Digital transformation created multiple benefits for businesses, like easier inventory management and order processing. However, it does make organizations more vulnerable to cyberattacks and data breaches. A breach occurring anywhere in a supply chain could have severe repercussions for a business. So, how can they protect themselves from these threats?
Deploying security solutions is a good start, but it isn’t enough. Supply chains have grown vast and complex, making it virtually impossible to pinpoint failure points or totally eliminate risks.
It's time to stop thinking of cybersecurity and data protection as merely an IT issue. It's a problem encompassing people, processes and knowledge/awareness that affects the entire supply chain. As a result, all preventive and corrective measures a company takes should consider the risks throughout their supply chain.
Addressing supply chain risks on an ad hoc basis only creates ambiguity and chaos. Instead, companies should make it a part of their security activities and policies. This way, employees will know how to coordinate with third-party organizations and what kind of security activities are necessary.
Supply chain cybersecurity strategy best practices include:
Organizations must comply with various regulations to avoid weak links in their supply chain. For example, the defense industrial base must comply with the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC). There are many other compliance regulations, such as GDPR, HIPAA and PCI DSS, for different industries and focus areas.
Organizations usually have to undergo detailed assessments, produce different reports and documentation, and implement best practices to prove and maintain compliance. By making compliance with these regulations mandatory for vendors, organizations can ensure they meet all requirements.
Complying with applicable regulations is crucial. It will not only improve your cybersecurity and data protection but also ensure that everyone on your team follows the same standards. These regulations are often updated, so it's necessary to keep up with the latest industry standards.
Having multiple third-party vendors makes it nearly impossible to predict threats. There are too many possible attack vectors. That's why comprehensive, layered security is essential.
Layered security is a more holistic approach that protects each layer of an IT infrastructure with a different solution or method. So, even if one solution fails, other layers are in place to fill the void.
Layered security, of course, is only as good as the people who maintain it. That is why employees must be trained and tested on a regular basis. They need to be able to identify potential threats and take appropriate action.
Because modern supply chains are so interconnected, organizations have to interact and collaborate with their vendors. This means vast amounts of data are exchanged, including sensitive customer information such as medical records, Personal Identifiable Information and financial data. Such data must be stored securely (with continuous monitoring and real-time alerting) and only have regulated access.
But how do organizations guarantee this? By adopting and enforcing international IT and data security standards such as GDPR and HIPAA. These standards ensure organizations keep track of the sensitive data they acquire, are able to produce thorough documentation when challenged, and have implemented adequate measures to secure data. Besides that, when selecting a software-as-a-service (SaaS) vendor, you should find out if they are SOC 2 or ISO27001 compliant. This indicates that the vendor is securing information as per industry standards.
With supply chains becoming smarter and more interconnected, now is the time to identify and secure weak links in supply chains. This requires a lot of dedicated time and effort; we can help deploy layered security and secure your data while maintaining compliance with regulations. Feel free to reach out for a consultation.