Developing sustainable supply chains is crucial to running successful business operations. In manufacturing, optimized supply chains ensure a faster go-to-market time and in consumer-driven businesses, optimization leads to faster delivery timelines and increased customer loyalty. However, when supply chains fail, it could lead to disaster. Examples such as the SolarWinds incident and Boeing’s ongoing struggles to meet demand timelines highlight the risks of a disrupted supply chain.
Putting numbers to the risk associated with supply chain disruptions shows that 77.6% of businesses lose revenue with every disruption. Where cybercrime is the cause of the disruption, reputational damage also occurs, and 60% of businesses lose customers. These negative effects are why most business owners are under enormous pressure to reduce supply chain-related cybersecurity threats. This is where privileged access management (PAM) has crucial roles to play.
Digitalization of Today’s Supply Chain
Most organizations have embraced the digital revolution, adopting digitized processes to optimize their supply chain and logistics operations. If you’re one, this means you utilize diverse IT resources, including remote monitoring and access to manage multiple suppliers that meet your operational requests. However, providing multiple users with access creates exploitable vulnerabilities and endpoints hackers consistently exploit. This is where the empowering aspect of privileged access management comes into play, equipping your business with the tools to monitor every supplier with authorized access to your IT systems and control that access.
Although privileged access management focuses on securing the administrative access of privileged users, turnkey solutions manage user identities, user sessions, and log reports. Leveraging these features enables your business to manage and secure third-party remote access.
Reducing the Risks of Supply Chain Attacks through Privileged Access Management
Insight into the threat profile to supply chains, including the methods hackers apply, creates a foundation for reducing risks. The supply chain attack strategies hackers employ include:
Phishing and Malware Attacks: These are used to steal login and authorization data.
Exploiting Public Wi-Fi: Authorized personnel accessing IT systems using public Wi-Fi can create vulnerabilities.
Business Email Compromise Attacks: These aim to steal login data.
With the login details, hackers move to the next phase of their hacking attempt. This involves using the stolen credentials to log into internal networks as the privileged user. Finally, that access is exploited to access sensitive data, and it may remain latent for years as many organizations do not have the technical know-how needed to discover breaches. This three-pronged attack approach is known as the privilege pathway trajectory.
Discovering and Identifying Privileged Accounts
Every privileged account and its authorization level must be known. PAM solutions can set and keep track of privileged accounts, including new users. A continuous or ongoing discovery process must become policy to ensure the activities of every privileged account are monitored.
Secure Privileged Accounts
Extra layers of security never hurt cybersecurity. PAM can implement multi-factor authentication and encryption technologies to prevent rogue accounts from accessing internal networks. Another security process used is the just-in-time access framework. This framework enforces privilege by attaching expiry dates and time-based limitations to users. Hence, access is only provided when needed and at short time bursts to ensure latent threats are eliminated.
Recording Sessions and Logging Events
Monitoring user sessions provides management insight into suspicious activities. Access to recorded sessions ensures that your organization has the tools or incidents that capture specific threat incidents. These records become the backdrop for conducting investigations into causation factors.
Supports the Implementation of a Zero Trust Architecture
The zero trust concept assumes all network traffic and endpoints requesting access are malicious. Consequently, every access request from your supply chain is accessed according to its merit, and all enterprise assets and networks are identified. In scenarios where a particular user logs in multiple times within a short time, the user must once again go through the authentication process from scratch. PAM solutions can assist an organization’s ZTA policy by monitoring remote access and utilizing access identity strategies to eliminate fraud from the beginning. Implementing zero trust principles, such as zero trust network access, aligns with NIST frameworks and emphasizes the need for privileged access management.
Optimize Your Supply Chain Security
Turnkey PAM solutions like Fudo Enterprise can mitigate the security risks of providing remote access to third parties across your supply chain. Leveraging PAM, you can implement a zero-trust environment and an airtight remote access plan that considers the benefits of using non-privileged accounts, privileged accounts, and encryption to secure your IT ecosystem.
Supply Chain Management Best Practices
Supply chain management involves coordinating and integrating the flow of materials, information, and finances as they move from suppliers to manufacturers to wholesalers to retailers and ultimately to consumers. Selecting the right supply chain model based on the company’s structure and specific needs is crucial for optimizing efficiency and effectiveness. Implementing privileged access management in supply chain management ensures secure remote access and protects against internal and external threats.
