USA Cybersecurity is a veteran owned small business located in Washington, D.C. certified to deliver cybersecurity and digital forensic services to government agencies, government contractors and commercial businesses.
Automotive Dealership Cybersecurity for as low as $499 Per Month*
Automotive Dealerships are vulnerable to cyberattacks because they store personal and sensitive information for thousands of customers through hundreds of digital access points within their primary and remote locations. Although many types of cyber crimes are perpetrated against U.S. businesses, auto dealerships are most vulnerable to social engineering attacks and ransomware:
Don't become a victim: Secure your networks today
Our managed services and regulatory compliance offerings include using the brightest security-cleared minds and the most sophisticated equipment available. Our primary focus is to secure the infrastructure of the Continental United States (CONUS). Our secondary focus is to secure the infrastructure of our allies and friends Outside Continental United States (OCONUS). All services are provided remotely or in-person.
Dealerships and their groups have hundreds of digital access points that need securing within primary and network locations. USA Cybersecurity can help to secure your location with: Vulnerability Scanning, Penetration Testing and Social Engineering.
Each dealership location manages multiple internet-connected computers, VIOP phones, dealer management servers, check and credit card processing, various apps and automotive diagnostic appliances. Cyber attacks can come from anywhere on your network, literally.
The Internet of Things (IoT) allows remote access to your networks. Everything in your dealership is connected, even things you do not normally think about: Computers, Accounting, Dealer Management Systems, Heating and Air Conditioning (HVAC), garage doors, microwaves and even the light switch. A recent survey by Total Dealer Compliance found that 80% of consumers would not purchase a car at a dealership that experienced a data breach. Do not become a victim, secure your networks today.
Car Dealerships and Cybersecurity
A recent survey by Total Dealer Compliance found that 80% of consumers would not purchase a car at a dealership that experienced a data breach. Car dealerships and third party manufacturers do not have the resources for 24-hour cybersecurity monitoring — or the expertise to continually navigate new daily threats. USA Cybersecurity will work with your dealership to implement and maintain a cyber plan, educate staff and conduct regular vulnerability and penetration tests within your network. Our testing discovers vulnerabilities in your dealership network prior to a bad actor getting in and stealing data, infecting the network, holding it for ransom or just destroying it for the sake of cyber vandalism or planned revenge. Your dealership can do these tests with your in-house IT staff or you can hire USA-Cybersecurity to protect your networks. Dealers are encouraged to review the US Department of Homeland Security and Federal Trade Commission websites to educate staff and employees on cybersecurity.
Cybersecurity for Auto Dealerships & Manufacturing Industry
USA Cybersecurity helps manufacturers gain full visibility and risk management over their OT networks while adopting Industrial IoT technologies.
Automotive and Manufacturing Industry Security Challenges
The Industrial IoT digital transformation is revolutionizing manufacturing networks, but the adoption of the advanced technologies is creating new challenges for IT/OT security teams:
Manufacturing industries are increasingly migrating to smart manufacturing technologies as part of the ongoing fourth industrial revolution. With increased connectivity and advanced automation systems such as manufacturing execution systems (MES) that integrate plant floor production (ICS/SCADA networks) and enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, manufacturing objectives revolve around maximizing productivity, but at the same time, they create new vulnerabilities and risks such as production manipulation, operational downtime, and sensitive data-theft threats.
In the last 5 years, manufacturing industries have also been the victims of an increased number of cyberattacks, such as the Havex/Dragonfly campaign that targeted industrial control systems across the USA and Europe or the most well-known WannaCry and NotPetya that caused havoc in the automotive, food, pharmaceutical, and other manufacturing plants. Events like these result in significant revenue loss valued in the hundreds of millions of dollars, reputation damage, loss of competitive edge, and sometimes public and employee safety issues.
Recent Car Dealer Cyber Criminal Events
Toyota confirmed that as many as 3.1 million items of Toyota and Lexus customer data may have been breached following an attack on dealerships in Japan. While the company says that "information that may have been leaked this time does not include information on credit cards" this will come as cold comfort to customers who were already worried about security after Toyota Australia was hit by a disruptive cyber-attack in February. read more...
Hackers paralyze computer system of Arrigo Dodge Chrysler Jeep, demanding millions in ransom. The cost for starting over carries a hefty price tag. The dealership ended up writing a check for $285,000 to purchase 250 new computers for his staff and start over, “You’d never guess it was gonna happen to you.” - Jim Arrigo, president and owner of Arrigo Automotive Group. read more...
