Cyber Security and Supply Chains

A supply chain is the combination of resources needed to design, manufacture and distribute a product. In cyber security, a supply chain includes hardware and software as well as cloud or local storage and distribution mechanisms.  

Over 80% of organisations have experienced a data breach as a result of cyber vulnerabilities in their supply chain. Threat actors take advantage of the poor security of small vendors in order to gain access to the networks of larger organisations. 

A recent cyber security study found that 82% of organisations suffered data breaches in the past year due to weak supply chain security. However, despite the risk of low cyber security in supply chains, many organisations have little to no knowledge as to whether hackers managed to get into their supply chain, which means that many don’t find out they’ve been the victim of an attack until the damage is done. Cybercriminals tend to target the most vulnerable link in a supply chain in order to gain access to the other elements.  

Common Attack Types 

The three most common risks to supply chains are data leaks, breaches, and malware attacks. Data leaks can occur as a result of external and internal attacks. Employees and hackers both have the ability to leak sensitive data and personal information outside a business.  

Security breaches happen when a hacker or malicious insider infiltrates a system or network without authorisation, with the target usually being to cause chaos through data deletion or corruption. 

Malware attacks can happen through ransomware and hackers demanding large sums of money (usually crypto currency) in exchange for access to locked systems, or trojans can gain access through backdoors. 

3 Main Threats to Supply Chains 

• Intellectual Property - Supply chains rely on keeping knowledge about systems and products within the chain itself. A leak in the chain can threaten the validity of a business 
• Confidential Data - Data sharing between each link of the supply chain is important. However, data sharing can expose sensitive data, such as customers credit card details, to harm 
• Cloud-Based Sharing - Data sharing through cloud technology has become much more prolific as of late, this is another way data can be stolen 

Tips to Prevent Supply Chain Attacks 

• Limit how many suppliers you use - It’s much easier to manage a few outside parties rather than a larger number 
• Cyber standards - Develop a minimum cyber standard for suppliers to adhere to in your contract, use a recognised third-party standard so that everyone knows they are working to a standard set of rules 
• Monitor suppliers adherence - Always check to make sure that your suppliers are following the pre-determined cyber security standards set in contracts 
• Exchange information for improvement - Let suppliers know what you are doing to maintain a high-security standard so that they can implement the same measures 

What Can Securiwiser do for Your Business? 

Securiwiser is an around the clock monitoring tool that allows you to take control of your cyber security by scanning your devices, network, and website for any potential cyber risks. Should any suspicious activity be found, you will be notified immediately and a report detailing the findings of the scan will be sent to you. You will also be given advice on how to remedy the situation or told where to get help if you can’t fix the problem yourself. Each aspect of your security will also be graded based on how well it’s performing, so you’ll always know where to focus your attention.