Just Enough Access for Supply Chain Efficiency
Applying the principle of just enough access ensures that users are granted the minimum level of access necessary to perform their job functions. This minimizes the risk of unauthorized access and enhances supply chain security. By evaluating multiple inputs to determine the appropriate level of access, organizations can automatically restrict privileges and prevent users from having excessive privileges that could be exploited by malicious actors.
Trust Network Access for Secure Supply Chains
Building a trust network access framework is essential for maintaining secure supply chains. This involves ensuring that all network access points are secure and that only trusted users can gain access to critical systems. Implementing multi-factor authentication and continuous monitoring helps maintain a secure network perimeter.
Privileged Identity Management for Supply Chains
Privileged identity management involves managing and securing the identities of privileged users. This includes ensuring that privileged accounts are only used by authorized personnel and that access is tightly controlled. By leveraging PAM solutions, organizations can manage privileged identities more effectively and reduce the risk of security breaches.
Reducing the Risk of Phishing Attacks in Supply Chains
Phishing attacks are a common threat to supply chains, as they can be used to steal login credentials and gain unauthorized access to critical systems. By implementing robust phishing prevention measures, such as employee training and email filtering, organizations can reduce the risk of phishing attacks and protect their supply chain.
Managing Internal and External Threats
Supply chains face a variety of internal and external threats, including insider threats, malware attacks, and unauthorized access. By implementing comprehensive security measures, such as PAM solutions and secure remote access protocols, organizations can protect against these threats and maintain the integrity of their supply chain.
How Privileged Passwords Enhance Supply Chain Security
Privileged passwords are a critical component of supply chain security. By ensuring that privileged passwords are strong, unique, and regularly updated, organizations can prevent unauthorized access and protect sensitive data. PAM solutions can help manage privileged passwords more effectively and ensure that they are used securely.
Automatically Restricting Privileges to Secure Supply Chains
Automatically restricting privileges involves using PAM solutions to enforce access control policies and ensure that users only have the access they need. This helps prevent unauthorized access and protects against security risks. By implementing automatic privilege restrictions, organizations can enhance the security of their supply chain.
Managing Guest User Accounts in Supply Chains
Guest user accounts can pose a security risk if not properly managed. By implementing strict access control policies and monitoring guest user activities, organizations can ensure that guest users do not compromise the security of their supply chain. PAM solutions can help manage guest user accounts more effectively and ensure that they are used securely.
Secure Access for Supply Chain Efficiency
Secure access is essential for maintaining the efficiency and integrity of supply chains. By implementing secure remote access protocols and ensuring that all access points are protected, organizations can prevent unauthorized access and protect sensitive data. PAM solutions can help manage secure access more effectively and ensure that supply chains remain secure.
Reducing Malware Attacks in Supply Chains
Malware attacks can disrupt supply chains and compromise sensitive data. By implementing robust anti-malware measures, such as regular software updates and employee training, organizations can reduce the risk of malware attacks and protect their supply chain. PAM solutions can also help monitor for suspicious activities and prevent malware from spreading.
Securing Computer Software in Supply Chains
Securing computer software involves ensuring that all software used in supply chains is up-to-date and free from vulnerabilities. By implementing regular software updates and patches, organizations can protect against security risks and maintain the integrity of their supply chain. PAM solutions can help manage software updates more effectively and ensure that all software is secure.
Protecting Operating Systems in Supply Chains
Operating systems are a critical component of supply chains, and protecting them is essential for maintaining security. By ensuring that the operating system, along with browsers and plugins, is patched and up to date, and by implementing robust security measures such as multi-factor authentication and continuous monitoring, organizations can protect their operating systems from unauthorized access and ensure that their supply chain remains secure.
Managing Root Access in Supply Chains
Root access provides users with complete control over a system, making it a high-risk privilege. By implementing strict access control policies and monitoring root access activities, organizations can ensure that root access is only used by authorized personnel and that it does not compromise the security of their supply chain.
Implementing Access Control for Supply Chain Security
Access control is essential for maintaining the security of supply chains. By implementing robust access control policies and ensuring that all access points are secure, organizations can prevent unauthorized access and protect sensitive data. PAM solutions can help manage access control more effectively and ensure that supply chains remain secure.