Hackers Attacked Kia and its customers with ransomware demanding $20,000,000 in Bitcoin. Kia’s online services were down across the board during this event. This affects not only Kia’s webpages and their bill pay system, but also some Kia owners haven’t been able to remote start their cars via the Kia app on their mobile devices. Kia was the victim of a massive cyberattack – specifically by something called ransomware. read more...
A 2018 CDK Global dealership cybersecurity study found 85% of IT-related employees say their dealership was the target of a cyber attack within the last two years, despite 67% of respondents being confident in cybersecurity efforts prior to the attack. read more...
Dealerships rely on secure networks
Car dealerships and third party manufacturers do not have the resources for 24-hour cybersecurity monitoring — or the expertise to continually navigate new daily threats. USA Cybersecurity will work with your dealership to implement and maintain a cyber plan, educate staff and conduct regular vulnerability and penetration tests within your network. Our testing discovers vulnerabilities in your dealership network prior to a bad actor getting in and stealing data, infecting the network, holding it for ransom or just destroying it for the sake of cyber vandalism or planned revenge. Your dealership can do these tests with your in-house IT staff or you can hire USA-Cybersecurity to protect your networks. Dealers are encouraged to review the US Department of Homeland Security and Federal Trade Commission websites to educate staff and employees on cybersecurity.
Automotive manufactures and dealerships and groups need cybersecurity
The automotive standard is ISO/SAE 21434
As the automotive world shifts toward connected cars and smart mobility, an added element of vulnerability arises, namely, the threat of cyber-attacks. Because automotive cybersecurity is a new and evolving field, traditional automotive safety and security standards have not sufficiently covered the topic of cybersecurity. Therefore, to tackle cybersecurity threats and this additional concern for the security and safety of drivers, OEM’s, Tier 1 suppliers, and others, have often taken individual (if any) approaches. Unfortunately, an individual approach does not suffice; with the growth, prevalence, and sophistication of cyberattacks, the need arose to establish specific guidelines and standards for automotive cybersecurity.
In 2016, SAE International, the professional association and standards developing organization for engineering professionals, and ISO, the International Organization for Standardization, an international standard-setting body composed of representatives from various national standards organizations, came together to tackle this issue of setting industry standards related to automotive cybersecurity.
Both organizations had individually worked on automotive safety and security related standards in the past; ISO 26262 had previously set functional safety standards and SAE J3061 set the foundation for cybersecurity standards. When both organizations realized they had a common goal, they came together with OEMs, ECU suppliers, cybersecurity vendors, and governing organizations, and with more than 100 experts from more than 82 companies based in over 16 countries, a joint working group was established to compose a deep and effective global standard for automotive cybersecurity. Using four main working groups focusing on risk management; product development; production, operation, maintenance, and decommissioning; and process overview, the ISO/SAE 21434 draft was born.
The need for an automotive standard: ISO/SAE 21434
First, common cyber-related terminologies to be used in the automotive industry were needed. In the past, the many different terms being used caused difficulty in understanding cyber-risk and how to mitigate it. Second, criteria for effective cybersecurity in a vehicle was also needed; prior to the ISO/SAE 21434 standard, there was never a definition of what “sufficient cybersecurity” meant. Third, while there were advanced and accepted standards for automotive safety, where the concept of ASIL (Automotive Safety Integrity Levels) was understood and applied, there was no complementary cybersecurity standard definition, as proprietary levels of cybersecurity assurance differed company-by-company. And finally, there needed to be a standardized reference for regulators to point to and use to enforce vehicle cybersecurity, ensuring that drivers of connected vehicles were kept safe and secure from cyber threats and attacks.
The scope of ISO/SAE 21434
ISO/SAE 21434, in draft form as of May 2020, is a baseline for vehicle manufacturers and suppliers to ensure that cybersecurity risks are managed efficiently and effectively. The standard was specifically developed to ensure the safety and security of the ultimate road-user/driver, and as such, the determinant levels of risk and corresponding cybersecurity measures are set based on the final impact on the driver.
