ICT supply chain risk assessment
Cybersecurity assessment solutions among suppliers, partners and subcontractors enable organisations to identify, monitor and manage ICT risks in the supply chain. These tools analyse third-party IT infrastructures to detect potential risks from vulnerabilities, misconfigurations or regulatory non-compliance. This enables organisations to proactively manage partner risks, minimising the likelihood of cyber attacks through the supply chain, thereby supporting their security.
Main features and functions of vendors' ICT risk assessment solutions:
Remote security assessment of supplier infrastructure
Solutions of this type allow the continuous monitoring of partners' IT security status without requiring their direct involvement.
Scanning of publicly available IT resources: tools assess partners' infrastructure by analysing public IP addresses, websites, servers or web applications for vulnerabilities.
Example: detection of an unsecured FTP server belonging to a partner that can be exploited by attackers.
Example: detection of an unsecured FTP server belonging to a partner that can be exploited by attackers.
Real-time monitoring: tools constantly track changes in partners' infrastructure, such as the implementation of new services or the opening of ports, which can increase risk.
Example: notification that an unsecured web application has been deployed by a supplier.
Example: notification that an unsecured web application has been deployed by a supplier.
2. Identification of vulnerabilities of suppliers
Cyber risk assessment solutions detect specific vulnerabilities in suppliers' IT environments that could be used for attacks.
Vulnerability scanning: tools automatically identify software vulnerabilities, outdated system versions or misconfigurations.
Example: partner is using an outdated version of the web server with a CVE vulnerability that allows remote code execution.
Example: partner is using an outdated version of the web server with a CVE vulnerability that allows remote code execution.
Risk assessment: systems determine how identified vulnerabilities may affect the security of the organisation, e.g. the risk of data leakage as a result of working with a vulnerable supplier.
Example: system indicates that the susceptible supplier is storing customers' personal data, increasing the risk of sensitive information leakage.
Example: system indicates that the susceptible supplier is storing customers' personal data, increasing the risk of sensitive information leakage.
3. risk classification based on data and context
The solutions assess supplier risk comprehensively, taking into account the criticality of collaboration and the potential impact of incidents.
How does it work?
How does it work?
Assigning security ratings: suppliers are ranked according to their level of risk, based on their security practices and the state of their IT infrastructure.
Example: A partner with a low security rating (e.g. due to numerous open ports) may be flagged as a critical risk.
Example: A partner with a low security rating (e.g. due to numerous open ports) may be flagged as a critical risk.
Prioritisation on the basis of criticality: tools classify vulnerabilities according to risk level, taking into account their potential impact and ease of exploitation.
Example: system marks a vulnerability with CVSS 9.8 as critical, while a low-risk misconfiguration is marked as less urgent.
Example: system marks a vulnerability with CVSS 9.8 as critical, while a low-risk misconfiguration is marked as less urgent.
Business context: tools take into account the relevance of the provider to the organisation, e.g. a cloud provider storing customer data will be assessed more rigorously.
Example: the system is able to assess a cloud service provider storing customer data more rigorously than a partner providing marketing services.
Example: the system is able to assess a cloud service provider storing customer data more rigorously than a partner providing marketing services.
4 Proactive risk management
Risk assessment solutions enable organisations to take corrective action with suppliers even before an incident occurs.
How does it work?
How does it work?
Recommendations for corrective action: tools generate reports with a list of actions partners should take to improve their security.
Example: the system recommends that the partner implement data encryption on the servers or close unused ports.
Example: the system recommends that the partner implement data encryption on the servers or close unused ports.
Enforcing compliance with requirements: organisations can set minimum security standards for partners and monitor compliance.
Example: The system requires providers to use SSL certificates for all public sites, which is monitored in real time.
Example: The system requires providers to use SSL certificates for all public sites, which is monitored in real time.
5. real-time threat detection
The tools enable the immediate identification of incidents or unsafe activities in the suppliers' infrastructure.
How does it work?
How does it work?
Monitoring of activity in partners' infrastructure: tools detect abnormal activity, such as a sudden increase in network traffic or a change in server configuration.
Example: system will simulate a ransomware attack, checking whether the organisation is immune to it.
Example: system will simulate a ransomware attack, checking whether the organisation is immune to it.
Security breach alerts: solutions immediately notify the organisation when potential threats are detected in the partner environment.
Example: system sends an alert about a data leak by one of the providers due to a misconfiguration of AWS S3.
Example: system sends an alert about a data leak by one of the providers due to a misconfiguration of AWS S3.
6. Reducing the risk of attacks through the supply chain
These solutions help prevent supply chain attacks, which are becoming increasingly common.
How does it work?
How does it work?
Detection of attack vectors: tools identify potential entry points that could be used by a partner to attack the organisation.
Example: partner with access to the organisation's systems uses an unsecured VPN application.
Example: partner with access to the organisation's systems uses an unsecured VPN application.
Supplier segmentation: systems help determine which supplier relationships require additional protection measures (e.g. network segmentation, access restriction).
Example: solution recommends network segmentation for low-trust providers to limit potential damage.
Example: solution recommends network segmentation for low-trust providers to limit potential damage.
7 Meeting regulatory requirements
The solutions help organisations demonstrate compliance with supply chain security regulations such as NIS2, DORA and RODO.
How does it work?
How does it work?
Automated supplier audits: systems carry out regulatory compliance assessments, e.g. whether partners adequately protect personal data or have the required certifications.
Example: The tool reports that the supplier is not compliant with ISO 27001, which poses a risk to RODO compliance.
Example: The tool reports that the supplier is not compliant with ISO 27001, which poses a risk to RODO compliance.
Generation of compliance reports: tools provide detailed reports that can be presented to regulators or management.
Example: the system generates a report showing that all of the organisation's key suppliers comply with the DORA requirements.
Example: the system generates a report showing that all of the organisation's key suppliers comply with the DORA requirements.
8 Reporting and recommendations for decision-makers
The solutions generate detailed reports to support decision-making with partners.
How does it work?
How does it work?
Visualisation of risk: The tools present data on the safety status of suppliers in the form of graphs, evaluations and reports.
Example: dashboard shows that 20% of key suppliers does not meet security requirements, which requires action.
Example: dashboard shows that 20% of key suppliers does not meet security requirements, which requires action.
Risk assessments for contracts: organisations can make cooperation decisions based on the level of risk indicated by the tools.
Example: The tool indicates that signing a contract with a 'C' rated partner can be risky without implementing additional safeguards.
Example: The tool indicates that signing a contract with a 'C' rated partner can be risky without implementing additional safeguards.
9. education and awareness-raising among partners
The solutions support suppliers in improving their safety levels through recommendations and education.
How does it work?
How does it work?
Sharing recommendations: organisations can send detailed reports to partners with recommendations for improving safety.
Example: The solution provider offers the partner instructions on how to secure servers against DDoS attacks.
Example: The solution provider offers the partner instructions on how to secure servers against DDoS attacks.
Supporting the implementation of security policies: tools help partners comply with the organisation's security requirements.
Example: The solution provider offers the supplier support in implementing a strong password policy in IT systems.
Example: The solution provider offers the supplier support in implementing a strong password policy in IT systems.
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