A recent Automotive News opinion piece titled “In our opinion: Thwarted dealership cyber attack indicates that lessons from last year have been learned” highlights how the auto retail industry is beginning to apply critical lessons from the 2024 CDK cyber attack. In March, a new cyber threat was successfully blocked by Reynolds and Reynolds’ Proton … Read more
As a dealer, your primary focus is selling and servicing cars and trucks. However, to succeed, you must also defend your dealership against a variety of threats — including the growing SaaS security risks that businesses face. In today’s world, it’s crucial to recognize that your operations are increasingly dependent on cloud-based services. While this … Read more
The Automotive News article “Will dealerships heed the lessons learned from 2024 cyber attacks?” explores how the high-profile CDK Global data breach and cyber attacks became a wake-up call for the automotive retail industry. It highlights the growing urgency around dealership cybersecurity, emphasizing that proactive risk management—through cybersecurity monitoring, insurance, employee training, and vendor vetting—is … Read more
Cybercriminals have found a lucrative way to streamline their attacks and maximize their gains: by using Initial Access Brokers (IABs). These brokers specialize in gaining access to networks—like yours—and then selling that access to other cybercriminals. They’re essentially the middlemen of the cybercrime world, and their customers range from ransomware groups looking to cash in … Read more
If you’ve ever heard the saying, “With great power comes great responsibility,” it sums up the essence of Privileged Access Management (PAM). PAM is like a smart security guard for your dealership’s most sensitive systems. It ensures that only authorized individuals—and sometimes machines—can access critical resources, and only when necessary. Dealerships must take PAM seriously! … Read more
The reputation of a dealership can be shattered in an instant. Cybersecurity incidents aren’t just technical problems—they’re ticking time bombs that can destroy a dealership’s hard-earned trust and goodwill with customers. Imagine your dealership’s name plastered across headlines, not for record sales, but for a data breach. Now, try to sell a car to a … Read more
Modern car dealerships are continually seeking innovative ways to enhance customer experience, streamline operations, and stay ahead of the competition. Enter artificial intelligence (AI) – a game-changer that offers unparalleled opportunities for dealerships to thrive in an increasingly digital auto retailing landscape. However, there is a problem – among the promises of AI lie lurking … Read more
To effectively protect your dealership from the cybercriminal, every employee must play a role. One of the most effective tactics within a comprehensive information security program is to fortify your defenses by creating a human firewall. The development of a human firewall is accomplished through an effective employee cybersecurity awareness training program. Such a program … Read more
The FTC Safeguards Rule mandates that dealerships must “develop, implement, and maintain a comprehensive information security program.” The Rule illustrates the FTC’s commitment to compelling businesses to establish an effective cyber defense to protect consumer information. However, many dealerships are simply concentrating their compliance efforts on isolated measures that alone fall short of constituting a … Read more