How to deal with the security risks of the third party in the supply chain

“ No one is an island ” This famous sentence applies to both individuals , It also applies to enterprises . An enterprise is the product of its supply chain and its ecosystem , It is also the product of its own operation —— Even the largest enterprises need the support of third parties .

In terms of the technology stack deployed by the enterprise , Nothing is more real than this . Although service-based enterprises do not need physical supply chains , Because it doesn't sell manufactured goods , But it needs a dense third-party network to provide software and services .

Hidden but growing attack surface

On the safety side , People often talk about the attack surface , This is also the part where enterprises are exposed to cyber threats . People often learn about this in some articles about digital transformation , While digitalization is essential for operational efficiency and business growth , But it also increases the risk .

As enterprises digitize their processes , Its attack surface is not only all its online operations ; It has grown to cover its broader supplier and supplier network .

This represents a huge risk , According to the survey , Many people do not consider this risk . although 56% Enterprise estimate of 2022 In, the number of reported incidents of software supply chain attacks will increase , But only 34% Of enterprises have formally assessed the risks they face . Another survey found that ,58% Of enterprises cannot determine whether the supplier's safeguard measures and security policies are sufficient to prevent data leakage .

More software means more risks

It's not difficult to see why , Because it is difficult to manage your own network security . From protecting new mobile users （ And its endpoints ） To protect data in transit and at rest , And ensure that employees maintain network security in mixed and remote work environments , Protecting enterprises in the digital age is a major challenge . And extend it to suppliers , It will only add another layer of complexity .

Enterprises must be able to trust their suppliers to have the same enterprise security protocols and Standards . In terms of cyber security , People hope that technology enterprises can become one of the leaders , But for any enterprise , Those who think they are safe are dangerous .

What will happen to enterprises that want to protect themselves from the increasing risks in their software supply chain ？ Now , This means that they must take the initiative 、 Continuous monitoring and rapid response , Greatly strengthen the third party 、 Supplier and supply chain risks .

Three steps to prevent software supply chain security vulnerabilities

The first step is to , Enterprises need to know the problems they face . This means understanding how information flows between their businesses and suppliers . Knowing this can do two things ： It can draw a defense map and deploy resources to alleviate potential weak areas ; It allows enterprises to understand what legal data is , And identify potential threats .

This is crucial , Because the rapid sharing of information is the core of digital enterprises . If the information is intercepted through heavy security checks , Enterprises may keep safe , But it may also lose the opportunity . Know what data should be entered , And where the data may be hijacked or directed , Can improve operational performance , At the same time, it provides more protection .

This defense is improved by the second step ： Continuous monitoring . This means never assume that something is legal , Until it proves that it is legal . let me put it another way , Take a zero trust approach and constantly check every interaction and participation . People may know the story of some home buyers being hijacked by hackers when they receive emails from lawyers asking for funds to be deposited into different accounts . Usually , These emails are legal , Just because the lawyer's account may be leaked . therefore , Unsuspecting buyers will follow the instructions , Only when the lawyer calls to ask where the funds are , They realized their mistakes .

The same thing can happen in business relationships , In addition to the transfer of funds , It may be an infected application downloaded , Or an infected email attachment , Allow bad actors to access corporate networks and data . Through continuous monitoring , Check the system and vulnerabilities repeatedly , And immediately identify any violations .

This leads to the third step ： Quick response . Once a violation occurs , Whether inside the enterprise or as part of a third party , Event response plans must be initiated . In an event like this , The worst thing anyone can do is do nothing ; Even turn off all devices and notify the customer , It's better than not reacting .

But it does need a plan . Because having a larger attack surface does mean more kinds of potential violations . When these events involve third-party compromise , A response plan should be developed based on the supplier's comments ： How will they react ; What will communication look like ; As an enterprise , How to deal with ？ Every enterprise has different stakeholders and processes to adapt , But when making plans to mitigate the impact of cyber attacks , Nothing should be assumed .

summary

in the final analysis , This is a case of when, not whether, violations will occur , This is the same for every enterprise upstream and downstream of the supply chain , This is due to the interconnected world . But enterprises should not be afraid . If a clear proactive response plan can be implemented , Continuously monitor every supplier interacting with the enterprise , Clearly understand the location of the weak point , And know what the worst situation is . This will enable any enterprise and third party to better respond quickly , And mitigate the impact of future cyber threats .​​