No Such Thing As Too Safe? Think Again.

No discussion on cybersecurity would be complete without talking about firewalls. Using hardware and software, firewalls provide a first line of defense for your network. Through rules established by your IT team, a firewall is intended to prevent bad or nefarious traffic from entering and prevent users on the inside of your network from accidentally accessing questionable sites on the internet.

A firewall is a valuable weapon in your cyber defenses. The safety it provides is important, but it is possible to instruct a firewall to filter so much content that it actually becomes detrimental to your business by creating frustrating experiences for your team and your customers.

When talking about cybersecurity it is often said that you can never be too safe. That statement is not 100% true.

A dealership group we recently partnered with was having intermittent difficulty connecting to their DMS. We uncovered the root cause to be a firewall rule blocking all internet traffic from foreign countries. In today’s cloud computing world, vendors utilize servers around the globe to provide efficient, cost-effective service. By applying a broad brush in the name of safety, this group crippled their ability to conduct business.

In another instance, one of our clients was so focused on security they would not even allow networked printers in their facility because of a perceived vulnerability. They had printers on carts that had to be wheeled to the location of the individual who needed it. If multiple F&I advisors were working on deals, one customer would have to wait for documents while the other customer’s deal was being completed. This created so much frustration that the dealership was losing buyers at the point where the sale was all but finalized.

Another dealer would not provide wireless internet for customers or staff because of the potential for cyber intrusion. This created bottlenecks for sales team members trying to obtain information for their prospects and a negative customer experience as a basic amenity was not being provided. Rather than relying on a well-designed firewall and following standard protocols, this dealer generated lost sales and negative reviews that certainly prevented potential customers from coming in.

These are all instances where dealerships proved you can be too safe. Overcompensating and being too stringent with firewall protocols can be harmful to the business you are trying to protect.

It would be like deciding you can avoid all car accidents by simply never driving. That is accurate, of course, but it is not feasible. Just as you accept there is some degree of risk when you get on the road, you have to accept that there is always a risk when you put a device on a network and a network online.

In the car you follow established rules and protocols of driving to limit that risk. You keep your vehicle well maintained, you drive the speed limit (most of the time), you follow traffic signs and signals, and stay on the correct side of the road. Even though there are limitations, you still ultimately get where you want to go.

The same applies to your network. There are established rules and protocols that must be followed to mitigate risk. When these are followed, there are naturally limitations, but ultimately your business gets where it needs to go.

One major difference is that while traffic laws are generally well established and unchanging, the rules of cybersecurity are constantly changing as the methods and strategies cybercriminals employ are always evolving.

A managed services provider can help you find the balance between safety and effectively doing business. Our teams stay up to date on the latest threats and ensure your network does too. This way you can provide a productive, frustration-free experience for your customers and your team while still driving your business where it needs to go.

If you have security concerns in your dealership, click here to learn more about our cybersecurity services and schedule a complimentary dealership analysis.