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Cybersecurity is no longer a back-office IT concern for the auto service industry. From tire centers and service bays to fleet operators and car washes, cyber risk has become a direct business continuity issue. Attackers aren’t just targeting global manufacturers—they’re going after the everyday businesses that keep vehicles running and customers moving.
To better understand the state of cybersecurity in the sector, VikingCloud surveyed IT and cybersecurity leaders from across the U.S. auto service ecosystem. The findings are clear: cybercrime is accelerating, attacks are growing more sophisticated, and many businesses remain dangerously unprepared. At the same time, a strong trend is emerging—more auto service businesses are recognizing that working with a managed security service provider (MSSP) is no longer optional, but essential.
Here are the most important insights from the research—and what they mean for your business.
Cybercrime Has Entered the Service Bay
The days of thinking “we’re too small to be a target” are over. Our survey found that 68% of auto service shops were successfully attacked in the past year. Even more concerning, 40% of cybersecurity leaders believe those attacks were driven by AI—using tactics like hyper-targeted phishing, deepfake impersonation, or automated password cracking.
The industry’s top vulnerabilities paint an even clearer picture of why attackers are circling. Cybersecurity leaders cited:
- Point-of-sale (POS) systems — 66%
- Websites and mobile apps — 36%
- IoT-connected diagnostic tools in service bays — 38%
- Customer-facing portals — 32%
These are the very systems that keep operations running and revenue flowing. If a POS terminal or diagnostic system goes down, so does the business. Cybercriminals know it—and they’re exploiting it.
The True Cost of Cyberattacks: Downtime, Dollars, and Damage
When a cyberattack hits, the consequences are swift and severe. More than half of respondents whose businesses were breached reported 24–48 hours or more of downtime before operations were restored. For some, recovery took a full week.
Looking ahead, cybersecurity leaders admitted that if their business were attacked today, half (50%) expect at least a full day of downtime for essential systems like payment processing, scheduling, or service bays.
The financial and reputational fallout is equally alarming:
- 44% expect major financial losses or regulatory fines after an attack.
- 38% expect lawsuits or legal costs from affected customers.
- 38% anticipate a decline in repeat business or loyalty.
- 32% fear reputational damage and negative reviews that drive customers away.
For auto service centers, this means a single successful attack doesn’t just stall a day’s worth of oil changes or tire replacements. It can trigger a chain reaction of lost revenue, compliance penalties, angry customers, and long-term brand damage.
Reporting Gaps: A Culture of Silence
One of the most troubling findings is culture, not technology. 28% of cybersecurity leaders admitted that they, or someone on their team, intentionally hid a cyber incident because they feared losing their job.
That fear extends upward. 64% said material cybersecurity incidents were never reported to executive leadership. In other words, cybersecurity leaders at the top may be unaware of the true scope of risk their businesses face.
This lack of transparency leaves organizations blind at the very moment they need clarity most. Without accurate reporting and a tested incident response plan, auto service businesses can’t contain threats quickly—or meet regulatory and customer expectations for breach disclosure.
This is precisely where MSSPs add value: Providing independent monitoring, standardized reporting, and an escalation process that takes fear and finger-pointing out of the equation.
Staffing Shortages Meet Dangerous Overconfidence
Cybersecurity has always been a talent challenge, and auto service businesses are no exception. Nearly a quarter (24%) of cybersecurity leaders report that staffing challenges—hiring or retaining qualified cybersecurity professionals—directly increase their organization’s risk, while 26% said their teams aren’t equipped to respond to emerging threats like AI-driven attacks.
At the same time, 88% of cybersecurity leaders claimed confidence that their employees could recognize deepfake-style attacks or AI-generated phishing. This is a dangerous disconnect: Staff are stretched thin, threats are becoming more advanced, yet cybersecurity leaders remain overconfident in their teams’ readiness.
The reality is that even well-trained employees can be tricked by today’s sophisticated phishing and social engineering attacks. MSSPs provide the 24/7 monitoring, rapid detection, and automated response capabilities that overextended in-house teams simply can’t match.
MSSPs Are Becoming the Industry Standard
If there’s one encouraging finding in the survey, it’s that auto service centers are increasingly recognizing the value of outside expertise. 62% of respondents already work with an MSSP, and another 28% plan to implement one soon.
That means 9 in 10 businesses see managed services as essential to their defense strategy.
It’s easy to see why:
- Scalability - MSSPs provide enterprise-grade protection that grows with the business, without runaway costs.
- Expertise - They fill gaps in specialized knowledge that in-house teams often lack.
- Consistency - MSSPs enforce monitoring, reporting, and response protocols that reduce downtime and risk.
- Future readiness - They help businesses stay ahead of emerging threats like AI-driven phishing, ransomware, and supply chain exploits.
In short, MSSPs aren’t a “nice-to-have.” They’re the only way many auto service centers can realistically defend themselves in an era where attackers are better funded, better resourced, and increasingly automated.
The Road Ahead: Don’t Wait for the Next Attack
The survey results are unambiguous: auto service centers are under siege. Attacks are rising, downtime is costly, and talent shortages are leaving dangerous gaps in defense. At the same time, the industry is clearly moving toward MSSPs as the solution.
If you operate in automotive—whether a service center, fleet business, tire shop, or aftermarket parts—now is the time to act:
- Assess your vulnerabilities - POS systems, IoT diagnostic tools, and customer portals are top attacker targets.
- Close the reporting gap - Build a culture of transparency with documented incident response plans.
- Don’t rely on confidence alone - Train employees, and back them up with professional monitoring.
- Partner with an MSSP - Gain around-the-clock protection, scalability, and expertise that’s impossible to replicate in-house.
At VikingCloud, we work with businesses across the auto service industry to reduce risk, minimize downtime, and protect customer trust. Whether you’re just beginning your cybersecurity journey or looking to strengthen an existing program, our managed security services help you stay a step ahead of attackers.
Because in today’s automotive world, cybersecurity isn’t just about protecting data—it’s about keeping your business moving forward.
For a detailed illustration of VikingCloud's 2025 Auto Service Survey, view the infographic, What's Really Threatening Auto Service, Repair, and Parts Businesses in 2025.
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