Urgent Lessons from Recent Cyber-Attacks: Why Every Business Needs Stronger Cybersecurity

Source: Vector choice - URS Preferred Partner

Imagine the software your company relies on to close deals, process payments, and pay employees suddenly crashes with no clear timeline for recovery. Could your business keep running smoothly? How much revenue would you lose? This nightmare became a reality in June for more than 15,000 car dealerships across the U.S. and Canada when CDK Global, a major provider of industry software, was hit by two cyber-attacks.

These attacks crippled the sales, financing, and payroll systems of thousands of dealerships, forcing many to halt operations or resort to manual methods like pen and paper. For small business owners, this incident is a stark reminder of the critical need for strong cybersecurity protocols.

What Happened?

The first attack struck on the evening of Tuesday, June 18. CDK Global quickly took action, shutting down their system to investigate. Although services were restored the next day, a second breach forced them to take the system offline again. Experts believe the system may have been brought back too soon, missing vulnerabilities that allowed the second attack to occur. It could take weeks for CDK Global’s systems to be fully operational again.

While some businesses managed to switch to manual operations, the event underscored the risks of relying heavily on digital systems. In today’s digital economy, where transactions are just clicks away, a system failure can grind critical business functions—like sales, payroll, and banking—to a halt. Until these systems are back online, many businesses are left scrambling, facing delays and potential financial losses.

What Comes Next?

CDK Global hasn’t shared the precise details of the attack yet, and it’s unclear whether this is due to confidentiality or uncertainty. Large-scale cyber incidents are complex, and pinpointing the full extent of the breach often requires time as security teams work to identify all vulnerabilities.

In light of this, businesses should reevaluate their own systems and preparedness. How would your company fare if a similar attack struck? Do you have contingency plans in place?

This should be a wake-up call for business leaders. If you don’t have a business continuity and recovery strategy, you’re taking a serious gamble. And even if you do, is it robust enough to withstand a large-scale cyber-attack that could cripple key systems? If the answer is no, it’s time for action.

How We Can Help

We offer a comprehensive Security Risk Assessment designed to protect your business from cyber threats:

  1. Vulnerability Analysis: We’ll thoroughly review your network to identify potential weaknesses and recommend solutions to fortify your defenses, so you won’t be the next victim of a cyber-attack.

  2. Continuity and Recovery Planning: Even the best cybersecurity measures can’t guarantee 100% protection. That’s why it’s essential to have a solid business continuity plan in place. We’ll help you design a plan that ensures your operations can bounce back, even if your network or a third-party software like CDK is compromised.

Don’t wait until it’s too late. Contact us today to schedule your Security Risk Assessment. Protect your business and keep things running smoothly, no matter what.

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