Secure Systems for Supply Chain Integrity
Secure systems are essential for maintaining the integrity of supply chains. By implementing comprehensive security measures, such as PAM solutions and secure remote access protocols, organizations can protect their systems from unauthorized access and ensure that their supply chain remains secure.
Managing Privileged Sessions in Supply Chains
Privileged sessions provide users with elevated access to critical systems, making them a high-risk privilege. By implementing robust session management protocols and monitoring privileged session activities, organizations can ensure that privileged sessions are only used by authorized personnel and that they do not compromise the security of their supply chain.
Optimizing Manufacturing Processes with PAM Solutions
Manufacturing processes are a critical component of supply chains, and optimizing them is essential for maintaining efficiency. By implementing PAM solutions, organizations can ensure that manufacturing processes are secure and that all access points are protected. This helps maintain the integrity of the supply chain and ensures that manufacturing processes remain efficient.
Managing Non-Privileged Accounts in Supply Chains
Non-privileged accounts provide users with limited access to critical systems, making them a lower-risk privilege. By implementing strict access control policies and monitoring non-privileged account activities, organizations can ensure that non-privileged accounts do not compromise the security of their supply chain.
Preventing Security Breaches in Supply Chains
Security breaches can disrupt supply chains and compromise sensitive data. By implementing comprehensive security measures, such as PAM solutions and secure remote access protocols, organizations can prevent security breaches and protect their supply chain. This helps maintain the integrity of the supply chain and ensures that sensitive data remains secure.
Securing Social Media Accounts in Supply Chains
Social media accounts can pose a security risk if not properly managed. By implementing strict access control policies and monitoring social media account activities, organizations can ensure that social media accounts do not compromise the security of their supply chain. PAM solutions can help manage social media accounts more effectively and ensure that they are used securely.
Protecting Critical Assets in Supply Chains
Critical assets are essential for maintaining the integrity of supply chains. By implementing robust security measures, such as PAM solutions and secure remote access protocols, organizations can protect their critical assets from unauthorized access and ensure that their supply chain remains secure.
Managing Raw Materials in Supply Chains
Raw materials are a critical component of supply chains, and managing them effectively is essential for maintaining efficiency. By implementing comprehensive security measures, such as PAM solutions and secure remote access protocols, organizations can ensure that raw materials are managed securely and that their supply chain remains efficient.
Embracing Digital Transformation in Supply Chains
Digital transformation involves adopting digitized processes to optimize supply chain operations. By implementing comprehensive security measures, such as PAM solutions and secure remote access protocols, organizations can embrace digital transformation and ensure that their supply chain remains secure.
Removing Excessive Privileges in Supply Chains
Excessive privileges can pose a security risk if not properly managed. By implementing strict access control policies and monitoring privileged account activities, organizations can remove excessive privileges and ensure that their supply chain remains secure. PAM solutions can help manage excessive privileges more effectively and ensure that they are used securely.
Protecting Against Malicious Websites in Supply Chains
Malicious websites can pose a security risk if not properly managed. By implementing robust security measures, such as employee training and web filtering, organizations can protect against malicious websites and ensure that their supply chain remains secure. PAM solutions can help manage web filtering more effectively and ensure that all web access is secure.
Managing Admin Accounts in Supply Chains
Admin accounts provide users with elevated access to critical systems, making them a high-risk privilege. By implementing strict access control policies and monitoring admin account activities, organizations can ensure that admin accounts are only used by authorized personnel and that they do not compromise the security of their supply chain.
Ensuring Compliance with Operating Systems in Supply Chains
Ensuring compliance with operating systems involves implementing robust security measures to protect against unauthorized access. By ensuring that all operating systems are up-to-date and free from vulnerabilities, organizations can maintain the integrity of their supply chain and ensure that all access points are secure.
Managing Human Users in Supply Chains
Human users can pose a security risk if not properly managed. By implementing strict access control policies and monitoring user activities, organizations can ensure that human users do not compromise the security of their supply chain. PAM solutions can help manage human users more effectively and ensure that all user activities are secure.