The standard provides a standardized cybersecurity framework, establishes cybersecurity as an integral element of engineering throughout the lifecycle of a vehicle from the conceptual phase all the way through decommissioning, ensures that cybersecurity is considered in post-production processes (software updates, service and maintenance, incident response etc), and calls for effective methods of lessons learned, training, and communication-related to automotive cybersecurity:
· Specific requirements for cybersecurity risk management
· A cybersecurity process framework
· Common language to help manufacturers and organizations communicate their cybersecurity risk
ISO/SAE 21434 brings with it the potential for common terminology for the supply chain, industry consensus, a clear minimum criteria for vehicle cybersecurity engineering, cybersecurity driven into the vehicle design upfront, threat landscapes that are clearly defined, key references for regulators, and a new level of trust built between stakeholders. Note that the ISO/SAE 21434 standard is agile and does not dictate specific cybersecurity technologies or solutions, mandates around remediation methods, or cybersecurity requirements for telecommunications systems, connected back-offices, EV chargers, or autonomous vehicles.
The new standard heavily emphasizes risk identification methods and established processes to address the cyber-risks. As such, it dictates the standard, if a compromised back-office, charger, or autonomous vehicle leads to a direct risk to the road-user, it must be monitored, controlled, and mitigated. Upstream Security enables the relevant parties within the automotive ecosystem to identify the risk and respond as the standard requires.
The NEW Internet of Things
Internet of Things
When talking about Internet of Things (IOT), we are talking about smart refrigerators, fitness trackers, home security cameras you can monitor from your phone, and a myriad of other smart devices. The enterprise-grade counterpart of IOT is the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), The IIoT is perhaps even more impressive, offering game-changing potential through the power of connected machines, sensors, and devices.
Industrial Internet of Things
IIoT is a subcategory of IoT that refers to the use of automated, interrelated sensors, devices, and machinery to drive operational efficiency at an industrial scale.
IIoT focuses heavily on machine-to-machine (M2M) communication, machine learning, and big data, all of which enable organizations to unlock access to unprecedented amounts of data and rapidly extract insights. The IIoT encompasses a broad range of industrial-grade applications, from AR devices and connected, collaborative robots, to medical devices, inventory tracking, and predictive maintenance.
Most IIoT definitions state that these systems are characterized by a connection between the cyber and the physical, or, information technology (IT) and operational technology (OT). The IIoT is part of the larger IoT ecosystem. The ecosystem consists of a network of devices, computers, and objects that collect and transmit data and then send that data to the cloud. The data is then aggregated with other data and managed with software. Most IIoT systems require data-sharing between multiple devices across several networks including both the cloud (like traditional IoT applications) and the Edge. Edge computing optimizes the sensors, computers, and devices used in an IIoT system, bringing the computing closer to the network edge of those items actively producing data for faster processing. With IIoT, organizations can capture real-time insights and act at in-the-moment while captured data can be sent to a centralized cloud system for later analysis. This high-speed processing also allows companies to spot security threats real-time, thus reducing points of failure in the system.
IIoT versus IoT
While the IIoT falls under the general IoT umbrella, there are a few differences between the two technologies. The key difference is that IIoT focuses on connecting machines and devices in industries like manufacturing, healthcare, and logistics, while IoT is generally used to describe consumer-level devices like Fitbit and the whole range of smart home devices from Ring video doorbells to thermostats and refrigerators.
In addition to the business versus consumer distinction, IIoT is a much more robust than IoT due to its massive scale. When an IIoT system fails, downtime can result in life-threatening situations or major financial losses. While personal IoT devices come with privacy concerns, such as issues about data collection and consent, it is unlikely that failure results in a true emergency situation.
What are the Potential Risks of Adopting IIoT Systems? While a long list of transformative benefits quickly makes the case for IIoT adoption, it is not without risk Transformations are expensive, difficult, and can potentially introduce cyber threats resulting in possible breaches..
Below are some of the possible risks that organizations must prepare for before investing in all of the trappings of the smart factory:
Security Threats
Many security problems associated with IIoT can be traced back to a lack of basic security. The most common examples: exposed ports, obsolete software applications, or poor authentication practices. Because of this lack of basic security, there are network vulnerabilities providing direct and easy access to the entire system. Additional potential threats are caused when IIoT systems combine IT systems with operational technology (OT). This means security threats move beyond the typical implications of cyberattacks: financial losses, data breaches, reputation damage, etc. Attacks in the cyber-world are directly connected to real-world outcomes that have the potential to cause to threaten human lives. Data Integration One of the biggest roadblocks to IIoT adoption is data integration. In the context of a factory, systems e might encompass thousands of connected sensors and devices, new equipment and software systems, as well as legacy machinery. Adopting connected smart devices allows organizations to collect more data, poor implementation can easily lead to chaos. For example, sensors made from different manufacturers may have different software requirements, making it difficult to analyze data on a holistic level. There is also an issue when older equipment wasn’t designed to collect data, much less format collected data in the same way..
