Topline
Software provider CDK Global, which works with thousands of car dealerships across the U.S., was hit with a second day of system outages Thursday following another “cyber incident,” the company confirmed to Forbes.
The first cyberattack occurred Tuesday evening and systems were restored—until a second struck … [+]
Key Facts
CDK Global spokesperson Lisa Finney said the company “proactively shut down most of our systems” and is assessing the impact with experts, adding it is trying to “reinstate our services and get our dealers back to business as usual as quickly as possible.”
Systems may be down all of Thursday, according to CNN, which received a screenshot from an anonymous dealer of a CDK message sent to dealerships.
National Automobile Dealers Association President and CEO Mike Stanton told Forbes in an email dealers are “actively seeking information from CDK to determine the nature and scope of the cyber incident so they can respond appropriately.”
What We Don’t Know
The exact time the first cyberattack occurred is unknown, as CBS News reported it was Tuesday evening and Quartz reported early Wednesday. The individual, or group, behind the incidents is also unknown at this time.
Big Number
More than 15,000. That’s how many dealerships CDK Global works with in North America, according to its website. It is unclear how many are located in the U.S., but Forbes has contacted CDK Global for more information.
Key Background
CDK Global offers numerous services and products, such as digital retail tools and IT solutions, for a variety of spaces in the automotive industry, including car dealerships and equipment manufacturers. In 2014, it was spun off by Automatic Data Processing Inc. and was acquired by Brookfield Business Partners for $6.4 billion in 2022, according to Bloomberg.
Further Reading
Car dealerships hit with second day of massive computer system outage (CNN)
CDK cyberattack shuts down auto dealerships across the U.S. Here’s what to know. (CBS News)
Brookfield to Purchase CDK for $6.4 Billion in All-Cash Deal (Bloomberg)
