The National Automotive Service Task Force (NASTF) continues to serve as the long-established industry standard and foundational benchmark for secure, validated access to security-related vehicle service information and functions, operating as a collaborative framework between original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and the independent aftermarket to support safe, legitimate vehicle repair.

Established in 2000 by automakers and the independent aftermarket, NASTF was created to identify and resolve gaps in service information, tool access, and training across the automotive service industry. Today, the organization serves more than 56,000 members. Introduced in 2007, NASTF’s Secure Data Release Model (SDRM) represents a long-established, structured approach to security-related access control, providing a multi-layered verification framework that governs access to sensitive vehicle functions.

Since the launch of SDRM 2 in 2018, NASTF has introduced more than 50 new programs and features to expand access for legitimate Vehicle Security Professionals (VSPs), while implementing hundreds of security enhancements in response to evolving technical requirements and emerging criminal threats.

SDRM validates and monitors both the equipment being used and the professional operating it, ensuring access is granted only to vetted professionals who meet strict requirements, including verified identity, business legitimacy, professional standing, and authorized need for access.

The framework also incorporates ongoing transaction monitoring to identify unusual behavior, enabling NASTF to engage Vehicle Security Professionals directly when compliance review is required. Supported by internal expertise spanning law enforcement and cybersecurity, SDRM continues to evolve alongside modern vehicle technology, providing OEMs and repair facilities with confidence that sensitive vehicle functions remain accessible only to authorized professionals.

“Our role has always been to ensure that secure access to vehicle systems is both controlled and consistent across the industry,” said Donny Seyfer, Executive Director of NASTF. “What sets NASTF apart is our ability to bring automakers, tool providers, and service professionals together under a single framework that protects vehicle security while enabling legitimate repair.”

As outlined in NASTF’s recent response to evolving vehicle theft threats involving electronic programming tools, the need for structured, validated access systems continues to drive broader industry adoption of SDRM.

This adoption continues to accelerate across the aftermarket tool and diagnostics sector as manufacturers increasingly align with structured verification systems for security-related functions. 

Launch Tech USA was the first to adopt and remains a supporter of SDRM integration, with additional manufacturers following suit in recent weeks.

Contributing to that momentum, XTool recently completed implementation of SDRM across its scan tool platforms. On June 24, TOPDON USA announced support for SDRM across its UltraDiag and T-Ninja Pro platforms, with plans to expand integration to additional diagnostic tools, including the ONE Plus and TopScan Pro.

Most recently, on July 1, Autel announced the phased integration of SDRM validation protocols into its key and immobilizer programming tools, beginning with the KM100 platform in Q3 2026 and expanding to additional products in future phases.

Collectively, these developments reflect growing industry recognition that standardized, credential-based access controls are essential to protecting vehicle security while enabling legitimate repair professionals to perform critical security-related functions. For repair facilities, these safeguards also reinforce customer confidence by helping ensure security-related vehicle services are performed only by properly vetted professionals. As vehicle technology continues to evolve, that trust becomes increasingly important to both businesses and the customers they serve.

“Vehicle theft is a complex and evolving issue that requires cooperation across the entire industry,” said Chloe Hung, CEO of Autel U.S. “That’s why Autel is committed to implementing NASTF’s Secure Data Release Model while continuing to support the professional locksmiths and repair technicians who rely on our tools every day.”

Through its long-standing partnerships with automakers, aftermarket tool providers, and law enforcement stakeholders, NASTF continues to provide the industry’s foundational framework for secure vehicle service access, supporting both innovation and security as vehicle systems become increasingly connected and complex.

For more information, visit NASTF.org

About NASTF

The National Automotive Service Task Force (NASTF) is a 501 C6 not-for-profit organization established in 2000 by automakers and the independent aftermarket to identify and resolve gaps in service information, tool information and training. NASTF has over 56,000 members in the US and Canada and works with 32 automakers in North America. In 2022, NASTF’s Secure Data Release Model (SDRM) was selected by the Australian Automotive Service and Repair Authority as its vehicle security and right-to-repair information solution. In addition to acting as a liaison to automakers and repair technicians, NASTF also runs the SDRM program, providing credentials to technicians and locksmiths who require access to security-related automotive information and systems.