This is part 5 of 5 in our Cyber in Context series. Part IV discussed why cybersecurity belongs at the executive strategy level.  
 
When a supplier is breached, it’s not just their problem. It’s yours. That’s why third-party risk management (TPRM) is one of the fastest-growing priorities for CISOs and compliance teams. A recent industry survey discovered a whopping 91% of CISOs report a rise in third-party incidents. However, only 3% of those same CISOs have full visibility in their supply chain.

These numbers reveal a huge gap between those who recognize that their external vendors expose their enterprise to significant risk and the very few (comparatively) who are in position to actually understand and mitigate that risk through TPRM illumination and planning.

You Are Only as Secure as Your Weakest Vendor

High-profile breaches like SolarWinds and MOVEit originated from trusted partners. In May 2023, a vulnerability in a file transfer tool supplied to MOVEit impacted a staggering 2,700 organizations and over 90 million people. With the frequency and severity of supply chain security breaches rising, regulatory frameworks (e.g., HIPAA, CMMC) now require supply chain security controls.

Many companies don’t realize how much data access and network trust they’ve extended to vendors. As we saw above, for a large percentage, this is an uncomfortable and potentially extremely risky blind spot.

As the old saying goes, daylight is an incredible disinfectant. So what constitutes a plan to gain illumination and therefore visibility into the realities of vendor-caused risk?

At Koniag Cyber, we help clients evaluate, tier, and move forward with a plan that can consist of:

• Third-party risk assessments
• SBOM validation and code integrity scans
• Contract and SLA reviews
• Continuous monitoring and compliance tracking

Your security program isn’t complete unless it extends to your ecosystem.

Let’s Talk

If your organization operates in or around regulated industries, now is the time to act. Whether you need a rapid assessment or a full cybersecurity program buildout, Koniag Cyber brings the experience, strategy, and tools to help you thrive.

Reach out today for a consultation or supply chain risk review.