High Cost of Adoption
There is also the financial aspect of adoption to consider. Organizations preparing for the transition will need to invest in new software, hardware, and equipment. Another consideration is the costs associated with training the existing workforce and hiring new staff, as well as the amount of time it takes to get those workers at full productivity. In the long term, IIoT more than pay for itself; however, many organizations are understandably concerned about the upfront costs associated with transitioning to a new system..
Lack of Expertise
IIoT demands expertise in areas that traditionally have not been part of manufacturing, logistics, or energy sectors. These new technologies require expertise in machine learning, data science, and real-time analytics.
Benefits of IIoT in Manufacturing and Beyond
According to the Microsoft IoT Signals report, 56% of companies adopt IIoT solutions for operations optimization, 47% cite workforce productivity as their primary use case, and 44% said that safety and security were the driving force behind adoption. A report from Dell found that 49% of manufacturers have achieved improved process performance, while 33% say that they have made improvements to their asset utilization. Another 36% of respondents report reductions in downtime. While manufacturing is clearly leading the charge when it comes to adoption of IIoT, other industries are embracing the benefits of IIoT, as well. Here are a few examples that share similar process driven environments:
The Role of IIoT in Your Business
The transformative benefits of IIoT are reshaping industries like manufacturing, transportation, and agriculture. These industries, in recent years, have lagged behind other sectors in technology usage. The cost of sensors and analytics software is beginning to fall, while the pressure to increase efficiency is on the rise. Done right, an IIoT can help organizations optimize their production processes, make data-driven decisions, and drive revenue like never before.
Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) Cybersecurity
Defending the Internet of Targets Organizations are becoming increasingly reliant on adopting Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) technologies that allow them to ramp up productivity and make smarter business decisions. While enterprises can benefit significantly from connected environments, IIoT adopters are uniquely susceptible to cyberattacks based on a few key factors. For one, more connected endpoints mean more opportunities for cybercriminals to gain entry into industrial systems. Another issue causing concern is operational equipment being adapted toward use cases they were never designed to do Vulnerable communications protocols and software-hardware configurations that vary considerably between organizations and industries are a main concern.
Safely Embracing the Industrial Internet of Things
Eager to tap new revenue streams hiding in unstructured data, businesses across a range of sectors are implementing IoT devices into their existing systems. However, every time a new device is integrated into the system, the threat surface expands, opening up new entry points attackers can exploit. According to a report from Palo Alto Networks, 98% of IoT traffic is unencrypted and nearly 60% of devices are vulnerable to moderate to severe cyber-attacks.
Some of the key considerations involved in establishing a successful industrial internet of things cybersecurity plan; Security Considerations for the IIoT Cybersecurity Challenge o Potential Human Impacts. Because IT-OT convergence is a defining characteristic of IIoT systems, cybersecurity now extends into the physical world. Industrial IoT security requires organizations to consider how cyberattacks can result in public safety risks or things like grid outages that impact entire communities.
Murky Regulatory Guidance
Currently there is no official policy defining how IoT data can be collected, accessed, and shared. Because of this, organizations will need to develop a strategy that ensures adherence to personal privacy protection as well as industry-specific data management regulations.
Data Management
Sensors can be embedded in just about anything, allowing organizations to collect information on a massive scale. Organizations will need to develop plans for securely managing sensitive information, including how to efficiently process and store the torrent of data without causing latency issues.
Interoperability Challenges
Industrial IoT ecosystems are typically composed of multiple devices including software, hardware, and legacy equipment that were not originally designed to work together. This leaves a lot of room for configuration errors, which could potentially compromise the entire system.
Industrial IoT Systems Security
IIoT cybersecurity is critical for organizations because the consequences of inadequate security could have devastating real-world outcome. While any data breach or ransomware attack can cause significant losses for a company, the impact is mainly financial or reputation. Companies may receive a fine And they will issue an apology along with outlining the steps they will take to protect customers in the future. With OT systems,, a cyber-attack can result in physical consequences, with effects that ripple throughout entire communities. Here are a few possibilities:
Cyber terrorism
Attacks from terrorist groups or outside governments may sound far-fetched, but these are real threat sto the OT sector. These types of attacks are often carried out by sophisticated cybercriminals and are aimed at critical infrastructure. o IP Leakage. Vulnerable IIoT systems could open the door to risks such as IP leakage, enabling the theft of trade secrets or sensitive data.
