What is Data Compliance?

Today dealerships are dealing with more data than ever before. Whether it’s digital information stored in your CRM, credit applications sitting on sales folks desks, or prior owner data stored in the depths of a glovebox, it is all subject to Federal Trade Commission compliance mandates. This is true for all types of dealers: automotive, powersports, marine and RV dealerships. No matter what you sell, you face a growing need to prioritize information security compliance. The new challenge of FTC regulations complicates things further. We break down what you need to know about getting compliant with FTC guidelines and protecting your customers’ consumer data.

Understanding Information Security Compliance

First, let’s define the nebulous term “Information Security Compliance.”

Importance of Information Security Compliance

Failing to comply with these FTC regulations can lead to severe penalties, legal consequences, and reputational damage. In an age where data breaches, phishing attacks, and identity theft are prevalent, car dealers must prioritize robust information security practices to ensure the confidentiality and integrity of car dealer data.

Navigating Information Security Compliance

Finding a path through the minefield of FTC compliance can be difficult. We’ve outlined the key steps your dealership needs to take on its journey to information security compliance to protect its customers’ data.

Achieving compliance is not a one and done item you can check off your to-do list. It’s an ongoing journey. One that requires a plan of consistent steps to follow that will protect your business and customers. You don’t need to be an expert in Federal Trade Commission Compliance regulations, but it does help to have a partner like A2C to ensure you’re on the right road to compliance.

Assess Risks

The journey to information security compliance begins with a thorough risk assessment. Dealerships must identify potential vulnerabilities in their data handling processes, evaluate how data is collected, stored, and transmitted, and pinpoint areas that require additional security measures.

The A2C Portal™ Dashboard & Reports offer self-assessments so you can get a report on your progress toward FTC compliance. The ongoing compliance status updates with A2C Simple Assessments™ are the fastest and easiest-to-use self-administered assessments on the market.

Develop Policies and Procedures

To achieve FTC compliance, dealerships must develop comprehensive information security policies and procedures tailored to their specific needs. These documents outline how sensitive data is handled, who has access, and what security measures are in place.

A2C Policies and Procedures™ provide a full suite of enterprise-grade information security compliance policies and procedures. Dealerships can adopt, edit to best align with their specific dealership or dealership group, and utilize these templates to create the required Written Information Security Program (WISP).

Employee Training

An informed workforce is essential in maintaining information security compliance. Regular employee training sessions are crucial to educate staff about data protection best practices and the importance of compliance.

A2C Training and Testing™ modules offer information security awareness training and testing for your employees as required by federal and state regulations. These modules allow participants to learn at their own pace, with the flexibility to start and stop as needed, while tracking progress to completion. Moreover, the training platform provides visibility to dealership leadership on employee completion status.

Third-Party Oversight

The average dealership deals with a multitude of third-party service providers with whom they share varying amounts of data. It’s therefore imperative to oversee their compliance with information security regulations. Reviewing their practices and ensuring they align with your dealership’s standards is essential to maintaining data integrity.

A2C Vendor Assessment™ simplifies vendor compliance engagement through a straightforward vendor-completed solution. Illuminated dashboards and reports provide visibility for both dealerships and their vendors to review information security compliance posture at a glance.

Technology Solutions

In today’s digital age, more and more data is shared, stored, and accessed online. Technology is your best asset to achieving, and maintaining, information security compliance. Online threats grow each day. You need to focus on running your business, not running defense against artificial intelligence. The right technology solution partner can do that for you, so you can focus on what matters: your customers.

A2C has a comprehensive toolkit of advanced technology solutions to suit your dealerships’ specific needs. These include offerings like continuous monitoring and anti-phishing products. Our approach will give you everything you need. And if you don’t need those solutions, that’s fine too. You get all of the support you need without paying for what you don’t.

The Benefits of Compliance

Data Protection
Compliance measures safeguard your car dealer data, reducing the risk of data breaches. Compliance measures act as a shield, protecting car dealer data from unauthorized access, phishing attacks, and identity theft. This not only preserves the integrity of customer data but also safeguards your dealership’s reputation.

Legal Protection
FTC compliance ensures your dealership is legally protected. Adhering to regulations mitigates the risk of legal action and costly fines, offering peace of mind in an increasingly litigious environment. By adhering to FTC regulations, you reduce the risk of legal action.

Reputation Management
Strong information security practices are synonymous with trustworthiness. Maintaining compliance enhances your dealership’s reputation, demonstrating trustworthiness to customers and making it an attractive choice for customers concerned about their data’s safety.

Solutions for Information Security Compliance

At Accelerate 2 Compliance – A2C, we’re here to make the information security compliance process easy to understand and manage for you.

Whether you’re an independent or franchise dealer in automotive, RV, power sports, marine, or some other vertical, you’re in the business of selling and servicing products. Studying the ins and outs of compliance would be a waste of your time.

A2C’s portal breaks information security compliance down so you can understand and manage your specific requirements – quickly and easily.

If you need compliance help, the only question you have to ask is Can A2C help you do everything you need? And the answer is yes.

We offer a comprehensive solution to streamline Information Security Compliance for any type of dealership. Our platform simplifies the compliance process by providing tools for assessing compliance status, implementing policies and procedures, offering employee training, and assessing vendor compliance. We also offer a comprehensive toolkit of advanced technology solutions to suit your dealerships’ specific needs.

Are You Compliant?

Information security compliance is not just a legal obligation but a vital aspect of ensuring the longevity and trustworthiness of your dealership. By prioritizing data protection, adhering to FTC regulations, and leveraging solutions like A2C, you can confidently navigate the complexities of compliance. This not only preserves the integrity of car dealer data but also reinforces your reputation as trusted business in your community.

Not sure if you’re compliant? Answer a few questions [LINK] and we’ll help you get started.

To streamline information security compliance, consider solutions like Accelerate 2 Compliance (A2C). A2C offers a comprehensive platform designed to simplify compliance for automotive dealers. Their tools make it easy to assess compliance status, implement policies and procedures, provide employee training, and assess vendor compliance. A2C ensures that you have all the necessary tools at your disposal to protect your car dealer data and maintain FTC compliance.

At A2C we know what we’re doing, so at the end of our process you can rest assured you’ll be headed down the road to compliance.

As the automotive industry continues to evolve, information security compliance will remain a cornerstone of success, safeguarding both customer trust and business viability. By walking the complicated path of FTC compliance, dealerships can forge trail to a secure and thriving future in the digital age.