Optimizing Session Management in Supply Chains
Session management involves monitoring and controlling user sessions to ensure that they are secure. By implementing robust session management protocols, organizations can prevent unauthorized access and protect sensitive data. PAM solutions can help manage sessions more effectively and ensure that all session activities are secure.
Preventing Malicious Intent in Supply Chains
Malicious intent can pose a security risk if not properly managed. By implementing comprehensive security measures, such as PAM solutions and secure remote access protocols, organizations can prevent malicious intent and protect their supply chain. This helps maintain the integrity of the supply chain and ensures that sensitive data remains secure.
Protecting Sensitive Data in Supply Chains
Sensitive data is a critical component of supply chains, and protecting it is essential for maintaining security. By implementing robust security measures, such as PAM solutions and secure remote access protocols, organizations can protect sensitive data from unauthorized access and ensure that their supply chain remains secure.
Managing Valuable Data in Supply Chains
Valuable data is a critical component of supply chains, and managing it effectively is essential for maintaining efficiency. By implementing comprehensive security measures, such as PAM solutions and secure remote access protocols, organizations can ensure that valuable data is managed securely and that their supply chain remains efficient.
Elevating Privileges Securely in Supply Chains
Elevating privileges involves granting users elevated access to critical systems. By implementing strict access control policies and monitoring privilege elevation activities, organizations can ensure that privilege elevation is only used by authorized personnel and that it does not compromise the security of their supply chain.
Implementing Privilege Elevation in Supply Chains
Privilege elevation involves granting users elevated access to critical systems. By implementing robust privilege elevation protocols and monitoring elevation activities, organizations can ensure that privilege elevation is only used by authorized personnel and that it does not compromise the security of their supply chain.
Securing Windows Systems in Supply Chains
Windows systems are a critical component of supply chains, and securing them is essential for maintaining security. By implementing robust security measures, such as multi-factor authentication and continuous monitoring, organizations can protect their Windows systems from unauthorized access and ensure that their supply chain remains secure.
Managing Data Regularly in Supply Chains
Managing data regularly involves ensuring that all data used in supply chains is up-to-date and free from vulnerabilities. By implementing regular data management protocols, organizations can protect against security risks and maintain the integrity of their supply chain. PAM solutions can help manage data more effectively and ensure that all data is secure.
Protecting Against External Threats in Supply Chains
External threats can pose a security risk if not properly managed. By implementing comprehensive security measures, such as PAM solutions and secure remote access protocols, organizations can protect against external threats and ensure that their supply chain remains secure. This helps maintain the integrity of the supply chain and ensures that sensitive data remains secure.
Managing Unprivileged Users in Supply Chains
Unprivileged users provide users with limited access to critical systems, making them a lower-risk privilege. By implementing strict access control policies and monitoring unprivileged user activities, organizations can ensure that unprivileged users do not compromise the security of their supply chain.
Ensuring Compliance with Regulations in Supply Chains
Ensuring compliance with regulations involves implementing robust security measures to protect against unauthorized access. By ensuring that all regulatory requirements are met, organizations can maintain the integrity of their supply chain and ensure that all access points are secure.
Implementing Least Privilege in Supply Chains
The principle of least privilege involves granting users the minimum level of access necessary to perform their job functions. By implementing least privilege protocols, organizations can minimize the risk of unauthorized access and enhance supply chain security. PAM solutions can help manage least privilege more effectively and ensure that all access points are secure.
Leveraging Network Segmentation for Supply Chain Security
Network segmentation involves dividing a network into smaller segments to enhance security. By implementing network segmentation, organizations can protect against unauthorized access and ensure that their supply chain remains secure. This helps maintain the integrity of the supply chain and ensures that sensitive data remains secure.
Managing Cloud Environments in Supply Chains
Cloud environments are a critical component of supply chains, and managing them effectively is essential for maintaining efficiency. By implementing comprehensive security measures, such as PAM solutions and secure remote access protocols, organizations can ensure that cloud environments are managed securely and that their supply chain remains efficient.
Managing Access Rights in Supply Chains
Access rights involve granting users the appropriate level of access to critical systems. By implementing strict access control policies and monitoring access rights activities, organizations can ensure that access rights are only used by authorized personnel and that they do not compromise the security of their supply chain.
