INVERNESS, Ill., April 6 /PRNewswire/ -- Open Secure Access (OSA), a coalition of companies that believe dealers should control access to the data they own and determine how it is used, today, released a draft of Automotive Retail Data Security Guidelines. A finalized set of guidelines are scheduled to be released by mid-year. The guidelines address the access and use of dealer data by dealer-authorized third parties. These guidelines include recommendations to establish the appropriate contractual, physical, electronic, and procedural controls and safeguards to protect against unwarranted disclosure and to enable secure access, transport, storage and use of dealer data. The draft guidelines can be found on the Open Secure Access website at http://www.opensecureaccess.com .
Dealers have the responsibility to protect the data stored in their systems. At the same time, it is critical that dealers are free to direct the use of their data and choose the most powerful tools and partners available to drive the profitability of their businesses. To help dealers make informed decisions about the security of their partners' solutions, OSA will work with a broad cross-section of industry participants to create Automotive Retail Data Security Guidelines and a certification program to validate adherence to these guidelines by third parties.
"Dealers should be confident that the data that leaves their dealership is protected," said Allan Stejskal, President of OSA. "Broadly accepted guidelines that address how to do that and a certification program will give dealers the confidence they need to choose partners on whom they can rely to protect their data."
OSA members worked together to create the draft of the Data Security Guidelines. OSA now plans to work closely with dealer groups; dealers; industry groups such as STAR (Standards for Technology in Automotive Retail), NADA and AIADA; auto manufacturers; dealer management system providers, as well as the providers of other software and services to the dealer community to refine the guidelines. Based on the feedback from the industry, OSA will release finalized guidelines by mid-year.
The next step in the process is to develop a certification program using the guidelines as a foundation. Dealers should have a standard to assure themselves that companies that access dealer data have the appropriate tools and procedures in place to protect that data.
About Open Secure Access, Inc. ( http://www.opensecureaccess.com )
Open Secure Access was formed in March, 2006 to promote a technology environment that keeps dealer data safe and secure. Its data protocol goals include giving data access only to partners designated by dealers, keeping data access dealer driven to ensure that dealers can choose partners that provide the greatest opportunity to increase revenue, and keeping data access cost effective by minimizing data extraction and integration costs while keeping the quality and freshness of data high.
OSA's membership includes: ADP, Advent Resources, Arkona, Authenticom, AutoBase, Autobytel Inc., AutoNation, AutoSurvey, AutoTrader.com, Balise Motor Sales, Bill Dube Hyundai, Boerne Superstore, CARFAX, Cars.com, CarsDirect.com, The Cobalt Group, DataCube, Dealer Intelligence, Dealer Specialties, DealerTrack, Decarie Motors, Draper ChevroletDodgeToyota, Fitzgerald Auto Malls, J.C. Billion, J. D. Power and Associates, JMsolutions, Kelley Blue Book, Lithia Motors, Metro West Subaru, Mike Raisor Ford, Microsoft, Oxlo Systems, Phil Smith Automotive Group, Piercey Automotive Group, Ristken Software Services, RouteOne, Sonic Automotive, TimeHighway, TriVIN, VinPlus, and Walser Automotive Group.