Erik Nachbahr
Most dealership leaders we speak with feel pretty good about their dealership cybersecurity. And that’s understandable. You’ve invested in tools. Firewalls are in place. Endpoint protection is deployed. Maybe there’s MFA, email security, and even advanced solutions layered in. From a distance, it looks like a strong defense. But that confidence… is often misplaced. Because … Read more
If you think cybersecurity threats targeting dealerships are already intense… brace yourself. A recent report highlighted a critical shift in the threat landscape: AI isn’t just making cyberattacks more sophisticated—it’s making them more frequent, more accessible, and dramatically more scalable. And that changes everything for dealership cybersecurity. The Real AI Threat: Volume, Not Complexity When … Read more
Most executives understand that dealership cybersecurity compliance is important. You’ve likely invested in tools, policies, and maybe even completed an audit or two. On paper, everything looks good. But here’s the uncomfortable truth: many dealerships are approaching dealership cybersecurity in a way that looks right—but leaves them exposed. The Problem: Compliance Has Become the Goal … Read more
Why Dealership Cybersecurity Requires a Risk-Based Approach Auto and truck dealerships rely heavily on technology and dealership cybersecurity to run their operations. Dealer Management Systems (DMS), CRM platforms, lender integrations, digital retail tools, and growing use of AI all rely on sensitive data and interconnected systems. At the same time, regulations such as the FTC … Read more
A recent Automotive News article detailed a cybersecurity incident involving CarGurus in which a hacking group exposed more than 1.7 million corporate records, along with over 400,000 customer email addresses, phone numbers and physical addresses in a separate CarMax-related data breach incident. According to reporting, the CarGurus data breach may include dealership account information and … Read more
If 2024 was the year of AI curiosity and 2025 was the year of experimentation, many industry observers believe 2026 may become the first true operations year for dealerships using AI. Conversations across the industry point to full AI integration moving from “nice to have” to “strategic priority.” And it makes sense. Dealerships using AI … Read more
Buying a dealership is exciting. New rooftops. New markets. New revenue opportunities. But from a dealership cybersecurity perspective, it’s also one of the most vulnerable moments in your organization’s lifecycle. Cybercriminals know it. And they plan around it. When a dealership acquires another store, leadership attention shifts to contracts, financing, staffing, and system integration. Meanwhile, … Read more
Running dealership IT today is far more complex than it was even a few years ago. Between keeping systems running, supporting employees, meeting compliance requirements, and defending against constantly evolving cyber threats, internal IT teams are under more pressure than ever. That’s why more new car and truck dealerships are looking at outsourcing parts of … Read more
In Cybersecurity tools getting boost from AI, Automotive News reports that as thousands of dealers prepare for the upcoming NADA Show in Las Vegas, cybersecurity is firmly top of mind—driven by growing regulatory pressure under the FTC Safeguards Rule and the rapidly increasing sophistication of cyber threats facing dealerships. The article highlights how artificial intelligence is … Read more