The Importance of Securing the Digital Supply Chain

Cybersecurity is a top priority for organizations operating in today’s digital landscape. Small and medium-sized businesses alone spent over £280m on cybersecurity in 2022, highlighting its significance in modern business operations. While organizations invest in safeguarding their APIs, cloud infrastructure, and hardware, there is still a significant risk of attack through the digital supply chain.

A supply chain attack occurs when attackers infiltrate a trusted third-party vendor or supplier that provides products or services to the target organization. This means that an organization’s security is only as strong as the weakest link in its digital supply chain. For example, a typical website may rely on up to 70 percent of third-party and open-source elements, which introduces vulnerabilities in code regardless of whether they were developed in-house or sourced externally.

Understanding the risks within the digital supply chain is a crucial first step in mitigating these vulnerabilities. While it may be challenging to identify the exact boundaries of the risk profile, organizations can take steps to assess their supply chain. Instead of focusing on what and how the software components are built, organizations should evaluate the engineers and companies behind them. An indicator of their commitment to security is the frequency of updates, code coverage, and reliance on the software they build.

However, it is important not to become overly rigid or intransigent in cybersecurity measures. Projects should be adaptable to suit the risks and embrace new tools and approaches. There are emerging tools in the market, such as security-as-code and DevSecOps, that address security issues earlier in the development process, there enhancing productivity. Developers and engineers should stay abreast of these advancements and incorporate them into their software development practices.

It is also essential not to blindly trust the digital supply chain. supply chain attacks can have far-reaching consequences, as demonstrated the SolarWinds attack in 2020, which compromised 30,000 of the company’s customers. Organizations must conduct due diligence and minimize any potential threats. While supply chain attacks may not be the first concern for cybersecurity defenses, they represent a vulnerable spot that requires attention and proactive measures.

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Definitions:

– Cybersecurity: The practice of protecting digital systems, networks, and data from attacks or unauthorized access.

– Digital supply chain: The network of suppliers, vendors, and third-party providers involved in the production and delivery of digital products and services.

– Supply chain attack: An attack that targets the vulnerabilities present in the supply chain of an organization, often exploiting trusted third-party vendors or suppliers.

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