Today’s supply-chain cyber-attack threats are not just about efficiency and visibility but also trust and transparency. Increasing attacks on the supply chain mean that an organization needs to be more careful than ever before when it comes to their suppliers, partners, vendors, and other stakeholders. Here are the five biggest supply-chain cyber attack threats businesses need to keep in mind in 2022.
Organizational cyber-security negligence
Organizational negligence is the biggest supply-chain cyber-attack risk. Organizations need to start by looking at their own cyber-security systems. If a company does not have adequate cyber-security controls in place, it’s very possible that malicious actors can attack it affecting all its value chain. In addition, organizations can do more to ensure that the people they work with are cyber-secure. This means creating additional diligence around vetting suppliers, partners, vendors, etc. It also means putting cyber-security clauses in contracts to hold supply chain partners accountable for their cyber-security practices.
Data manipulation and fabrication
Data manipulation and fabrication is another big issue that needs to be addressed in supply chain security. A lot of companies use data analytics to optimize their operations. That’s great. However, if these companies are working with data that has been tampered with, the optimization may not be accurate. In some cases, it could even be false. Organizations need to make sure they know what data they’re dealing with, where it comes from, and how it was collected. If it’s possible, they should also try to collect the data themselves rather than use third-party data. This will help ensure that they’re getting accurate data.
Cloud provider breach
The cloud provider breach is another big threat on the supply chain. This can happen when a cloud service provider is hacked and the data is compromised. The data may have been uploaded to the cloud for a supplier or partner. If the cloud service provider is hacked, the data of the company that uploaded it may also be compromised. This is why organizations are advised to use data-centric containers, services, and products. This will help them ensure that their data is encrypted and managed. If the organization has control over the data, it can also delete it or move it to a different location if there is a breach.
Supply chain blockchain failure
Supply chain blockchain is a great innovation and has already proven to be a powerful tool for logistics and security. However, like any technology, it is not immune to cyber-attack. If the system where blockchain is being used suffers a cyber-attack, there is a chance that the blockchain could be affected. If the blockchain used in the supply chain is hacked, it will severely affect the entire ecosystem. Given how supply chain blockchain is being used, the disruption can be huge. Organizations need to keep this blockchain breach threat in mind when they’re deciding whether to use blockchain or not. In addition, they also need to make sure that the blockchain solution they’re using is highly secure.
Human resource supply chain breach
The human resource supply chain breach is the biggest threat to any organization. This means that the supply chain of human resources of the organization can be breached. The risk of human resource among third parties breach can be minimized by using security controls such as identity and access management, two-factor authentication, and data encryption. Organizations should also be mindful about their hiring process. If they’re not careful, they could hire people with malicious intentions who could later attack their supply chain. If a company doesn’t have good visibility into who is on their team — and where they’re located — they could be putting themselves in a risky situation.
Conclusion
As we can see, the supply chain cyber-attack threats are increasing. If a company doesn’t take care of its cyber-security posture, it can be hacked and its supply chain can be affected. The best way to protect against these threats is by making sure that you have a strong cyber-security posture. A strong cyber-security posture will help you protect your value chain against these threats. If you want to ensure the security of your supply chain, you need to partner with a business partner who has a strong cyber-security posture. They should have a team of experts who can help you with security audits and penetration testing. You should also be mindful about who you choose as your business partners.
