Imagine if the software your organization relies on for closing deals and paying employees suddenly went offline, with no clear timeline for resolution. Could your business continue operating? How much revenue would you lose? Unfortunately, this scenario became a reality for over 15,000 car dealerships across the US and Canada in June when cyber-attacks targeted the popular industry software provider CDK Global.
These cyber-attacks crippled the sales, financing, and payroll systems of thousands of dealerships, forcing them to either halt operations or revert to manual, pen-and-paper methods. This incident serves as a stark reminder for small business owners about the critical importance of robust cybersecurity measures.
What Happened?
The first attack struck on the evening of Tuesday, June 18. Upon detection, CDK Global promptly took the system offline to investigate. Although services were restored the following day, a second attack soon followed, necessitating another shutdown. It appears the system was brought back online prematurely, before all vulnerabilities were identified, leading to the second breach. Cybersecurity experts suggest it could take weeks before the system is fully operational again.
While some businesses managed to switch to manual processes, this incident underscores the vulnerabilities inherent in our reliance on digital systems. In today's digital age, where transactions are completed with just a few clicks, significant issues arise when systems go offline. Critical business processes, such as completing transactions, managing payroll, and interacting with financial institutions, can come to a grinding halt. Until systems are restored, many business operations remain incomplete, causing delays and potential financial losses. Business owners know that a sale isn't finalized until the check clears the bank.
So, 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 meticulously examine every aspect of the business to determine what was compromised. Large companies often struggle to fully understand the extent of cyber-attacks after an initial review, especially if multiple vulnerabilities exist.
In the interim, businesses must critically evaluate their systems for operational continuity. Are they prepared to continue doing business 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 exposing yourself to significant risk. And if you do have a plan, you need to ensure it is high-quality, frequently tested, and capable of handling a large-scale attack that disables multiple operational systems. If the answer is no, it's time to take action.
Our Offer
We offer a FREE consultation that will achieve two critical objectives:
- Network Vulnerability Analysis: We will analyze your network for vulnerabilities, identifying potential attack points and offering solutions to patch them, thereby reducing your risk of 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 100% foolproof. Therefore, you need a plan to quickly recover and continue operations if your network or a third-party software you rely on, like CDK, is compromised.
Don't wait for a cyber-attack to disrupt your business. Take proactive steps now to safeguard your operations.
To get started, call our office at +44-28-7136-3363 or click here to book your
FREE consult now.
