Although most dealers believe their stores are secure, true insights only come when a thorough IT audit is conducted. Today, we explore what a real-world dealership audit can uncover and why being compliant doesn’t always guarantee security with Hunter Giambra, Founder and President of Hurricane IT Solutions. Giambra joins the latest Inside Automotive episode to discuss why auto retail stores are facing escalating cybersecurity risks and hidden operational waste.
According to Giambra, Hurricane IT Solutions serves dealerships and automotive businesses, from collision repair shops to OEM facilities, by evaluating every part of a dealership’s IT setup to identify operational cost savings and eliminate unnecessary spending.
Giambra said dealerships often invest in security hardware and software without configuring it correctly, leaving stores technically equipped but still exposed.
"You can be secure, but you can't be compliant, or you can be compliant, but you're not really secure... Just because you have all the security in place and you've purchased the hardware doesn't mean you've got the right settings..."
Uncovering hidden overhead
Giambra said Hurricane IT treats dealerships like banks because of the sensitive financial and payment information running through their dealer management systems, which is why PCI compliance carries the same weight it would for a financial institution. He added that regulators have cracked down on basic lapses, such as shared staff passwords or unlocked workstations, with fines that Giambra said can run up to $30,000 per incident, depending on the violation.
Beyond security risks, legacy network setups can quietly drain a dealership’s profit margins. Giambra said his team has uncovered as much as $500,000 in wasted spend at some multi-store groups running 10 to 20 rooftops.
In one recurring example, Giambra said dealerships pay upward of $100,000 a year for internet service, even though outdated switches and routers cap their actual speed well below what they’re paying for. “So why are you guys paying for something you guys can’t have?” Giambra said. By auditing hardware and streamlining network tools, Hurricane IT has saved dealers $50,000 to $100,000 over three-year terms while adding backup internet service.
Supporting in-house teams
Bringing in outside IT support does not mean replacing existing personnel, but in-house IT managers often face burnout from round-the-clock management of routine daily tickets. External partners step in to handle 24/7 network monitoring, weekend coverage, and third-party compliance verification.
To help dealers evaluate their current vulnerabilities, Hurricane IT Solutions offers a risk-free 60-day trial to audit systems, identify wasted spend, and fortify store networks before compliance audits or security breaches occur. For more information, call 1-800-457-0011.
