The Reynolds and Reynolds Co. announced construction of a state-of-the-art security operations center for Proton Dealership IT at Reynolds’ headquarters in Dayton, Ohio. Reynolds acquired Proton this past summer, and the strength of the combined companies allows for higher-scale delivery of service expertise.

The center will be a vital component to Proton’s ongoing security monitoring and response activities for cyberthreats at dealerships across North America. The Proton facility will also upgrade Reynolds’ existing network operations center by adding a dedicated space exclusively for monitoring security.

“Active monitoring of a dealership’s network is a vital step toward preventing cyberattacks,” said Reynolds President Chris Walsh. “This new operations center is a significant investment and allows us to further demonstrate we are the best choice for automotive dealership cybersecurity.”

The facility will collect and analyze data to identify suspicious or malicious activity on behalf of clients. Round-the-clock monitoring by Reynolds staff is aimed at thwarting cybercriminals, who never stop attacking.

When the center is fully operational, it will be headed by Reynolds Chief Information Security Officer Nikhil Kalani. Cybersecurity personnel will be on-site and receive ongoing training on the current cyber landscape, the tools criminals use, and the methods they employ to keep their skills sharp. This team will continuously monitor and analyze the security of Proton clients, defend them against security breaches, and actively isolate and mitigate security risks.

“There is a big difference between what it means to be compliant, and what it means to be secure,” Kalani said. “With dealerships constantly under attack, the cybersecurity professionals in the center, and the tools they will have at their disposal, will be dealers’ first line of defense.”

Construction of the facility is scheduled to be completed in 2023.