Understanding the Essentials of Cybersecurity in Logistics

There is no doubt that the trend towards digitization of all things logistics will continue to promote efficiency and satisfy the on-demand nature of today’s society. While the proliferation of technology makes this increasingly feasible, it is imperative to keep security a priority. When operations that were once physical turn digital, companies become more vulnerable to unforeseen supply chain threats.

The discussion around cybersecurity and supply chain is nothing new; yet there remains lots of ambiguity around what it means to run operations that are digitally secure. Most large multinational companies have the budget to outsource cybersecurity work, but awareness and implementation of preventative measures can go a long way to mitigate risks to companies of all sizes. Transportation and logistics companies are now among the industries most targeted by hackers. What can you do to prevent and prepare for a ransomware attack or a malicious computer virus?

Implementing security fundamentals into day-to-day practices can go a long way, so we have compiled the cybersecurity basics that transportation and logistics organizations should keep in mind to stay on top of digital hygiene.

Remember the Fundamentals 

According to the 2021 Verizon Data Breach Investigation Report, 81% of the total number of breaches leveraged stolen or weak passwords. Implementing firewalls, endpoint security, and stronger passwords are steps that every business should be taking. These are easy, cost-effective ways to add a layer of protection to critical data. Basic data hygiene can prevent hacks that often result in catastrophic losses for companies.

Conduct an Assessment

Yearly security assessments serve as an essential component to increasing supply chain visibility. These assessments consist of about 100 questions and can be conducted internally. Alternatively, companies can hire third parties to do the job. According to industry experts, the cost of external assessments should not exceed $15,000 per year.

Conduct a Penetration Test

Double down on the security assessment with a penetration test. An outside party performs the test by attempting to hack into a company’s operation to find gaps that the assessment might have missed. This additional measure is particularly useful for identifying employee-triggered risks. Be sure to avoid informing your team about the test to collect accurate information about how employees react to common security issues.

Create an Incident Response Plan

A cybersecurity Incident Response Plan gives your team instructions on responding to a significant security incident, such as a data breach, data leak, ransomware attack, or loss of sensitive information. There are five phases to effective incident response plans: Identification, protection, detection, response, and recovery (NIST).

Consider Practical Solutions

While investing in resilience may sound like an ambiguous talking point, recent supply chain disruptions and the increasing prominence of cyber-attacks has led many importers to take practical steps to improve security practices and business resumption plans. The first step in any initiative to increase resilience is a thorough assessment of your organization’s areas of risk to guide future improvement actions.