Changing DMS. Rolling out a new CRM. Migrating email, networks, or core business systems.

From a business perspective, these are all good problems to have. They signal growth, modernization, and an investment in efficiency. But there’s a less exciting side effect that often doesn’t get enough attention:

Major technology changes quietly increase cybersecurity risk.

Not because your team isn’t capable. Not because someone made a mistake. But because change itself creates opportunity—and cybercriminals are very good at spotting it.

Why Cybercriminals Love Big Technology Transitions

During a major system change, a dealership’s technology environment is rarely in its cleanest, most controlled state. Instead, you’re dealing with:

• Temporary user accounts and permissions
• New vendors and third-party integrations
• Legacy access that hasn’t been fully retired
• Security tools that aren’t yet fully tuned to the new environment

None of this is unusual. In fact, it’s almost unavoidable.

The challenge is that attackers understand this dynamic extremely well. They know that during transitions, attention is split between uptime, training, data migration, and keeping the business running. Defensive controls often lag behind operational needs—if only briefly.

Unfortunately, a brief window is all an attacker needs.

This Isn’t an IT Failure — It’s a Bandwidth Problem

Dealership IT teams are typically excellent at what they do: keeping systems running, supporting users, managing vendors, and maintaining day-to-day operations.

But cybersecurity during a major tech transition is a different animal. It requires:

• Continuous monitoring for suspicious behavior
• Rapid investigation of alerts that might be false positives
• The ability to respond immediately—nights, weekends, and holidays
• Deep expertise in modern attack techniques, not just infrastructure

Expecting an already-stretched IT team to absorb all of that on top of a DMS migration or system overhaul isn’t realistic. Even the most capable teams eventually hit a bandwidth ceiling.

And hiring internally isn’t a simple fix. A trained cybersecurity professional can cost around $130,000 per year, before accounting for tooling, turnover, or the need for 24/7 coverage.

Cybersecurity Is a Timing Issue, Not Just a Technical One

One of the biggest misconceptions we see is that cybersecurity is purely a technical concern.

In reality, it’s often a timing issue.

Cyber risk doesn’t stay constant. It spikes during moments of disruption—acquisitions, expansions, and yes, major technology changes. That’s when defenses are uneven, processes are evolving, and humans are under pressure to “just make it work.”

Those moments deserve more protection, not less.

Supporting IT Instead of Replacing It

This is why many dealerships work with Helion during periods of major change.

Helion is the largest managed IT and cybersecurity services provider in the country dedicated exclusively to auto and truck dealerships. The role isn’t to take control away from internal teams—but to give them backup when risk is highest.

By layering specialized cybersecurity expertise, continuous monitoring, and scalable support alongside internal IT, dealerships can modernize confidently without introducing unnecessary exposure.

The Bottom Line

Technology changes are inevitable—and often essential. But they shouldn’t quietly increase risk to your data, finances, or reputation.

If your dealership is planning a DMS change or major system upgrade, the smartest move isn’t to slow down innovation. It’s to recognize that change deserves extra protection.

Because while your team is focused on building the future, cybercriminals are busy looking for cracks in the present.