Compliance Wrapped 2023

Whether your year centered around Barbenheimer, the rise of pickleball, or the Rihanna half-time show, 2023 has surely been a year to remember.

In the automotive world, we saw a lot happen too. In June, the FTC Safeguards officially went into effect. Shortly following, an addendum on breach reporting was added. (Don’t worry – you have until May to work on that one). Here at Proton we’ve been busy helping customers create custom security programs, becoming FTC compliant, and ensuring consistent security throughout their entire dealership. We also focused on improving the user experience and functionality of the new Proton Compliance Portal, and we have more in store for 2024.

Here are some steps you can take to move confidently into the new year.

Info Security Training

Training employees is going to be crucial in 2024. According to SecurityScorecard, phishing attacks and ransomware are the most common forms of cyberattacks in automotive. This means it’s more important than ever for your employees to have the skills needed to spot, react, and protect from phishing attacks. We offer employee security training as part of our compliance package, but it’s up to you to emphasize the importance of employee security and encourage attention and completion of these trainings.

Qualified Individual Resources

Many Qualified Individuals (QI) stepped into their role for the first time this year. In 2024, it will be important for your QI to really dive into compliance. Your QI should be comfortable and knowledgeable about topics such as; changing or updated security requirements, trainings for yourself and your team, implementation and incident response processes. Proton is your trusted partner, but, unfortunately we’re not allowed to be your QI. We will cheer you on and give you all of the tools and resources to meet compliance goals. This could be utilizing our training resources in the Compliance Portal or subscribing to newsletters that keep you up to date on incident prevention and current news, like Byte. It’s ultimately the responsibility of your QI to implement and enforce your new security program. If ever you need us, we’re just a click away with our new “Contact Us” button directly in your compliance portal.

Our new year’s resolution is simple: Help you enter your compliance era and tackle cybersecurity like a pro. If you want to make sure your dealership is in tip-top shape for the new year, let’s talk.