Securing the Supply Chain: Cybersecurity Challenges and Solutions in Logistics

Lately, every T&L (transportation and logistics) business has turned to digitalization. It helps your business become highly efficient at expanding revenue streams. It does so by enhancing all aspects of the industry, both upstream and downstream. This is all fantastic news, but there is one catch. Digitalization can reveal a number of issues in your T&L business that can make it highly vulnerable to cyber-attacks. Unfortunately, every industry sector is affected. The effects are costly, disruptive to operations, and have the potential to create additional liability — especially when sensitive consumer information is at stake. For that reason, let’s talk about the main challenges you can have when it comes to securing your supply chain, and, of course, what you can do to avoid them and recover.

#1 Challenge: Assuming you’re protected

 width=It is a mistake to assume that your business network is fully protected against cyber attacks. Even the most secure businesses and networks are prone to hacks. That’s why it is extremely important to be prepared for such scenarios. If not prepared, your network will have a hard time recovering from an attack.

The solution: Have a recovery plan

Working with your technology provider on a recovery plan might just be the best way to keep your logistics data wordprotected. When you already have a plan in place, you can minimize any damage to your supply chain. Also, if your staff is prepared during a cyber attack, you’ll bounce back even faster.

But remember this: no network is fully secure; that’s just how it is. However, understanding the risks, preparing for them, and creating a recovery plan can help your business to run as smoothly as possible.

#2 Challenge: Having an untrained staff

 width=A well-trained staff is your most important asset in the fight against cyber-attacks. Even if you have the most modern cyber-security measures installed, an untrained staff might result in a severe security breach.

Here’s an example. Because more and more viruses are being transmitted via emails to employees these days, it’s not unlikely that someone unfamiliar with potential threats will click a link that contains a virus. Within a minute, that virus can spread throughout your business network.

The solution: Make employee training a priority

On the plus side, with just a little information, your employees can learn to detect these links and avoid them. Include cybersecurity training as a part of your new employee onboarding process to mitigate the risk of any accidental breaches.

Cover all the possible issues. Explain how they can detect possible security breaches in your supply chain, And, of course, train your staff on how to deal with them when they happen.

#3 Challenge: Problems with cloud cost management

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Your business might struggle with cloud cost management, particularly if you use cloud-native technologies. Cloud bills tend to hide their key information behind rows of text. This makes it hard to figure out where your money is actually going. Furthermore, it can make things difficult if you need that money to recover from a cyber-attack.

The solution: Use cloud cost management tools

Every business has some type of management in place, with security and compliance as the most important. Using those, you can gain more control over your cloud infrastructure. This is especially true if you include a cloud cost management strategy.

Cloud cost management tools help you make informed decisions, anything from adjusting your prices to monitoring and alerting tools. And, of course, some feature cloud security tools. So, taking advantage of such management is highly important for your business to operate smoothly.

#4 Challenge: Unsecured camera systems

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It’s a common misunderstanding that cloud-based security exhibits flaws not seen in older systems. However, these problems are due to poor implementation and setup, like using outdated camera systems, rather than problems in the technology itself. Remember, your system is only as secure as its weakest link.

The solution: Consider could IP security cameras

Cloud-based camera systems can give you various security benefits. However, a skilled and reliable provider should install and manage them. If you attempt to install them by yourself, it might not even work.

IT teams can monitor and adjust security protocols by using remote access. This way, they can build automatic responses if your system is attacked, freeing up your business security department to focus on more important tasks.

Conclusion

For many T&L businesses, cybersecurity has not been a priority. And with the growing number of cyber-attacks,it is a good reason why you should adopt a more thorough cybersecurity plan.

We have to be honest — they are difficult to prevent. But you’ll have a better chance to avoid them and bounce back by using the mentioned solutions. After all, while no network is secure, yours can be resilient.

This article was provided by our guest author Nina Petrov.

Author:

Janine Wolff
Get insights from Janine Wolff, a creative business economist and digital enthusiast. Combining economic expertise with a passion for logistics, Janine delivers top-notch content on a regular basis for Saloodo!.

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