What is it?
Supply chain security practices focus on managing the cybersecurity risks posed by third-party vendors, suppliers, and partners. This includes addressing vulnerabilities in their systems and mitigating threats like Business Email Compromise (BEC), which can exploit supplier relationships to impersonate trusted entities and defraud organisations.
What could happen?
Compromised suppliers can be exploited as a stepping stone to access your organisation’s systems or data. Attackers might plant malware, leverage unpatched vulnerabilities, or steal sensitive information. Business Email Compromise (BEC) adds another layer of risk, as attackers impersonate suppliers or partners in payment or access requests, leading to financial fraud or data exfiltration. Such incidents can result in significant financial losses, reputational harm, and strained regulatory or customer relationships.
What to do about it?
Foundational: Establish basic supplier due diligence by reviewing public security certifications (e.g., ISO 27001 compliance) and security policies before contracting.
Outcome: Filters out known high-risk vendors and sets a baseline for supplier trustworthiness.
Enhanced: Incorporate security clauses into vendor contracts and conduct regular third-party risk assessments. Request security reports, penetration test results, or compliance attestations.
Outcome: Ensures ongoing accountability and makes security a non-negotiable element of doing business.
Comprehensive: Implement a comprehensive supplier risk management programme with continuous monitoring, threat intelligence sharing, and coordinated incident response strategies to mitigate supply chain attacks.
Outcome: Creates a resilient, agile defence posture that adapts to new threats and maintains business continuity.
