So, you’ve secured your own network, but what about the dozens of vendors you work with daily? 

Think about it. 

That IT contractor in Singapore, the payment processor in California, the inventory management system connecting to your warehouse in Germany – they’re all potential entry points for cybercriminals.

And hackers aren’t just aware of these weaknesses, they’re counting on it…

On June 3, 2024, Synnovis, a pathology partnership between several NHS trusts, was hit by a ransomware attack. The attack affected sites and services across south east London, including Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, and King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.

If one of your partners gets hacked, it’s not just their issue – it becomes yours too. Think production shutdowns, stolen customer data, and the hit to your reputation.

Your business is only as secure as its most vulnerable supplier.

But here’s the good news: you can protect yourself. So, let’s take a look at exactly how to secure your supply chain, step by step.

1. Know Your Suppliers, Know Your Risks

Most companies don’t have a clear view of their suppliers’ security practices. 

As ever with cyber security, the optimal path is never the easy one: You need to vet each supplier to make sure they’re up to par with industry-standard security protocols. Here’s how…

Supplier Audits: 

Bringing in a neutral third party like Cyber Alchemy is the way to carry out these kinds of assessments. 

• We’ll run checks on your third-party suppliers’ cybersecurity setup, reviewing systems, policies, and protocols to spot any weak points. 
• From this, you will gain a clear picture of risks in your vendor network and actionable steps to strengthen your defences.

Ongoing Monitoring: 

However, a one-time check isn’t enough, continuous monitoring is the only way to spot red flags and prevent those serious breaches.

• A decent Cyber Security partner can provide ongoing monitoring to keep an eye on your supply chain’s security. 
• You’ll get real-time alerts for any suspicious activity so you can tackle issues before they become big problems.

By staying proactive, you can make sure your whole supply chain is as secure as your own business.

2. Implement a Zero Trust Policy

With the rise of supply chain cyber-attacks, it’s no longer enough to believe your partners’ word.

The Zero Trust model operates on a simple principle: Trust no one, verify everything. 

This means every user, device or partner within your supply chain must prove their legitimacy before accessing any systems or data.

To put it into practice, businesses should implement strict access controls, ensuring that suppliers can only access what’s absolutely necessary. Nothing more, nothing less…

You will need:

• Access Control Solutions: Only verified users, whether internal team members or third-party vendors, should have access to sensitive data.
• Vendor Segmentation: Segment your network to contain potential breaches. That way, if one supplier’s system is compromised, the impact remains confined and isolated.

A zero trust approach means that even if a hacker gains access through a partner, they can’t navigate freely across your entire network.

3. Set Clear Rules with Vendors (And Enforce Them) 

Cyber-security is not just about having internal policies – your vendors need to be on the same page too.

Establish enforceable standards for every partner in your supply chain. This should include clear cybersecurity policies and contractual protections.

Policy Development:

You’ll need strong cybersecurity policies in place for all partners, outlining topics like data protection, secure communication, and incident reporting practices.

Example Policy Points: 

• Minimum encryption levels for data.
• Regular security training for employees 
• Immediate breach notification to all partners.

Contractual Protections: 

Once you have a policy, you can make it a requirement for doing business with you. You can (and should) embed these security expectations into vendor contracts, giving you the legal backing in the event of a breach.With consistent policies across your supply chain, you can close potential security gaps and protect your business from third-party risks or lawsuits.

4. Educate Your Supply Chain 

Cybersecurity isn’t just about firewalls and complicated software – it’s about people. 

Your suppliers and partners need to be able to recognize and counter common threats (such as phishing scams and weak passwords).

But training shouldn’t stop at the basics. 

Try:

• Supply Chain Cyber Awareness Training: Cyber training programs can be tailored to your organisation and help your suppliers know how to stay on top of cyber threats.
• Incident Response Drills: Simulated cyber-attack scenarios with your supply chain. This will test whether each supplier is ready and knows exactly how to respond.

Pro Tip: Consider running quarterly training sessions and drills to keep all suppliers up to date.

5. Perform Regular Penetration Testing

Think of penetration testing as hiring an ethical hacker to test your defences.

By mimicking real-world attacks, you can identify and patch up weak spots in your supply chain before actual hackers find them.

Step 1: Comprehensive Testing

Regularly test both your internal systems (like IT infrastructure and processes) and those of your suppliers.

Regular penetration tests across your internal systems (and your entire supply chain) ensure every potential entry point is secured.

Step 2: Threat Fixes

Once testing is complete, it’s crucial to work closely with your partners to address any potential issues.

Our team can collaborate directly with you and your suppliers to patch these vulnerabilities for your business. This ensures your supply chain’s defences stay as strong as possible.

Remember: Regular penetration testing isn’t just about fixing small, seemingly unimportant flaws in your systems – it’s about staying ahead of cybercriminals.

6. Collaborate on Incident Response Plans

In the event of a breach, a coordinated response is crucial.  

It’s important to build an incident response plan that involves not just your team but your suppliers as well. This plan should clearly define roles, communication protocols, and the steps each party should take to contain and mitigate the damage.

For example:

• Who notifies whom?
• What are the immediate actions to contain the breach?
• Recovery procedures?
• Who will carry out key roles?

Preparedness is key. Running these plans regularly helps everyone stay calm and coordinated when an incident occurs. 

If you need professional support, check out our:

• Incident Response Framework: At Cyber Alchemy, we work with businesses to build comprehensive incident response plans that include suppliers. This makes sure everyone’s on the same page and ready to react quickly if a cyber incident happens.
• Post-Breach Analysis and Improvement Services: In the unfortunate event of a breach, it’s important (sometimes legally) to understand what went wrong and provide a report to explain how it won’t happen again. 

A unified, well-practised response plan means your business will bounce back as quickly as possible from a cyberattack.

Make Cybersecurity a Competitive Advantage

Following these steps will help safeguard your supply chain from cyber threats, but there’s more to it than just preventing harmful breaches. 

Being cyber-aware is a great way to stand out.

Today, customers and partners prefer working with companies that proactively prioritise their security. 

By taking action now to assess, monitor, and strengthen your supply chain’s cybersecurity, you’re not just protecting your business – you’re building trust.

If you’re ready to build a security-first approach, contact us today. Cyber Alchemy can help you create a strong, resilient supply chain that sets your organisation apart.