Cybersecurity in the Automotive Industry: 3 Best Practices

Businesses in the automotive aftermarket industry increasingly rely on information technology to store data, streamline processes and stay competitive in an evolving industry. However, as the industry becomes more interconnected, automotive aftermarket businesses face an increased risk of cyber attacks.

Sensitive information like names, addresses, credit and debit card numbers are highly valuable to cybercriminals, who can leverage this data to commit identity theft, extortion and fraud. As a business owner, you may be held responsible if a data breach occurs and customer information is stolen—which can result in significant financial and reputational harm.

In this article, we’ll discuss the growing threat of cyber attacks in the automotive industry and how you can enhance your cybersecurity program to stay protected.

The Rising Cost of Automotive Cybersecurity Attacks

The cost of a data breach can be significant for automotive businesses of all sizes. According to the 2025 Cost of a Data Breach study, the global average cost of a data breach is $4.4 million. For each data record that is stolen, your business risks regulatory fines, incident responses costs and potential lawsuits, in addition to severe loss of customer trust.

While new technological developments, such as AI-powered tools and techniques, can help businesses better detect and defend against impending threats, they also empower cybercriminals to launch increasingly sophisticated attacks. As threats against the auto industry increase and become more costly, it’s critical that businesses prioritize developing a robust cybersecurity framework.  

How to Strengthen Cybersecurity in the Automotive Industry

To protect your business, your assets and your reputation, your automotive aftermarket business needs the right risk management strategies and insurance policies in place. Use these best practices to mitigate the risk of automotive cyber attacks and protect your business’s bottom line.

1. Develop an Incident Response Plan

Businesses in the automotive aftermarket maintain private information on their networks that can be stolen or leaked, such as details related to:

• Patents
• Trade
• Design

For example, a distributor with a vendor agreement that includes compensation as well as MAP (or minimum advertised price) information could face significant reputational harm if a cyber threat actor accesses and exposes this information. The same could be said for garage owners, who host and maintain sensitive customer and vendor data.

In today’s complex risk environment, all organizations need to protect employee data as well as their own personal financial information. A well-written incident response plan is a vital part of a strong cybersecurity framework, not only within the automotive industry, but as a general best practice in helping organizations effectively defend against and respond to threats before they happen.

An effective plan will outline the specific actions your organization will take before, during and after a cybersecurity attack occurs, and will clearly delineate responsibilities among your staff so everyone knows their role when the unexpected takes place.

2. Perform Tabletop Exercises

Tabletop exercises allow your organization to simulate attacks, identify weak spots in your response and proactively correct them before a real incident strikes. Make sure to include team members across your organization in the simulation, including IT, security teams, executive leadership, risk management, communications and legal counsel, to practice a full walkthrough of an attack response. In the event of a true cyber attack, your organization will be better prepared to respond quickly and efficiently, allowing you to mitigate losses.

3. Work with an Experienced Cyber Insurance Broker

As the premier automotive aftermarket broker, RevPro develops comprehensive cyber insurance programs designed to address the unique cyber risks your business faces. Our team of specialists go beyond simply securing insurance policies; we also help organizations stay vigilant and reduce the frequency and severity of claims with cybersecurity awareness training. As a true partner in achieving your risk management objectives, the specialists at RevPro help to enhance your organization’s resilience so you can sustain your operations long-term.

RevPro: Your Partner in Strengthening Cybersecurity in the Automotive Industry

RevPro is a national insurance broker, built and backed by Alliant Insurance Services, to protect businesses against the ever-evolving threats of the automotive aftermarket—from cybersecurity attacks to product recalls. Our specialists bring over 30 years of experience in developing tailored risk management solutions and strategies for parts manufacturers, material suppliers, wholesale distributors, automotive re-stylers, ancillary service providers and many others.

As the endorsed insurance broker of the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) and Performance Racing Industry (PRI), RevPro leads the automotive aftermarket in building comprehensive insurance programs. Request a quote today to learn how we can protect your business against the biggest industry threats.