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Low-Cost Steps Can Prepare For, Prevent Cybersecurity Disruptions by John Yoswick Autobody News
Collision repair shops of all sizes in 2024 likely felt the impact of a cyberattack, albeit indirectly. Two such attacks on CDK Global over the summer hindered parts departments and body shop operations at thousands of dealerships around the country.
had no direct connectivity, but our operations were stopped and we had to pull people off of projects. And it took us months to clean that up.” It demonstrated how deep the connection is among shops and suppliers, she said, and it prompted Caliber to look more closely at all of its dependencies and planning what it would do “if another CDK happened.”
A panel discussion on cybersecurity at the MSO Symposium included, from left: Caliber Collision’s Ashley Denison, Spencer Colemere of Cisco, Jerry Davis of Microsoft and Kyle Rankin of CCC Intelligent Solutions.
The disruption also affected independent collision repairers who order parts from those dealers -- a good example of how cybersecurity at shops goes beyond securing their own systems and data. “CDK was like a fifth-level supplier to us. It was not on our radar, but it had such a big impact,” Ashley Denison, chief information officer for Caliber Collision, acknowledged during a panel discussion on data security at the MSO Symposium in Las Vegas. “Our shops couldn’t order parts. We had to make sure that [our systems] were safe and secure and
“It’s not just about protecting Caliber, but how do we react when something outside of Caliber happens,” Denison said. Think about what your company would do, she suggested, if, say, CCC Intelligent Solutions had a similar issue and went down for days or weeks. “What would you do to continue to bring revenue into your locations?” Denison asked. “So thinking through all those pieces of the chain from revenue and suppliers, and either
Vol. 15 / Issue 11 / February 2025
REGIONAL NEWS
Maine Right to Repair Group Tackles Remote Car Commands as Comments Come In By Brian Bradley Autobody News
The Maine Automotive Right to Repair Working Group is suggesting consideration of potential amendments to state law to mitigate any risks associated with remotely sending commands to vehicles for maintenance, diagnostic and repair purposes. “There was consensus [in the working group] that some commands sent to vehicles for maintenance, diagnosis and repairs when physically present at a vehicle could pose safety risks when sent to the vehicle remotely,” states a draft report by the working group, released Jan. 14. “The commission may want
to consider whether amendments to the law are necessary to mitigate these risks.” Following a ballot initiative approved by 84% of Maine voters in November 2023, the working group is preparing to send the Maine Legislature by the end of February a report outlining the framework for an independent entity, or commission, to govern the transmission of vehicle data from original equipment manufacturers to independent shops for repair purposes. The draft report — which has gone through three revisions since the working group started convening in August — also newly notes the working group’s intent to steer l CONTINUED ON PAGE 32
REGIONAL NEWS
Massachusetts Collision Repair Market Tough, But Still Attracts Entry By Paul Hughes Autobody News
Boy that “Mass market” is a tough crowd. Massachusetts is widely seen as offering a difficult dynamic for body shops — with labor rate reimbursement the big bugaboo everyone mentions — but it still attracts, garnering its share of attention. Its share is small, but growing. At
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Virginia-based Envest Private Equity bought into Massachusetts in August, with its first acquisition, Authentic Auto Body in Holliston
INSIDE THIS ISSUE 15
Mike Anderson: 10 Things I’d Like to See in 2025 in the Collision
22
Abby Andrews: The Cost of Contamination: How to Clean Up Your
Repair Industry
Paint Department to Drive Profit
16
Stacey Phillips Ronak: AI Will Augment – Not Replace – Invaluable Role of ‘Human Intelligence’ in Collision Industry
50
John Yoswick: Automaker Details Repair Procedure Development, Says It Will Audit Certified Shops
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