Fighting Back Against Fleet Cybersecurity Risks

According to recent data, the global cost of cybercrime is expected to surge in the next four years across hundreds of industries, rising from $9.22 trillion in 2024 to $13.82 trillion by 2028. And the transportation sector is no exception. In this piece, we’ll examine the major cybersecurity challenges transportation companies face and what steps they can take to mitigate the risks.

Article Highlights:

• • Transportation companies face ever-increasing cybersecurity threats to their infrastructure, operations, revenue and employees.
  • Much of the technologies companies rely on have vulnerabilities they might not realize are there until its too late.
  • Employing solutions, such as cloud-based applications, that are designed to thwart cyber criminals and are persistently updated to address new risks is key to avoiding pitfalls.

The Stakes for Transportation

As the world of commercial transportation and logistics has incorporated more network-connected devices and services into their equipment and workflows, fleets have become an increasingly attractive and highly profitable target for cyber criminals. Experts report that attacks continue to evolve year over year and range from DDoS and phishing to ransomware and malware. Plus, essentially all stakeholders, services, infrastructures and vehicles can become targets of attacks.

How impactful are they? As we recently explored in a conversation with Conan Sandberg, Global Business Information Security Officer at Trimble, the average cost of recovering from an attack can be approximately $20,000 USD, but this number does not take into account the cost of days a company’s fleet is disabled. For everyone day a truck stands still, millions of dollars in revenue could be lost. The damage may seem irreversible given that all critical information about your fleet and customers could be available on the dark web's black markets, where bad actors may use it to launch various attacks and disrupt your operations.

Fleet mapping systems hold a treasure trove of sensitive data such as driver information, vehicle locations, routes, cargo details and customer data. And a data breach could result in the disclosure of this information to hackers who may then commit identity theft, fraud or other illicit activities. 

Additionally, it’s possible for hackers to interfere with GPS signals and mislead drivers, which could cause inconveniences in route planning and compromise the integrity of any delivery. But most importantly, GPS manipulation also disrupts location tracking and communication with vehicles, which is a major operational and safety risk for drivers.

Understanding the Technology Vulnerabilities

Cyber criminals target the transportation sector for a number of reasons, including its interconnected nature, its reliance on technology, and the valuable data companies hold. To address these risks, organizations need to focus on the effective implementation of encryption, access control and regular security audits in order to secure confidential data and prevent unauthorized access.

For example, the majority of trucking companies traditionally haven't been overly concerned about cyber attacks because they haven't been aware of the risk associated with in-cab equipment, but there are high value loads paired with generally weak cybersecurity practices and limited IT staff that receive minimal training. However, with cyber attacks on trucking rising as much as 186% over the last few years, it’s never been more important for businesses to stand up and take notice.

At the same time, when trucks are connected to back-office systems, drivers are highly susceptible, too. Their personal information is often sent electronically making it easy for hackers to collect, putting themselves and their companies at greater risk. 

In modern vehicles as well, telematics systems are sending and receiving a continuous flow of data from connected components, along with apps and software. In addition, logistics providers and commercial fleets often have complex operating parameters, presenting their own set of vulnerabilities and entry points, posing multiple attack vectors.

How to Protect and Perfect 

For fleets, mapping data is and will remain integral to its operation, and could be at risk if fleet security is compromised. The repercussions of a data leak could damage company brand and reputation, place customers and service providers at risk, and jeopardize business outcomes to the point of forcing closure. 

Traditionally, there is a tendency to overlook the security of a fleet’s devices and the associated software, but when fleet vehicles have access to the IT infrastructure of the company, it is vital to provide a comprehensive cybersecurity plan that includes them.

​​Ensuring fleet mapping data protection from cyberattacks has become an utmost responsibility for every fleet manager. In spite of the fact that it’s impossible to fully mitigate all the risks associated with cybercrime, fleet managers can nevertheless conduct regular vulnerability assessments to identify potential cyber threats. This will ensure that the company’s not at risk and is prepared to take preventative measures to combat cyberattacks.

And as we discussed in a recent piece on the advantages of cloud-based TMS solutions, applications that are designed with these modern problems in mind are key to avoiding potential risks. As Trimble’s cyber security leader, Sandberg, remarked there, “Customers moving to a cloud environment have a pretty large security blanket around them, along with multiple layers of inspection points. If anything concerning were to be in the environment, we would catch it.”

Check out our recent conversation with Kaivan Karimi, global partner strategy and OT cybersecurity lead for the Automotive, Mobility and Transportation Industries at Microsoft, about how Trimble uses Microsoft Azure to secure our cloud-based solutions and protect our customers. 

Looking Ahead

As vehicles become more connected, the need for cybersecurity in the automotive industry becomes increasingly critical. Fleet managers must take proactive measures to protect their vehicles and drivers from emerging threats. When fleet managers equip their vehicles with connected devices, it is not only their responsibility to ensure the security and protection of their vehicles from cyber attacks, but it's also their responsibility to ensure the vehicle manufacturer (who is obligated to follow regulations) provides a solution.

To combat the ongoing threat of cyber attacks, fleet managers can ensure the safety and security of their drivers and cargo by implementing robust security measures and adequate detection tools, regularly updating vehicle mapping software and firmware, and educating drivers about cybersecurity.

Contact our team to learn how Trimble’s cloud-based solutions can help your business minimize cybersecurity risks and prepare for the future.