During 2024 there was a continued increase in cyber threats which affected businesses of all sizes, across many sectors.
Attacks on large organisations make the national and international news, but small and medium sized businesses are regular targets too. Amongst the threats to be aware of, are supply chain attacks.
Supply chain attacks are where cybercriminals target smaller vendors and suppliers, in order to infiltrate larger organisations. Therefore, if your business supplies or works with large companies or public bodies, you are particularly at risk.
Hackers are aware that large organisations invest heavily in cyber security. However, their suppliers may have more limited resources to dedicate to robust defences and may therefore be seen as attractive targets.
The two primary tactics used in supply chain attacks are:
1. Business Email Compromise
This is where cyber criminals impersonate trusted contacts within a supply chain, to deceive businesses into transferring money or sharing sensitive information. These attacks aim to exploit the “human factor” and it is therefore vital to make sure that the people in your organisation are regularly reminded about potential threats and how to avoid them.
2. Ransomware
Ransomware attacks result in your data being compromised or applications being blocked, until a ransom is paid. Smaller businesses in a supply chain are particularly vulnerable because they may lack the resources or expertise to respond effectively.
There are, however, some very cost-effective measures that you can put in place to protect your business from these threats, including
- Cyber security awareness training for your staff
- Advanced antivirus software
- EDR (Endpoint Detection & Response) software. An automated monitoring system, which identifies threats based on known risks and behaviours
- MDR (Managed Detection & Response) – a 24/7 Security Operations Centre which ensures that any suspicious activity is immediately referred to human experts for remediation
To find out more about these services, please give us a call or enter your details here and we will contact you.