For years, dealership cybersecurity has lived in a familiar place: a checklist. ✔️ MFA? ✔️ Antivirus? ✔️ Security policy? Boxes checked. Everyone feels better. Back to selling cars and trucks. But the latest Mercedes-Benz USA Cyber Security Guidelines for Dealers make one thing very clear: that era is over A Not-So-Subtle Message from the OEMs … Read more
There’s no longer any debate: cybersecurity is a dealership survival issue. According to The State of Dealership Cybersecurity 2025, published by CDK Global, 90% of dealership leaders say cybersecurity is very or extremely important. Dealers get it. You feel the urgency. But here’s the uncomfortable truth the report reveals — awareness isn’t the same as … Read more
It’s been nearly a year since the devastating CDK Global cyberattack brought operations at thousands of dealerships to a halt—and yet, here we are again. Same criminal group. Same playbook. Different victim. The CDK Hackers just proved you haven’t learned a thing. In late April 2025, Branhaven Motors Inc., a Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep-Ram dealership in Branford, Connecticut, … Read more
A comprehensive information security program encompasses policies, procedures, and technologies designed to protect data and systems. It ensures confidentiality, integrity, and availability through risk management, access controls, and incident response. More than just an IT initiative, it’s a business imperative that safeguards your dealership’s reputation, compliance, and bottom line. Key Components of a Comprehensive Information … Read more
Today, dealerships rely on their technology environment to sell and service cars and trucks. Dealership technology is mission critical to a dealership’s success. Yet many dealerships are still employing outdated IT strategies that can jeopardize their business as technology quickly advances and cybersecurity threats evolve. An increasingly crucial decision that dealerships must make is whether … Read more
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
Cybersecurity isn’t something that most dealership owners and managers think about on a daily basis. But when network protection lands on the back burner, sensitive customer data can be put at risk. That can lead to costly incidents for auto and truck dealerships. A ransomware attack can cost millions and lead to outages that shut … Read more
Cybercrime is the fastest-growing crime in the U.S. and has sparked a consumer data privacy revolution. Laws like the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and New York’s Stop Hacks and Improve Electronic Data Security (SHIELD) Act are changing the way businesses collect, store, and share consumer information. The CCPA takes effect in January, 2020, and … Read more