Reliable IT solutions help you gain visibility and control over your entire supply chain, providing tools to identify risks early and keep your business safe without incurring significant costs.
A 2023 report indicates that supply chain cyberattacks in the US affected 2,769 entities in a single year, representing a 58% increase from the previous year and the highest number reported since 2017.
You don’t have to leave your business exposed; with the right mindset and practical steps, securing your supply chain can become manageable. This article walks you through easy-to-understand strategies that even the smallest business can implement to turn suppliers from a risk to a security asset.
Why is your supply chain your weakest link?
Many businesses invest considerable effort in protecting their internal networks but overlook the security risks that lurk in their supply chain. Every vendor, software provider, or cloud service that has access to your data or systems is a potential access point for an attacker.
A recent study showed that over 60% of organisations faced a breach through a third party, but only about a third trusted those vendors to tell them if something went wrong. That means many companies discover breaches when it’s already too late.
Know your Vendors and Partners
You might think you know your suppliers well, but chances are you’re missing a few. Start by creating a “living” inventory of every third party with access to your systems, whether it’s a cloud service, a software app, or a supplier that handles sensitive information.
List everyone: Track every vendor who touches your data or systems.
Go deeper: Look beyond your direct vendors to their suppliers, sometimes risks come from those hidden layers.
Keep it current: Don’t treat this as a one-time job. Vendor relationships change, and so do their risks. Review your inventory regularly.
Our team can support you in securing your data and enabling bespoke permissions for your suppliers, allowing them to operate efficiently without posing a risk to your entire operation.
Methods to stay safe
- Request independent security audits or penetration testing results.
- Clear security requirements in vendor contracts.
- Monitor suspicious activity to identify vulnerabilities.
- Implement multi-factor authentication (MFA), data encryption, and timely breach notifications.
- Only give vendors access to necessary systems and data.
How can we help
Keeping up with all of this can be overwhelming, especially for small businesses. That’s where our team come in.
- Proactive threat detection: Spotting risks before they escalate.
- Faster incident response: When something does happen, we can act quickly to limit damage.
Outsourcing these tasks helps you stay secure without overextending your internal resources. Investing in supply chain security is an investment in your company’s future, protecting your data, customers, and employees.
Stay one step ahead
Cyber attackers are not waiting for a perfect moment; they are scanning for vulnerabilities, especially those hidden in your vendor ecosystem. Small businesses that take a proactive, strategic approach to supply chain security will be the ones that avoid disaster.
By taking control and staying vigilant, you can turn your supply chain into a shield, not a doorway for attackers. Act today to protect your business!
Contact us to learn how our IT solutions can help safeguard your supply chain.
.png){kind=small}
Book a MeetingHealthcareEducationManufacturingLogisticsLawInsuranceCharityFinanceEstate AgentsHullLeedsNewcastleRest of UKSolutions Finder
