Every dealership has fallen victim to a cybersecurity incident – they just might not know it yet. In this eye-opening conversation with Kevin Landers, IT veteran and cybersecurity expert at RocketWise, we pull back the curtain on the digital threats silently targeting equipment dealers across North America.
Forget what you think you know about hackers. Today's cyber criminals aren't lone wolves in hoodies targeting specific businesses – they're sophisticated organizations with marketing departments, R&D teams, and even customer service representatives helping their "clients" execute attacks. As Landers reveals, "If you can log into a Gmail account, you can suddenly become a malicious actor. That's how easy it is." These operations cast wide nets, looking for any vulnerability they can monetize.
Most alarming is how long these breaches remain undetected. According to Landers, the average intruder lurks in compromised systems for 290 days before discovery. This extended exposure explains why annual security assessments – though required by insurers and regulators – provide inadequate protection. One dealership declined a security review only to suffer a devastating breach six months later that took them offline for nearly a month and corrupted historical data essential for business decisions.
The conversation explores practical solutions for dealerships, including structured approaches to security assessments, vendor compliance reviews, and data protection strategies. Landers stresses that cybersecurity isn't just an IT concern but a fundamental business continuity issue affecting employees' livelihoods and customers' operations. For leaders feeling overwhelmed by the challenge, he offers reassurance: "Don't buckle to the overwhelm. It's a race that doesn't end, and you're just going to have to pace yourself."
Ready to strengthen your digital defenses? Listen now to understand the threats you face and the steps you can take to protect your business before it's too late.
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