Proactive Cybersecurity Actions Dealerships Can Take Now

proactive cybersecurity

It’s no longer sufficient to merely react to attacks as they occur. Instead, proactive cybersecurity actions are essential to fortify your defenses and mitigate risks effectively. By taking preemptive steps to strengthen your security posture, you can better safeguard your data, systems, and reputation from malicious actors. Here are some proactive cybersecurity actions you should … Read more

Dealerships Must Reduce Their Attack Surface

dealerships must reduce attack surface

Understanding and managing the attack surface is crucial for protecting dealership networks and sensitive data. The attack surface represents all potential points, known as attack vectors, that hackers can exploit to gain unauthorized access or execute cyberattacks. Common attack vectors within dealerships include: Network Perimeter – The boundary between an organization’s internal network and the … Read more

Automotive News Interviews Erik Nachbahr About Dealership Cybersecurity Challenges in 2024

Automotive News Article

Dealership cybersecurity challenges in 2024 Published January 3, 2024 Heighten liability risks for dealerships leave them vulnerable to legal action if any cybersecurity prevention falls short of the new FTC requirements. Dealerships are also watching their cyber insurance coverage costs soar at the same time insurers are scaling back protections as they try to rein … Read more

Employee Cybersecurity Awareness Training – What Dealerships Need To Know

cybersecurity training

To mitigate the risk of a successful, cyberattack, dealerships must address the most common sources of an attack—unpatched security vulnerabilities, human error, and malware. In this blog, we’re going to focus on the human error component. According to the Verizon 2023 Data Breach Investigation Report, nearly three-quarters of data breaches involve the actions of individuals … Read more

The Critical Role of Data Encryption Keys in Cybersecurity

data encryption

Safeguarding consumer information has become paramount. With the rise of government data security regulations and the increasing incidence and severity of cybercrime, businesses are scrambling to improve their cyber defenses.  An essential part of a comprehensive information security program is data encryption.  However, the effectiveness of data encryption hinges on a factor often overlooked – … Read more

The Worthless Vulnerability Scan

worthless design

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) mandates that dealerships – like any other business – have a “comprehensive information security program” in place to protect sensitive customer data.  In this blog, we’ll delve into the critical aspects of vulnerability management, highlighting why a vulnerability scan – while valuable – is just the starting point and by … Read more

A Self-Assessment Cautionary Tale

self-assessment

Many dealerships have been falsely led to believe that FTC compliance can be satisfied with checklists and self-assessments completed by those with limited – if any – technical cybersecurity training and expertise.  This is not the case and the consequences of this approach to cybersecurity, FTC compliance, and in securing cyber liability insurance can be … Read more

The Power of Cybersecurity Context

context

Auto dealerships have become prime targets for cyberattacks. As technology becomes increasingly integrated into every aspect of selling and servicing cars and trucks, the need for robust cybersecurity measures has never been more critical. While many dealerships rely on traditional security controls like firewalls, vulnerability scans, and endpoint tools, these alone are not sufficient to … Read more

The Clock is Ticking – Why Upgrading to Windows 11 is Crucial

clicking time bomb

Update, October 2026: Windows 10 support ended on October 14, 2025, and paid Extended Security Updates Year 1 for business PCs ends October 13, 2026. For current dates, costs, and a store-by-store plan, read our Windows 10 Extended Security Updates action plan for dealerships. Microsoft has announced that support for Windows 10 will end on … Read more