Production Sabotage
In manufacturing facilities, vulnerable systems can introduce the threat of production sabotage. Attacks might target robots, putting workers at risk or an attacker might introduce defects in the production line by tampering with production logic. Attackers may also alter products, then demand ransom to prevent defective products from hitting consumer markets.
IIoT is Difficult to Secure
The IIoT presents some unique security challenges The same characteristics that drive its transformative benefits are also the source of its biggest threats. IIoT systems can be spread across several locations, each with hundreds or thousands of connected devices exchanging massive amounts of data,
Legacy OT Equipment and Software
As demand for operational data continues to rise, many organizations are outfitting legacy machinery with IIoT sensors without implementing proper security protections. Many of these machines operate using outdated software and old hardware components with known vulnerabilities. The big challenge, is companies patching is not always possible for these machines, while upgrading require pausing production cycles, thus causing long periods of downtime. Backdoors leftover from previous breaches often go unnoticed, leaving systems vulnerable to threats like WannaCry ransomware attacks.
Incorrect Authentication Practices
Poorly-configured sessions and lax user authentication allow attackers to steal credentials such as user names, passwords, and keys, as well as take control over user accounts to hack into other parts of the system. In a converged OT-IT system, attackers can leverage credentials from IT environments to target OT infrastructure.
Interoperability
IIoT systems are made up of a collection of sensors, software, equipment, and hardware, all of which are configured based on industry requirements and tailored to the unique operations needs of the company. This presents two significant challenges: getting the disconnected systems to work together and securing all endpoints. Just one improperly configured connection can put the entire system at risk. Many organizations use proprietary software which can be difficult to patch, update, and monitor for threats. This leaves the network vulnerable to attacks.
Vulnerable OT Communication Protocols
In order to capture valuable data, many enterprises have made OT technologies like sensors, controllers, and actuators part of the smart factory. While protocols monitor, control, and connect physical processes within the production line, they were not designed to detect cyber threats or authenticate user credentials. Attackers have become increasingly aware of the vulnerability of legacy protocols. They are using tactics like self-propagating worms and peer-to-peer C2 communications to target IoT devices to disrupt critical processes.
Disconnect Between OT and IT
In many organizations, the IT and operations teams operate as separate entities with little contact with one another. IT teams focus on managing data flow and assets like computers, printers, and network equipment, whereas OT manages industrial machines and physical processes. The challenge is, without IT-OT convergence, cultural differences, data silos, and a whole new set of considerations for both groups can stand in the way of implementing and monitoring security controls.
We recommend that operations teams work closely with an IT pro experienced in IIoT adoption
More Connectivity, More Risk According to a 2019 Ponemon Institute report, 90% of organizations using OT solutions fell victim to a cyberattack within the last 2 years. Interestingly, 20% of those surveyed believed that they had enough visibility into their attack surface to act on incoming threats. For organizations considering adoption, it is critical to understand you will be attacked sooner or later. To stay ahead of an attack, , organizations must map out the entire attack surface and perform a comprehensive evaluation to understand the level of risk. From there, create a plan to transfer, reduce, and prevent each potential threat.
Use OWASP Standards
For a better sense of threats you will need to consider, we recommend the Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP) list of Top 10 Vulnerabilities. OWASP is a non-profit group that offers unbiased cybersecurity information and guidance. Compliance with the standards outlined below will help you address vulnerabilities that are most likely to be exploited.
What to look out for:
Setting IIoT cybersecurity policies based on the OWASP list is a great starting point when it comes to reducing the threats to your system.
Best Practices for Maintaining Industrial Internet of Things Security
While there is no official set of “rules” for ensuring your industrial IoT system stays secured, we typically recommend that organizations work with IT experts to adapt the Center for Internet Security (CIS) 20 Critical Cybersecurity Controls to your IoT infrastructure.
The CIS Controls center around the following five core principles:
We recommend downloading the full report for a deep dive into all controls. Below shows how CIS breaks them down, organizing them into three categories–basic, foundational, and organizational.
Basic
Foundational
Organizational
Automotive Dealers and Manufacturers next steps
As the IIoT continues to gain momentum, enterprises need to consider security threats coming from all endpoints and take steps to protect themselves from harmful and potentially life-threatening cyberattacks. Contact USA Cybersecurity today. More information on Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) can be found HERE.