Guidance Is Coming, But Hackers Aren’t Waiting

Supply chains have become the soft underbelly of cybersecurity, with recent high-profile breaches demonstrating how attackers can exploit third-party vulnerabilities to infiltrate organisations. In 2022, the UK’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) issued supply chain security guidance, aimed at helping organisations assess and secure their supplier networks. Still, supply chain attacks continue. 

More recently, further guidance is emerging, including the Cyber Assessment Framework (CAF) and the upcoming Cyber Security and Resilience Bill, action remains slow, and supply chain hacks continue to occur.

The UK government’s 2025 guidance on securing government supply chains highlights the need for stronger risk management, but in the interim, hackers are exploiting supply chain vulnerabilities in greater numbers than ever before. Which raises the question: is it time for businesses to push for stronger, industry-wide measures?

Why Supply Chains Are Increasingly Vulnerable

The risk associated with supply chains is escalating due to several factors:

Expanding digital ecosystems: Relying on a tapestry of third-party suppliers for cloud services, IT management, and operational support is the norma for many businesses now. However, each supplier presents a potential entry point for cyber threats.

More AI, more cyber threats:  AI is being weaponised by attackers to automate attacks, identify vulnerabilities at scale, and create highly convincing phishing campaigns. This exacerbates the challenge of securing supply chains, as AI-powered threats can adapt quickly. Similarly, if you’re adopting AI technologies and not applying rigorous due diligence to them, they come with significant risk. Don’t choose innovation over security. They need to go hand in hand.

Inadequate risk assessment:  Despite the increasing number of attacks, data from the NCSC suggests that only 13% of UK businesses regularly review the risks posed by their immediate suppliers, and just 7% assess their wider supply chain.

State-sponsored cyber espionage: Nation-state actors, such as China’s Silk Typhoon, are shifting tactics to target remote management tools and cloud services, which are often shared across multiple organisations.

Regulatory pressure and compliance challenges: As cyber threats increase, regulatory frameworks such as GDPR, NIS2, and DORA (for financial services) require stricter due diligence on suppliers, adding complexity to compliance efforts. Cybersecurity professionals are juggling a lot of different frameworks and priorities, with many indicating that they feel burnt out as reported by insights provider, Gartner.

Recent Attacks Highlighting Supply Chain Risks

Microsoft’s latest report on Silk Typhoon reveals a troubling evolution in supply chain cyber threats. The state-sponsored group has shifted its approach to target IT service providers, identity management solutions, and remote monitoring software. By exploiting unpatched applications and using stolen credentials, they can gain access to downstream customer networks and bypass traditional perimeter security measures.

Just one of many examples, the takeaway is clear: indirect access points through suppliers are an increasingly attractive vector for cybercriminals and it needs a solution.

Supply Chain Risk Regulation - What’s Happening Globally?

The European Union’s NIS2 Directive tightens security requirements for critical infrastructure providers, demanding stricter supplier risk assessments and real-time threat reporting. The United States’ Executive Order on Improving the Nation’s Cybersecurity mandates software bill of materials (SBOM) transparency for federal contractors to mitigate risks from vulnerable software components. Meanwhile, Asia-Pacific nations, including Australia and Japan, are implementing stricter cybersecurity supply chain frameworks, recognising the economic and national security implications of these attacks. 

Despite these measures, enforcement and compliance remain a challenge, with organisations needing to integrate global standards into their security strategies and juggle the evolving need and threats.

AI & The Future Of Supply Chain Cyber Threats

AI is a double-edged sword in cybersecurity with some heralding it as a future strength in threat detection, whereas others see it as potentially its greatest weakness. While organisations use AI-driven tools to detect anomalies and automate threat response, adversaries leverage AI for advanced cyberattacks. We’re seeing worrying trends:

  • AI-powered phishing campaigns can generate hyper-personalised attacks that bypass traditional detection mechanisms.
  • Machine learning models can be manipulated through adversarial attacks, potentially corrupting data integrity in AI-driven supply chain management systems.
  • Automated vulnerability discovery enables attackers to identify security gaps in supplier software much faster than traditional methods.

This means organisations must integrate AI-driven defence mechanisms, such as behaviour-based threat detection and automated patching, into their supply chain risk management strategies.

Best Practices For Securing Supply Chains

To strengthen resilience against supply chain cyber threats, taking a multi-layered approach is best, such as:

Zero Trust architecture: Adopt a Zero Trust model where no entity, internal or external, is automatically trusted. This includes enforcing least privilege access for suppliers.

Continuous third-party monitoring: Deploy continuous security monitoring solutions to detect anomalous behaviour in supplier networks.

Secure API and data access: Restrict supplier access to only the necessary systems and data and enforce API security measures.

Threat intelligence sharing: Collaborate with industry groups and government agencies to stay ahead of emerging threats.

