Cybercrime is not just a nuisance; it’s a relentless and evolving threat that can strike at any moment. With cybercriminals becoming more sophisticated by the day, cybersecurity best practices and technologies, as well as government regulations, are struggling to keep up. To protect your dealership from this chronic danger, it’s time for dealerships of all sizes to embrace an adaptive IT/cybersecurity approach.
Cybercrime: A Growing Threat
The numbers are staggering. Cybercrime is on a trajectory to reach an astonishing annual cost of $10 trillion by 2025. Ransomware attacks – one of the most dangerous forms of cyber threats – occur every 11 seconds – holding businesses hostage and demanding hefty ransoms. The tactics employed by cybercriminals are in a constant state of evolution, making traditional security solutions like firewalls, IDS/IPS, and anti-malware programs inadequate to combat today’s advanced cyberattacks.
The Need for Adaptation
We find ourselves in an ongoing arms race with cybercriminals, who are not only well-funded but also highly skilled. They continuously adapt their methods to evade defenses, leaving organizations vulnerable to data breaches, financial loss, and reputational damage. In this high-stakes game, a static, reactive approach to your IT strategy and cybersecurity is no longer appropriate.
The Adaptive IT & Cybersecurity Approach
Enter the adaptive IT & cybersecurity approach – a paradigm shift that transcends traditional, reactive IT and cybersecurity measures. This approach hinges on possessing solid knowledge of IT and cybersecurity best practices and technologies, anticipating related risks, all while having the capacity to take swift action to appropriately modify the dealership’s IT and cyber defenses as needed.
Four Essential Elements of Adaptive IT/Cybersecurity
- Prediction: To stay ahead of cybercriminals, businesses must assess risk, anticipate threats, and regularly evaluate their current security posture. This involves analyzing security trends, technological advances, and their potential impact on the dealership.
- Prevention: Implementing risk-based security measures and ensuring that the dealership’s IT environment is up to par is crucial. This is an ongoing effort that includes timely software security patching, device lifecycle management, account access management, data backup and data restoration. It also includes employing methods and technologies that limit network access and prevent lateral movement within the dealership’s network.
- Detection: Continuous monitoring of the network for suspicious behavior is paramount. The ability to identify potential threats in real-time is key to stopping the cybercriminal in their tracks. This involves a set of advanced technologies and well-trained cybersecurity professionals.
- Response: When security incidents occur, immediate investigation and swift action are necessary to stop attacks before they have a chance to inflict serious harm on your dealership.
The Challenge of Skilled Personnel
The effectiveness of an adaptive cybersecurity approach heavily depends on having skilled IT/cybersecurity personnel. They’re the ones who can decipher the indicators of an impending attack and take rapid action. However, hiring, training, and retaining these professionals can be a difficult task. They’re expensive and in high demand, with 82% of IT/cybersecurity professionals reporting they can’t keep up with necessary learning and certifications due to their daily workload.
Outsourcing Cybersecurity: A Pragmatic Solution
For many businesses, the best path to developing an adaptive cybersecurity approach is outsourcing to organizations that specialized in IT and cybersecurity. These businesses are adept at recruiting and training the elusive and high-demand talent needed to safeguard your data, systems, finances, and reputation. By entrusting your IT and cybersecurity to experts, you can focus on your core competencies while ensuring that your dealership remains protected in an increasingly dangerous digital landscape.
Cybercrime is a clear and present danger that every dealership must face. With cybercriminal tactics constantly evolving and technology rapidly advancing, dealerships need to adopt an adaptive cybersecurity approach. This approach hinges on finding and retaining skilled IT/cybersecurity personnel. Outsourcing to businesses who specialize in IT/cybersecurity is a pragmatic solution that allows dealerships to stay a step ahead of the cybercriminal. Today, adaptation is not an option; it’s a necessity for survival.
