Protecting Your Dealership – Best Practices For Mobile Device Use

Dealership MDM

Dealership employees seek the flexibility to work from anywhere. While mobile devices offer this flexibility, they also increase the dealership’s attack surface, providing cybercriminals with an easily exploitable entry point into the dealership’s network. Currently, mobile devices account for more than 60 percent of digital fraud, and one in three organizations has experienced a data … Read more

Creating A Human Firewall: Protecting Data

Human Firewall

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

An Eye-Opening Discovery: The True Intent of The FTC Safeguards Rule

eye opening

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

The Right Way To Do MFA

Multi-Factor Authentication

As the incidence, severity, and sophistication of today’s cyber threats continues to grow, the appropriate use of multi-factor authentication (MFA) is becoming increasingly important.  Add to this that new government regulations – like the FTC Safeguards Rule – now requires that businesses implement MFA.  The result is a lot of confusion, inefficiency, and quite frankly … Read more

Firewall & Antivirus Software Isn’t Enough

cartoon-criminal-face

Many dealerships are under the impression that simply having a firewall and antivirus software deployed is a solid cyber defense – they’re incorrect.  Cybercrime is now big, big business and it’s rare that the cybercriminal is ever caught and prosecuted.  As a result, cybercrime has attracted highly sophisticated and well-funded criminals into this lucrative industry.  … Read more

The California Privacy Rights Act Passes – CCPA 2.0

cpra-transparent

The California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA) passed on November 3, 2020.  This new law amends the existing California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and it significantly strengthens this legislation. One addition brought about by passage of the CPRA is the creation of a new government agency called the California Privacy Protection Agency which is “vested with … Read more

Colorado Auto & Truck Dealers’ Blueprint for Consumer Privacy

Car salesman working on computer

When Colorado’s state legislature introduced their current consumer data privacy law back in 2018, it was hailed as one of the strictest in the country. Now that assessment feels quaint, as dozens of other states have passed — or are working on — data privacy laws that equal or surpass Colorado’s in terms of toughness. 

Still, Colorado’s law — officially known as House Bill 18-1128 — places the burden of consumer privacy squarely on businesses, and opens the door to fines and lawsuits for non-compliance. 

And, unlike other state laws such as California’s CCPA, the Colorado law doesn’t make any exemptions for small businesses. 

Auto and truck dealers are especially susceptible to cyber attacks and data breaches. Dealers in Colorado should familiarize themselves with the law, ensure they are in compliance, and if not, take steps to update their cybersecurity as quickly as possible.

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When it Comes to Consumer Privacy, what are Reasonable Measures?

Reasonable Measures Blog

Requirements in recent consumer data privacy laws are causing confusion and unnecessary expense for dealers. For example, on January 1st, the California Consumer Protection Act (CCPA) became law. The legislation requires companies to have “reasonable security” in place to protect sensitive consumer information. However, it fails to define what these reasonable measures are. As an … Read more

Safe Selling: Digital Marketing in Post-CCPA California

palm trees

The California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), Stop Hacks and Improve Electronic Data Security (SHIELD) Act, and other privacy laws are making customers more aware of the value of their data.  Data breaches have always had a significant impact on dealerships’ reputations, but emerging legislation and increased media coverage have taken … Read more