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If you own and operate an equipment vendor business, your main priorities are to move your inventory, achieve or surpass your sales targets, and deliver outstanding customer service that fosters referrals and generates repeat business. However, it’s essential to recognize that there are additional priorities requiring your attention: the looming threat of cyberattacks.
These threats can jeopardize your operations, compromise customer data, and undermine the trust you’ve worked hard to build with your customer base. If your vendor business lacks robust cybersecurity measures, it may become an attractive target for cybercriminals. In this Ameris Bank Equipment Finance blog article, we discuss five cybersecurity strategies specifically designed for equipment vendors.
Reasons why cybercriminals target equipment vendors.
Cybercriminals are aware that equipment vendors handle large amounts of sensitive information, including customer data such as Social Security numbers, employer identification numbers, personal addresses, business addresses, and income information, as well as intellectual property. By breaching these vendors, cybercriminals can access and exploit this valuable data for financial gain.
Additionally, cybercriminals often target equipment vendors to breach their systems and gain unauthorized access to the networks of manufacturing companies that supply equipment or collaborate with them. By infiltrating a vendor, these malicious actors can gather sensitive information, disrupt operations, or even manipulate manufacturing processes. As of 2025, the manufacturing industry has been the top target for cybercrimes for four consecutive years.1
Lastly, cybercriminals are always on the lookout for equipment vendor businesses with weak cybersecurity systems. These vulnerabilities make such businesses appealing targets for exploitation..
Assess your vendor business’s systems.
Assessing the cybersecurity measures and potential vulnerabilities within your equipment vendor business is a crucial strategy for safeguarding your operations. This assessment can be conducted by your in-house information technology (IT) manager or by hiring a third-party cybersecurity professional or firm.
By analyzing your cybersecurity systems, you can pinpoint areas of risk, ensure compliance with industry standards, and implement tools that protect sensitive company and customer data.
Invest in necessary cybersecurity improvements.
When your IT manager or a third-party cybersecurity expert conducts a thorough analysis of your current cybersecurity systems, they may identify specific areas for improvement. If this is the case with your vendor business, do not delay these recommended improvements. The sooner you invest in the necessary enhancements, the sooner you will have more powerful cybersecurity measures in place.
The cost of cybersecurity tools and upgrades depends on the specific needs of your equipment vendor business, its size, and the number of locations you operate. Generally, next-generation firewalls, network monitoring tools, vulnerability scanners, antivirus software, cloud-based software, and intrusion detection/prevention systems (IDS/IPS) can be quite costly.
You can preserve your capital by financing cybersecurity equipment. Equipment financing allows you to make predictable monthly payments over a predetermined period, providing you with the financial flexibility to allocate resources to other areas of your equipment vendor business..
Secure your website.
Cybercriminals attempt to breach websites around the clock—24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Their relentless efforts involve tactics such as phishing schemes and malware injections, all aimed at accessing sensitive data or disrupting online services. To secure your website, your IT manager, website manager, or a third-party cybersecurity expert can implement several protective measures.
To start, make sure your website has a Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) certificate, which activates Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS). You can identify this by looking for the padlock icon in the search bar. Next, regularly update your website’s software, including the theme, plugins, and content management system. Avoid using open-source plugins that may be vulnerable to security breaches. Finally, limit user access and require strong passwords and two-factor authentication (2FA) for enhanced security.
Prioritize cybersecurity training for both yourself and your staff.
You, your sales managers, and your support staff are direct pathways into the systems of your equipment vendor business. As such, everyone must understand how to identify and prevent cyberattacks. This knowledge safeguards your business’s sensitive data and ensures a more secure environment for your customers and partners.
You can hire a third-party cybersecurity expert or firm to train you and your employees. Common topics include safe internet browsing practices, protecting sensitive customer information, avoiding suspicious emails and downloads, and blocking/reporting fraudulent calls and/or texts.
Control device and data access.
Laptops and mobile devices are common targets for theft due to their value and portability. Their risk of being misplaced or stolen increases during transitions between locations, such as moving from an equipment showroom to a lot or while out in the field. It is important to hold employees accountable for the devices they use. Additionally, have your IT team configure the devices to automatically lock after a specified period of inactivity.
Plus, limit the amount of data that your employees have access to. Specifically, they should only have access to the information necessary for their job functions. This protects sensitive data from unauthorized access and minimizes the risk of data breaches.
Sources.
1 – https://www.ibm.com/thought-leadership/institute-business-value/en-us/report/2025-threat-intelligence-index
The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual.