software safety mechanisms, safety analyses (FMEA, FTA, FMEDA), and verification and validation through fault injection. Confirmation measures to demonstrate compliance: confirmation reviews, functional safety audits and functional safety assessments.This experience originated in the automotive sector, before the publication of ISO 26262, and the same methodological approach is applied to other sectors and their respective standards.
Automotive
ISO 26262 ISO 21448
Functional safety of electrical and electronic systems in road vehicles and Safety of the Intended Functionality (SOTIF), from concept to validation.
Agriculture and off-highway
ISO 25119

Agricultural and forestry machinery: safety performance levels and control systems.

How we work

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ANALYSIS AND PLANNING

Hazard analysis and risk assessment, safety goals and a functional safety plan.
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DEVELOPMENT AND VERIFICATION

Safety concepts, hardware and software requirements and architectures, failure analysis and verification.
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SAFETY CASE AND SAFETY MANUAL

Documented evidence and safety instructions for integrating and using the product.
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AUDITS AND ASSESSMENTS

Independent audits and assessments of processes and products, including on behalf of technical bodies.

Are you developing a system with functional safety requirements?

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Cybersecurity engineering

Cybersecurity engineering for connected and software-defined vehicles

We integrate cybersecurity into the development process, in alignment with functional safety.
We support OEMs, tier suppliers and technical bodies in applying ISO/SAE 21434 and UNECE Regulations R155 and R156.

Three standards and regulatory frameworks

ISO/SAE 21434

Tara Management system
Cybersecurity engineering throughout the vehicle lifecycle, from concept to decommissioning, including Threat Analysis and Risk Assessment (TARA).

UNECE R155 — CSMS

Type Approval Process Audit
Establishment and auditing of the Cybersecurity Management System required for type approval.

UNECE R156 — SUMS

OTA
Secure and traceable management of software updates, including over-the-air (OTA) updates.
HOW WE WORK

Our approach to cybersecurity engineering

A process aligned with the deliverables required by the standards and reusable across vehicle programmes.
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Threat Analysis & Risk Assessment
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Concept & product development
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Penetration testing
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Incident response
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Vulnerability management
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CSMS / SUMS audits

Would you like to assess the cybersecurity maturity of your development process?

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PROPRIETARY TOOLS

Hardware & Software Tools

Drawing on our expertise in functional safety, we have the know-how to design customized hardware and software tools, including fault injection systems, to address functional safety validation needs supporting designers and safety engineers.

Sectors

From automotive to emerging safety-critical fields

The expertise developed in the automotive sector is applicable to all sectors where failures, misinterpretations, autonomous systems or human-machine interactions can give rise to critical risks.
  • Automotive
  • Marine and boating
  • Construction equipment
  • Robotics and autonomous systems
  • Rail
  • Commercial vehicles and engines
  • Automotive
  • Construction equipment
  • Ferroviario
  • Navale e nautica
  • Robotica e sistemi autonomi
  • Veicoli commerciali e motori
4S Group Settori e ambiti automotive

Automotive

4S Group Settori e ambiti construction equipment

Construction equipment

4S Group Settori e ambiti ferroviario

Rail

4S Group Settori e ambiti navale e nautica

Marine and boating

4S Group Settori e ambiti Robotica e sistemi autonomi

Robotics and autonomous systems

4S Group Settori e ambiti veicoli commerciali e motori

Commercial vehicles and engines

    Beyond consultancy. Staying ahead of technology and regulation.

    4S Group goes beyond operational support, acting as a technical partner capable of bringing vision, methodology, and specialized expertise to the table.

    This approach is rooted in ongoing research and close attention to evolving standards and regulations, with the aim of anticipating market needs.

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    Thinking years ahead to anticipate market needs.
    RESEARCH AND PROJECTS

    Applied research to keep our expertise up to date

    Participation in Regional and European projects has enabled 4S Group to develop methods, tools and expertise in functional safety, architectures for autonomous and connected vehicles, hybrid systems, cybersecurity and electric mobility.

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    Who we work with

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    COMPANIES

    OEMs, Tier, automotive, industrial and technology companies.

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    BODIES AND INSTITUTIONS

    Certification bodies, technical organization, funded projects and regulatory frameworks.

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    TECHNICAL TALENT

    Engineers, students, thesis students and professionals interested in functional safety, cybersecurity and R&D.

    Careers

    Build your expertise where safety, research and innovation meet

    4S Group welcomes contact from engineers, early-career professionals, students and researchers interested in functional safety, cybersecurity, electronic systems, safety-critical software and technologies for the future of mobility.

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    CONTACT US
    Do you have a safety-critical project to develop, assess or bring into compliance?

    Talk to 4S Group: we will help you identify risks, requirements, processes and solutions to address technical and regulatory complexity.