Know Your Cyber Threats

Dealerships face a wide range of cyber threats, including ransomware, phishing and business email compromise, third-party vendor breaches, unauthorized access, social engineering, weak passwords, malware, cloud vulnerabilities and risks involving connected vehicles. These attacks can expose customer financial information, personal data and vehicle telematics while disrupting operations, draining revenue and damaging customer trust.

Reducing these risks requires multiple layers of protection. Dealerships should use multi-factor authentication, keep systems patched, train employees to recognize scams, scan regularly for vulnerabilities, secure backups and hold third-party vendors to strict security standards. Leadership should also review existing protections frequently and consider real-time tools that detect and disrupt suspicious activity before it develops into a larger breach.