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

Directory of Cyber Security Suppliers

Directory of Cyber Security Suppliers

Our Supplier Directory lists 7,000+ specialist cyber security service providers in 128 countries worldwide. IS YOUR ORGANISATION LISTED?

Syxsense

Syxsense

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

CSI Consulting Services

CSI Consulting Services

Get Advice From The Experts: * Training * Penetration Testing * Data Governance * GDPR Compliance. Connecting you to the best in the business.

MIRACL

MIRACL

MIRACL provides the world’s only single step Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) which can replace passwords on 100% of mobiles, desktops or even Smart TVs.

Resecurity

Resecurity

Resecurity is a cybersecurity company that delivers a unified platform for endpoint protection, risk management, and cyber threat intelligence.

Asavie

Asavie

Asavie provide solutions for Enterprise Mobility Management and secure IoT Connectivity.

Kore Telematics

Kore Telematics

Kore is a leading managed service provider for IoT and M2M applications.

Attivo Networks

Attivo Networks

Attivo Networks is an award winning provider of deception for in-network threat detection, attack forensic analysis, and continuous threat response.

PartnerRe

PartnerRe

PartnerRe provides multi-line reinsurance to insurance companies on a worldwide basis. Services include Cyber Risk.

Bounga Informatics

Bounga Informatics

Bounga Informatics provides Digital Forensics, E-Discovery, and Endpoint Security software, hardware, and training in Singapore and other countries in Asia Pacific.

National Center for Manufacturing Sciences (NCMS) - USA

National Center for Manufacturing Sciences (NCMS) - USA

NCMS is a cross-industry technology development consortium, dedicated to improving the competitiveness of the US industrial base. Strategic initiatives include industrial cyber security.

SecurityHQ

SecurityHQ

SecurityHQ (formerly known as Si Consult) is a Global Managed Security Service Provider (MSSP) that monitors networks 24/7, to ensure complete visibility and protection against your cyber threats.

Option3

Option3

Option3 (formerly Option3Ventures - O3V) primarily seek control investments in the growing cybersecurity mid-market, seeking to build champions with the scale to bring cutting-edge products to market.

Wickr

Wickr

Wickr's mission is to secure the world's most critical communications. Wickr provides the highest standard of encryption trusted by millions worldwide.

CyberScotland

CyberScotland

The CyberScotland Partnership is a collaboration of key strategic stakeholders, brought together to focus efforts on improving cyber resilience across Scotland in a coordinated and coherent way.

ISECURION Technology & Consulting

ISECURION Technology & Consulting

ISECURION is an information security consulting company. We provide a unique blend of services to our customers catering to the current information security landscape.

Rausch Advisory Services

Rausch Advisory Services

Rausch delivers solutions that address compliance, enterprise risk, information technology and human resource capital.

PatchAdvisor

PatchAdvisor

PatchAdvisor core services include Vulnerability Assessments/Penetration Testing, Application Vulnerability Assessments, and Incident Response.

Theos Cyber Solutions

Theos Cyber Solutions

Theos Cyber provides service-first cybersecurity solutions to digital businesses in Asia.

ABM Technology Group

ABM Technology Group

ABM Technology Group (formerly True IT) provide business information technology services, solutions, and consulting for small to mid-sized organizations.

Keyrus

Keyrus

Keyrus is a global consultancy that develops data and digital solutions for performance management.