Imagine if the software your organization relies on to finalize deals and pay employees suddenly went offline, with no clear timeline for restoration. How would you cope? Could your business continue to operate? What financial losses would you incur? This scenario became a reality for over 15,000 car dealerships across the U.S. and Canada in June, when two cyber-attacks struck the widely-used industry software provider, CDK Global.
The attacks crippled sales, financing, and payroll systems, forcing many dealerships to either halt operations or revert to manual, pen-and-paper methods. This incident serves as a stark reminder for all small business owners about the critical importance of robust cybersecurity measures.
What Happened?
The first attack was detected on the evening of Tuesday, June 18. CDK Global responded promptly by taking the entire system offline to investigate. Although services were restored the following day, a second attack prompted another shutdown. It appears the system was brought back online too soon, before all vulnerabilities were identified, leading to the subsequent breach. Cybersecurity experts suggest it could take weeks for the system to be fully operational again.
While some businesses managed to switch to manual processes, this incident exposes the risks of over-reliance on digital systems. In today's digital age, where most transactions are just a few clicks away, any system downtime can severely disrupt critical business functions like completing transactions, managing payroll, and interacting with financial institutions. This can lead to delays and significant financial losses, as business owners know that a sale isn't complete until the payment clears.
What's Next?
CDK Global has not disclosed the exact cause of the attack, leaving it unclear whether this is intentional or due to ongoing uncertainty. Their security team will need to conduct a thorough investigation to identify all compromised areas. Large companies often struggle to fully understand the extent of cyber-attacks after an initial review, especially if multiple vulnerabilities are exploited.
In the meantime, businesses must scrutinize their systems for sales and operational continuity. Are they prepared to continue operations if a similar incident occurs again?
This incident should be a wake-up call for all business leaders. If you lack a business recovery and continuity plan, you're at risk. And if you do have one, you need to ensure it is high-quality, frequently tested, and capable of handling a large-scale attack that disables multiple operational systems. If not, it's time to take action.
How We Can Help
We offer a FREE consultation that accomplishes two crucial objectives:
- Network Vulnerability Analysis: We will assess your network for vulnerabilities, identify potential attack vectors, and provide solutions to mitigate these risks, helping you avoid becoming the next cyber-attack victim.
- Continuity and Recovery Planning: We will help you develop a continuity or recovery plan tailored to your organization. While cybersecurity is essential, no solution is entirely foolproof. Therefore, having a robust plan to resume operations if a cyber-attack occurs is crucial, whether it affects your network or a third-party software like CDK.
Don't wait for a cyber-attack to disrupt your business. Act now to safeguard your operations and ensure continuity.
To get started, call our office at 813-689-1950 or click here to book your
FREE consult now.
