A cybersecurity roadmap for distributors: Protecting data and devices in plumbing and HVAC distribution

Think back to the 1980s: working on a car back then was a breeze. Pop the hood of a classic sedan, and you’d find a straightforward engine, a few cables, and maybe a carburetor you could tweak with a screwdriver. Fast forward to today, cars are practically computers on wheels, packed with sensors, software, and systems that demand a tech-savvy approach just to change the oil. Modern warehouses have undergone a similar transformation. Racks and forklifts now share space with cloud platforms, barcode scanners, and mobile apps, turning your operation into a hub that moves not just productivity, but data. That’s why cybersecurity is no longer just an IT issue; it’s an operational and leadership priority.

Whether you’re a regional wholesaler or a national distributor, cyber threats are real, and they’re hitting our industry more often than many want to admit.

Why cybersecurity is now a warehouse issue

Cybercriminals don’t care what you sell, they care about what you have: data, system access, and the ability to grind fulfillment to a halt. They know that even a few hours of downtime can cost thousands in lost orders, strained customer relationships, and reputational damage.

Even well-meaning employees can open the wrong email, click the wrong link, or misconfigure a cloud connection, and that’s all it takes.

The Stats Don’t Lie:

• 43% of all cyberattacks target small businesses. (1)
• 46% of SMBs have already experienced a cyberattack. (2)
• Financial losses can range from $25,000 to $250,000 per incident. (3)
• 60% of small businesses hit by a cyberattack close within six months. (2)
• Attacks happen often: one every 11 seconds. (2)
• 61% of breaches involve SMBs. (4)
• Only 14% of SMBs rate their ability to mitigate cyber risks, vulnerabilities, and attacks as highly effective. (5)

That’s not fearmongering. That’s the reality.

Real-world wake-up call

In early 2024, a New Jersey/Pennsylvania enterprise HVAC and plumbing distributor was nearly compromised—but was saved thanks to proactive security measures. According to a case profile by Overwatch Security Operations Center, attackers attempted a credential stuffing attack, but the distributor’s endpoint protection and 24/7 monitoring stopped it before damage occurred. Their systems stayed online, customer data stayed safe, and business continued uninterrupted. (6)

Five ways cybersecurity protects distributors

1. Stops Data Breaches Before They Start
   Inventory records, pricing, customer info aren’t just files. They’re your competitive edge. If that data leaks, you lose more than money, you lose control. Strong firewalls, secure user access, and proper system segmentation help keep that edge safe.
2. Prevents Identity Theft and Account Hijacking
   Your employees log in to ERPs, WMS platforms, and supplier portals every day. If credentials are compromised, attackers can impersonate your people and wreak havoc. Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is a must.
3. Blocks Malware, Ransomware, and Phishing
   It only takes one wrong click. Email filters, endpoint protection, and continuous user training help keep threats out, and limit the damage when one sneaks through.
4. Ensures Business Continuity with Secure Backups
   Downtime costs money. If your WMS or order system goes down and you don’t have clean, verified backups, recovery could take days. Backups should be offsite, encrypted, and tested regularly, not just assumed.
5. Safeguards Your Brand and Relationships
   In distribution, reputation is everything. A breach that delays orders or compromises customer info can undo decades of trust. Cybersecurity is part of protecting your promise to your customers.

Run cyber drills like fire drills

Here’s a simple question: When’s the last time you ran a disaster recovery drill?

In your warehouse, you run drills for fires, tornadoes, and other severe weather. Everyone knows the plan. Cybersecurity should be no different.

If the first time you reimage a server or restore a backup is after an attack, you’re flying blind. You need to know:

• Who initiates the recovery plan?
• How long until you're back online?
• What systems are mission-critical?
• What’s the communication plan?

Treat cybersecurity like any other emergency protocol. Schedule the drills. Run them. Document the results.

Roadmap: 5 Cybersecurity actions for distributors now & over the next year

Here’s what a small-to-midsize plumbing or HVAC distributor can do right now, and over the next 12 months to build a real cybersecurity foundation:

1. Conduct a Risk and Supply Chain Assessment (Months 0–3)
   Start by inventorying systems (ERP, WMS, mobile devices, IoT sensors) and identifying access points and third-party services. Evaluate which vendors have access to your data, and what happens if they’re breached. Classify these suppliers by criticality and risk level.
2. Implement Core Protection Controls (Months 1–6)
   Install or upgrade firewalls, endpoint detection tools, and intrusion prevention systems across your IT environment. Keep software patched and stay ahead of known vulnerabilities. This is your first line of defense.
3. Enforce Strong Identity Controls Including MFA (Months 1–4)
   Require multi-factor authentication for access to ERP, WMS, and cloud systems. Yes, your team will groan when they have to change their passwords again, and yes, they’ll complain about the requirements: uppercase, lowercase, numbers, symbols. But this isn’t optional. These controls stop a huge percentage of breaches cold.
4. Train Your Team & Maintain Cyber Drills (Ongoing)
   No one likes to get caught opening a test phishing email from IT: especially when it means sitting through more training. But those simulations do one important thing: they create hesitation. They make people second-guess suspicious messages. That’s a mindset shift, and it matters. Combine this with regular cybersecurity training and full-scale recovery drills.
5. Build Recovery Capability & Governance Framework (Months 3–12)
   Set up secure, offsite backups and test them regularly. Document your response plan and assign clear roles. If you don’t have the internal muscle for this, consider working with a managed security services provider (MSSP) to cover monitoring, alerts, and emergency response.

Final word: Lead the effort

Cybersecurity isn’t about paranoia, it’s about preparation. As warehouse leaders, we train on safety, efficiency, and customer service. Cybersecurity deserves the same level of attention.

You don’t need to become a tech expert. But you do need to ask better questions, hold your vendors and teams accountable, and build a plan that doesn’t just react to problems, but prevents them.

In an industry built on reliability, it’s time our digital infrastructure is just as dependable as our delivery trucks.