A New Cyber Landscape: The Threats Dealerships Can’t Ignore

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Cybersecurity IT Management

Published: November 4, 2026

3 min read

From customer records to financial transactions, dealerships rely on connected systems to manage daily operations. After all, a connected system is an efficient one. But it can sometimes create multiple points of access for cybercriminals — if you’re not careful.

Cybercriminals are constantly looking to exploit trusted relationships and sensitive data, and that’s never been clearer than in 2026. Identity-based attacks are becoming more common, AI is making phishing attempts more convincing, and ransomware is creating new challenges for prevention and recovery.

These trends point to an alarming reality for dealerships: Cybercriminals increasingly rely on stolen access rather than traditional break-in methods. This shift sets the scene for a new cyber landscape, but understanding the latest tactics can help safeguard your dealership and identify where additional protection may be needed.

Identity Is Becoming a Primary Target

Today’s cybercriminals are increasingly finding ways to operate within trusted systems rather than using conventional malware to gain access. A stolen credential, hijacked session, or misused administrative tool can give an attacker access without triggering the warning signs typically associated with malware. Identity-based approaches now account for 79 percent of ransomware attacks, while malware was absent from 82 percent of detections.

That shift creates a different challenge for dealerships. Detecting something obviously malicious is one thing. Recognizing when seemingly normal activity is actually performed by an attacker is far more difficult.

As identities become a preferred entry point, visibility into who accesses critical systems, how they access them, and what activity is legitimate has become crucial.

Ransomware Recovery Is Improving, but Costs Remain High

Ransomware continues to threaten business continuity, even as organizations improve their ability to recover from attacks.

The average ransomware recovery cost reached $1.7 million in 2026, excluding ransom payments, representing an 11 percent increase from the previous year. For dealerships, an incident can mean more than the direct cost of restoring systems. Disrupted operations, inaccessible records, and most importantly, interrupted customer service can create additional challenges.

But there is encouraging news: Backup-based recovery climbed to 66 percent, while paying to recover dropped to 48 percent, its lowest level in three years. This suggests that investments in recoverable backups are improving organizational resilience.

AI Is Raising the Bar for Phishing Detection

The inbox remains one of the easiest ways for a cybercriminal to reach the identity layer.

Malicious email (26 percent) and phishing (24 percent) are now the two most common root causes of ransomware incidents, accounting for half of incidents combined.

AI is adding another layer of complexity. Attackers can use AI to produce phishing messages that are more personalized, polished, and convincing. Familiar warning signs like spelling mistakes, strange formatting, or poorly written messages are less reliable indicators of malicious activity.

For dealership employees who regularly communicate with customers, vendors, manufacturers, or financial partners, a convincing message may be difficult to distinguish from a legitimate request. A phishing email that appears routine could prompt an employee to share credentials, open a malicious attachment, or provide access to sensitive information.

This makes a layered cybersecurity approach essential. Email filtering, employee awareness training, and ongoing monitoring for suspicious activity can help identify threats that a single security measure may miss.

Vulnerability Management Still Has a Role to Play

While identity-based attacks dominated many cybersecurity headlines this year, vulnerabilities remain an important part of the story. Exploited vulnerabilities fell from 32 percent to 18 percent of ransomware root causes, reflecting progress in patching and vulnerability management efforts.

At the same time, several security researchers have warned that AI may allow attackers to discover and weaponize vulnerabilities more quickly in the future. As a result, the decline may reflect a shift in attacker preference rather than a permanent reduction in risk.

What Trends Suggest Going Forward

The trends shaping cybersecurity in 2026 point toward a threat landscape increasingly centered on trust, identity, and speed. As the bad guys continue adapting their methods, organizations are placing greater emphasis on visibility, resilience, and the ability to distinguish suspicious behavior from normal activity before significant damage occurs.

The dealerships best positioned for the year ahead pair strong cybersecurity technology with the expertise to deploy, configure, monitor, and respond to it effectively.

For a deeper look at how ransomware, phishing, and identity-based attacks are evolving — and what to do to stay ahead — check out our Cybersecurity 2026 Whitepaper.