Why Many Trucking IT Teams Have Dangerous Security Gaps
The landscape of cybersecurity threats in trucking has evolved dramatically. While having an IT team is essential, specialized cybersecurity expertise has become crucial for protecting your operations.
Here's why:
The IT vs. Cybersecurity Gap
Information Technology (IT) focuses on keeping systems running efficiently - managing networks, maintaining hardware, and ensuring business applications function properly. Cybersecurity, however, requires a different skill set focused on protecting against evolving threats.
According to the National Motor Freight Traffic Association (NMFTA), cybercriminals can now compromise credentials in just 49 seconds after a phishing email is opened. Standard IT practices often aren't equipped to handle these sophisticated attacks.
Key Security Gaps in Trucking IT:
- Identity Management and Access Control - Most trucking companies struggle with identity management fundamentals. We often see terminals sharing passwords between drivers, weak password policies that invite breaches, and insufficient oversight of vendor access to critical systems. Without proper identity controls, unauthorized users can easily gain access to sensitive data and systems.
- Legacy Systems Vulnerability -The challenge of maintaining older equipment creates significant security risks. Many legacy systems can't support modern security measures, leaving known vulnerabilities exposed. When companies try to integrate these older systems with new technology, security gaps often emerge in the connections between systems.
- Cloud Security Oversight - As trucking operations increasingly rely on cloud services, many IT teams lack sufficient tools and expertise to monitor cloud-based vendor security. This creates blind spots in security coverage, especially regarding third-party access. Without proper cloud security protocols and backup plans, companies risk losing critical data or access to essential services.
- Employee Security Training - The human element remains a critical vulnerability. With only 20% of employees reporting suspicious emails, and a mere 11% reporting after clicking a phishing link, it's clear that most companies lack robust security awareness programs. Regular training and clear reporting procedures are essential but often overlooked components of a complete security strategy.
Real-World Impact
Consider two contrasting scenarios we've encountered:
Case 1: A trucking company with only IT support and limited security lost 20 years of data to ransomware because their patching was outdated and backups weren't properly secured.
Case 2: A client with our enterprise cybersecurity solution recovered from a sophisticated Russian ransomware attack in 18 hours with ZERO data loss.
The Solution: Co-Managed Cybersecurity
Modern trucking operations need both IT and cybersecurity expertise. A co-managed approach allows your IT team to focus on their core strengths while cybersecurity experts:
- Implement advanced threat detection
- Manage security policies and compliance
- Provide incident response planning
- Monitor for emerging threats
Moving Forward:
As we progress through 2025, the distinction between IT and cybersecurity becomes increasingly critical. Successful cyberattacks on trucking companies increased by 75% in 2023-2024, according to CrowdStrike's latest threat report.
Don't wait for a breach to discover your security gaps. Reach out and schedule a complimentary cyber strategy session to evaluate your current security posture and identify potential vulnerabilities.








