While more than 15,000 car dealerships wait for the resolution of the cyberattack last week on CDK Global to be resolved, trucking dealers are scrambling for patchwork solutions to maintain their businesses at peak levels.
CDK announced that it was investigating a cyber-incident on June 19. The company stated that “we erred on the side caution and shut down all systems and conducted extensive testing, consulting with external third-party expert.”
The company initially was able restore its dealer-management system and Digital Retailing Solutions, but later that day, an additional attack “proactively shut down the majority of our systems.”
In a memo sent to clients earlier this month, CDK stated that it hoped to have its major applications available online in “days, not weeks.” Yet, in another memo distributed Tuesday, it was reported that “We feel it is important that we share that we don’t believe that we will be in a position to get all dealers up and running before June 30.”
The company reported to Trucks, Parts, Service on Wednesday that, since discovering the attack on 19 June, it immediately launched an investigation with “leading third-party experts” and notified law authorities. We have started the restoration process. We are also actively engaging with our customers, and providing them with alternative ways to conduct their business.
CDK’s response in the automotive industry has been criticized. Dealers in the trucking industry have focused their attention on themselves, implementing their independent backup plans so that they can remain operational.
[ RELATED CDK Hit with Cyberattack; Dealer Systems Shut Down]
Premier Truck Group, in a message sent to TPS on June 19, stated that it had been made aware of CDK’s cybersecurity and “immediately taken precautionary containment measures to protect our systems. We have also commenced an ongoing investigation into the incident.
The company says it has implemented a business continuity response plan and “continues operating at all locations using manual or alternative processes developed to respond in such an incident.”
Premier Truck Group, winner of the 2023 Successful dealer award, operates 48 dealerships across the United States.
Other dealers were forced to implement similar strategies. TLG Peterbilt which operates in more than two dozen locations in the Southeast and Midwest told TPS that it has “implemented their business continuity response plans and continue to operate using manual processes developed to respond to such incidents. All TLG dealerships are open and fully functional. TLG is in contact with the CDK team.”
The company continues, “We have asked CDK for details to understand the full extent of the incident and the length of time certain business operations could be disrupted.” TLG is committed to providing the best possible service and support to its customers, vendors, and business partners while we navigate this issue with CDK. We will provide updates as we gather additional information about the CDK incident.
CDK noted that important progress had been made towards a return to the normal Wednesday evening.
We are also actively working to bring live additional applications span>– /span>span>including our Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and Service solutions — and our Customer Care channels. We are also actively working on bringing live additional applications – , including our Customer Relationship (CRM) Management and Service Solutions — and our Customer care channels.
The company said, “In between, we have created Dealer Resource Centers with commonly used forms and documents to support their sales efforts.” We understand the urgency of our customers to resume normal business and will continue to provide updates as new information becomes available .”