cybersecurity
Technology has always been an important part of dealership operations, but today it has become a competitive advantage. The modern dealership isn’t defined by the software it owns—it’s defined by how effectively technology supports the business. Artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, cloud platforms, data governance, and compliance have become strategic assets that influence profitability, customer experience, … Read more
For years, dealership cybersecurity focused on protecting the network perimeter. Firewalls, antivirus software, and email filtering were considered the first line of defense. Today, however, dealership cybersecurity has entered a new era. The greatest risk is no longer someone breaking through your firewall—it’s someone logging in with a legitimate identity. The rapid rise of artificial … Read more
For the past several years, dealerships have been told that dealership cybersecurity compliance starts with vulnerability scans, self-assessments, policy templates, and compliance software platforms. As a result, many dealerships have invested in what could be called first-generation cybersecurity compliance solutions. These platforms typically generate dashboards, risk registers, compliance scorecards, and lengthy reports that identify potential … Read more
When dealerships evaluate a new Dealer Management System (DMS), the conversation typically centers around features, workflows, integrations, user experience, and cost. Those are all important considerations. But as cybercriminals continue to target automotive retailers at an alarming rate, there is another question every dealership should be asking: How does this DMS impact our cybersecurity risk? … Read more
AI is rapidly finding its way into dealerships. Employees are using AI tools to draft emails, summarize documents, create spreadsheets, analyze reports, improve customer communications, and solve everyday business problems faster than ever before. In many ways, AI is becoming as common in the workplace as email and web browsers. But there’s a growing compliance … Read more
For many auto and truck dealerships, Microsoft 365 feels safe by default. After all, it’s Microsoft. It powers your email, Teams chats, SharePoint files, OneDrive documents, and increasingly, the daily operations of your dealership. But here’s the uncomfortable reality: cybercriminals know that too. Today’s attackers are no longer just trying to break into dealership networks … Read more
If your dealership uses Microsoft 365 for email, file sharing, Teams chats, or day-to-day operations, the FBI’s latest warning deserves your attention. A new phishing toolkit called “Kali365” is helping cybercriminals break into Microsoft 365 accounts in a way that bypasses traditional passwords and even multi-factor authentication (MFA). That’s the part dealership executives need to … Read more
For many auto and truck dealerships, moving to a new Dealer Management System is an exciting milestone. Modern DMS platforms promise improved workflows, stronger integrations, better reporting, and a more connected dealership operation overall. But while most dealerships focus heavily on implementation timelines, training schedules, and operational continuity, one critical area is often underestimated: dealership cybersecurity. … Read more
Auto dealerships are embracing artificial intelligence to improve efficiency, automate workflows, and enhance customer service — but a new report from Automotive News warns that AI adoption is also creating serious new cybersecurity risks for dealerships. The article highlights how AI-powered tools are now being used across dealership operations, including finance and insurance, customer communications, and service … Read more