US car dealerships are grappling with ongoing outages following cyberattacks on CDK

Auto retailers and car dealerships across the United States are grappling with ongoing disruptions following a second cyberattack on tech company CDK Global. CDK Global specializes in software used for managing auto customers and their vehicles, and the recent attacks have severely impacted its operations.

In a message sent to customers on Thursday, CDK Global acknowledged the second cyberattack, which occurred late Wednesday, warning that it could lead to extended outages. The company stated that it currently does not have an estimated time frame for resolving the issues, indicating that dealers’ systems will not be available at least through Thursday.

As a precautionary measure to maintain security, CDK Global has kept its customer support teams unavailable during this period of disruption. Lisa Finney, a spokesperson for CDK, confirmed the incident, stating that “most of our systems” have been affected. CDK Global is actively working with third-party experts to assess the impact of the attacks and provide updates to affected customers. The company emphasized its commitment to restoring services swiftly to minimize disruption to dealerships.

CDK Global’s software operates in approximately 15,000 dealerships across the country, highlighting the widespread impact of these cyberattacks on the automotive industry’s operational continuity. The situation underscores the vulnerabilities faced by critical software providers and the importance of robust cybersecurity measures in safeguarding business operations against malicious cyber threats.