Alexis Merchant

Auto dealership ransomware usually gets in through a phishing email, a stolen password, exposed remote access, or a vendor’s connection. Recovery takes weeks. Systems get rebuilt, paper deals get keyed back in, stolen data gets traced, and notices get filed. Ask a service advisor to define ransomware and you might get a shrug. Ask about … Read more

A dealership IT budget for 2027 lists every technology cost by line: Microsoft 365 renewals, PC refresh, security, compliance testing, cyber insurance, phones, DMS changes, and AI seats. Most stores skip that list, and the missing lines are where overspending hides. Ask a controller what the store spends on technology. You’ll usually get one number. … Read more

FTC Safeguards Rule news for dealers, logged by date: vendor breaches, FTC breach-report data, state notice laws, and what each update means inside your store.

Microsoft 365 Business Premium security gives a dealership multifactor sign-in, Conditional Access, endpoint protection, phishing filters, device management and data labels for up to 300 users. It doesn’t watch alerts, keep independent backups or respond to an attack for you. “We’re on Premium, so we’re good.” It’s a line you’ll hear in a lot of … Read more

Vibe coding security risks at a dealership come down to review, access, and ownership. See what the FTC Safeguards Rule says about software your staff build.

An AI policy for car dealerships is a written rule that names the AI tools staff may use, the customer information that stays out of every other tool, who checks AI output before customers see it, and who to ask. The template below runs about two pages, it’s written in plain words, and each department … Read more

AI legal risks for dealerships come from old laws meeting new tools: privacy, FTC deception, AI calls and lending. Where they show up and the guardrails to set.