Regular cybersecurity audits: Conduct independent audits of supplier security measures and ensure compliance with international cybersecurity standards.

Supply chain cyber risks are advancing. With the addition of AI, something that was once cutting-edge is now commonplace and opening the door to further risk. 

CAF, the Cyber Security and Resilience Bill and the supply chain guidance for public sector procurement represent a reassuring future-state when all are in play together. However, until that is in place, organisations must take charge of their own supply chain security, because waiting for the perfect alignment of guidance could mean waiting for a breach. 

Ed Bartlett is CEO at Hicomply

Image: 

You Mght Also Read:

Strengthening Britain's Cyber Defences:


If you like this website and use the comprehensive 7,000-plus service supplier Directory, you can get unrestricted access, including the exclusive in-depth Directors Report series, by signing up for a Premium Subscription.

  • Individual £5 per month or £50 per year. Sign Up
  • Multi-User, Corporate & Library Accounts Available on Request

Cyber Security Intelligence: Captured Organised & Accessible


 

« From Static Defenses To Dynamic Systems
Amazon Launches A Quantum Semiconductor Chip »

CyberSecurity Jobsite
Perimeter 81

Directory of Suppliers

Syxsense

Syxsense

Syxsense brings together endpoint management and security for greater efficiency and collaboration between IT management and security teams.

XYPRO Technology

XYPRO Technology

XYPRO is the market leader in HPE Non-Stop Security, Risk Management and Compliance.

ZenGRC

ZenGRC

ZenGRC (formerly Reciprocity) is a leader in the GRC SaaS landscape, offering robust and intuitive products designed to make compliance straightforward and efficient.

LockLizard

LockLizard

Locklizard provides PDF DRM software that protects PDF documents from unauthorized access and misuse. Share and sell documents securely - prevent document leakage, sharing and piracy.

Jooble

Jooble

Jooble is a job search aggregator operating in 71 countries worldwide. We simplify the job search process by displaying active job ads from major job boards and career sites across the internet.

CYBERPOL

CYBERPOL

CYBERPOL is the leading Public Utility Agency for investigating cyber crimes and cyber attacks by criminals, international adversaries.

Finjan Holdings

Finjan Holdings

Finjan solutions are aimed at keeping the web, networks, and endpoints safe from malicious code and security threats.

CyberSure

CyberSure

CyberSure is a programme of collaborations and exchanges between researchers aimed at developing a framework for creating and managing cyber insurance policy for cyber systems.

Centro de Gestion de Incidentes Informaticos (CGII)

Centro de Gestion de Incidentes Informaticos (CGII)

CGII is the Computer Incident Management Center of the State of Bolivia.

Clym

Clym

Clym is the data privacy platform that helps organisations meet their data protection obligations. Cookies, Consent, Requests, Policies and more are all managed in a secure and adaptive application.

The ai Corporation

The ai Corporation

The ai Enterprise Fraud Solution is an on-prem or cloud-based self-service, machine learning fraud detection and prevention tool set.

Startup Wise Guys

Startup Wise Guys

Startup Wise Guys is a mentorship-driven accelerator program for early stage B2B SaaS, Fintech, Cybersecurity & Defense AI startups.

Wolf Hill Group

Wolf Hill Group

Wolf Hill Group, a Slone Partners company, is a national recruitment firm focused on Cybersecurity.

Canopius Group

Canopius Group

Canopius is a global specialty lines insurance and reinsurance company and one of the top 10 insurers in the Lloyd’s insurance market.

Cyber Security for Europe (CyberSec4Europe)

Cyber Security for Europe (CyberSec4Europe)

CyberSec4Europe is designing, testing and demonstrating potential governance structures for a European Cybersecurity Competence Network.

Redsquid

Redsquid

At Redsquid we are all about making a difference to our customers with the use of technology, as an innovative provider of solutions within IoT, Cyber security, ICT, Data Connectivity & Voice.

Enea

Enea

Enea is one of the world’s leading specialists in software for telecommunications and cybersecurity. Our products are used to enable services for mobile subscribers, enterprise customers and IoT.

National Institute for Research & Development in Informatics (ICI Bucharest) - Romania

National Institute for Research & Development in Informatics (ICI Bucharest) - Romania

ICI Bucharest is the most important institute in the field of research, development and innovation in information and communication technology (ICT) in Romania.

Rimstorm

Rimstorm

Rimstorm’s mission is to significantly improve the security of your data using award-winning, state-of-the-art technology combined with cyber managed security services.

Xoriant

Xoriant

Xoriant is a technology leader and execution partner throughout the Build, Run and Transform lifecycle for companies that create and use technology products.

Hetz Ventures

Hetz Ventures

Hetz Ventures is a global-facing VC investing in highly talented and ambitious Israeli founders who operate at the cutting edge of deep technology.