Recent Cyber-Attacks Highlight the Urgency of Strong Cybersecurity for All Businesses
Imagine if the software your business relies on to close deals, process payments, or manage payroll suddenly went offline. How long could your company function without it? In June, over 15,000 car dealerships in the US and Canada experienced this nightmare when CDK Global, a leading industry software provider, was hit by two major cyber-attacks.
These attacks shut down critical systems, forcing dealerships to either halt business operations or revert to manual processes. This incident serves as a wake-up call for businesses everywhere, highlighting the need for strong cybersecurity and business continuity measures.
What Happened?
The first cyber-attack on CDK Global occurred on the evening of Tuesday, June 18. As soon as the attack was detected, CDK took the correct action by bringing its systems offline to investigate the issue. While the system was restored the next day, a second attack followed, prompting the company to shut down again.
It’s believed that the system was brought back online prematurely before all compromised areas were identified, allowing the second attack to occur. Cybersecurity experts warn that it could take weeks for CDK Global’s systems to be fully operational again.
While some businesses were able to continue using manual processes, the incident underscores the vulnerabilities of relying solely on digital systems. When critical systems go offline, essential functions such as payroll, sales, and financial transactions come to a halt, leading to potential financial losses.
If you're concerned about your business's ability to respond to a cyber-attack, click here to schedule a discovery call with Lazer IT Consultants to explore proactive solutions.
So, What’s Next?
CDK Global has yet to disclose the exact cause of the attack. Whether the lack of information is intentional or due to ongoing investigations remains unclear. Often, large companies struggle to determine the full extent of a cyber-attack during the initial review, especially when there are multiple points of vulnerability.
For business leaders, this incident should trigger an important question: Are you prepared to continue operations if your systems go offline?
The Importance of a Business Continuity Plan
If your business lacks a robust business continuity and disaster recovery plan, you’re leaving yourself vulnerable to significant operational disruptions. Even with strong cybersecurity measures, no system is entirely foolproof. It’s essential to have a strategy that enables your company to bounce back quickly and resume operations after an attack.
We recommend all businesses implement two key actions:
- Security Risk Assessment: Our team will analyze your network for vulnerabilities, showing where an attack could happen. We’ll provide solutions to patch these weaknesses, reducing your risk of becoming the next cyber-attack victim.
- Continuity and Recovery Plan: We’ll help you design a business continuity plan that makes sense for your operations. Even with top-tier security, there’s always a risk, so having a plan in place to recover quickly from a network disruption is critical.
To learn more about how network security services can protect your business, contact us today.
Conclusf ion
The cyber-attacks on CDK Global serve as a reminder that even well-established businesses can be brought to a halt by hackers. If your business isn’t prepared with a strong cybersecurity strategy and an actionable continuity plan, you’re putting yourself at risk.
Protect your company and ensure you can continue operations no matter what happens. Learn more about our project services and secure your business against cyber threats today.