Segmenting Systems for Supply Chain Security
Segmenting systems involves dividing a network into smaller segments to enhance security. By implementing system segmentation, organizations can protect against unauthorized access and ensure that their supply chain remains secure. This helps maintain the integrity of the supply chain and ensures that sensitive data remains secure.
Automating Discovery in Supply Chains
Automating discovery involves using automated tools to identify and monitor critical assets in a supply chain. By implementing automated discovery protocols, organizations can ensure that all assets are identified and monitored continuously. This helps maintain the integrity of the supply chain and ensures that sensitive data remains secure.
Implementing Multi-Factor Authentication in Supply Chains
Multi-factor authentication involves using multiple authentication factors to verify a user’s identity. By implementing multi-factor authentication, organizations can prevent unauthorized access and protect sensitive data. PAM solutions can help manage multi-factor authentication more effectively and ensure that all access points are secure.
Monitoring Privileged Activities in Supply Chains
Monitoring privileged activities involves tracking and analyzing the actions of privileged users. By implementing robust monitoring protocols, organizations can identify suspicious activities and prevent unauthorized access. PAM solutions can help manage privileged activities more effectively and ensure that all actions are secure.
Adopting Management Best Practices in Supply Chains
Adopting management best practices involves implementing proven strategies and techniques to optimize supply chain operations. By leveraging management best practices, organizations can enhance efficiency, reduce security risks, and maintain the integrity of their supply chain. PAM solutions can help manage best practices more effectively and ensure that all operations are secure.
Adapting to Modern Environments in Supply Chains
Adapting to modern environments involves embracing new technologies and strategies to optimize supply chain operations. By implementing comprehensive security measures, such as PAM solutions and secure remote access protocols, organizations can adapt to modern environments and ensure that their supply chain remains secure.
Protecting Against Threat Actors in Supply Chains
Threat actors can pose a security risk if not properly managed. By implementing comprehensive security measures, such as PAM solutions and secure remote access protocols, organizations can protect against threat actors and ensure that their supply chain remains secure. This helps maintain the integrity of the supply chain and ensures that sensitive data remains secure.
Improving Security in Supply Chains
Improving security involves implementing robust security measures to protect against unauthorized access and prevent security breaches. By leveraging comprehensive security protocols, organizations can enhance the security of their supply chain and ensure that sensitive data remains secure. PAM solutions can help manage security improvements more effectively and ensure that all access points are secure.
Establishing Baselines in Supply Chains
Establishing baselines involves setting standards for normal operations to identify anomalies and prevent unauthorized access. By implementing baseline protocols, organizations can enhance the security of their supply chain and ensure that sensitive data remains secure. PAM solutions can help manage baselines more effectively and ensure that all operations are secure.
Implementing Just-In-Time Access in Supply Chains
Just-In-Time access involves granting users access to critical systems only when needed. By implementing Just-In-Time access protocols, organizations can minimize the risk of unauthorized access and enhance supply chain security. PAM solutions can help manage Just-In-Time access more effectively and ensure that all access points are secure.
Managing Other Accounts in Supply Chains
Managing other accounts involves ensuring that all accounts used in a supply chain are secure and properly managed. By implementing strict access control policies and monitoring account activities, organizations can ensure that all accounts are used securely and do not compromise the security of their supply chain.
Leveraging Multifactor Authentication in Supply Chains
Multifactor authentication involves using multiple authentication factors to verify a user’s identity. By implementing multifactor authentication, organizations can prevent unauthorized access and protect sensitive data. PAM solutions can help manage multifactor authentication more effectively and ensure that all access points are secure.
Securing On-Premises Environments in Supply Chains
On-premises environments are a critical component of supply chains, and securing them is essential for maintaining security. By implementing robust security measures, such as multi-factor authentication and continuous monitoring, organizations can protect their on-premises environments from unauthorized access and ensure that their supply chain remains secure.
Improving Efficiency in Supply Chains
Improving efficiency involves optimizing supply chain operations to reduce costs and enhance productivity. By leveraging comprehensive security measures, such as PAM solutions and secure remote access protocols, organizations can improve the efficiency of their supply chain and ensure that all operations are secure.
By implementing these strategies and leveraging the power of Privileged Access Management, organizations can enhance their supply chain security, protect against unauthorized access, and ensure that their supply chain remains resilient and efficient in the face of evolving threats.
