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

The PC Support Group

The PC Support Group

A partnership with The PC Support Group delivers improved productivity, reduced costs and protects your business through exceptional IT, telecoms and cybersecurity services.

DigitalStakeout

DigitalStakeout

DigitalStakeout enables cyber security professionals to reduce cyber risk to their organization with proactive security solutions, providing immediate improvement in security posture and ROI.

Alvacomm

Alvacomm

Alvacomm offers holistic VIP cybersecurity services, providing comprehensive protection against cyber threats. Our solutions include risk assessment, threat detection, incident response.

XYPRO Technology

XYPRO Technology

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

BackupVault

BackupVault

BackupVault is a leading provider of automatic cloud backup and critical data protection against ransomware, insider attacks and hackers for businesses and organisations worldwide.

SQA Service

SQA Service

SQA Service provide independent software and process Quality Assurance services.

FDM Group

FDM Group

FDM Group is an international Professional services company with a focus on IT. Services offered include Software Testing, and Information Security with a focus on operational security and compliance.

Mission Secure (MSi)

Mission Secure (MSi)

MSi is a specialized provider of next generation cyber defense solutions protecting control systems and critical physical assets in energy, transportation and defense.

Lynx Technology Partners

Lynx Technology Partners

Lynx Technology Partners is a full service, full life-cycle risk-based security consulting firm.

Cybercrime Investigation & Coordinating Center (CICC)

Cybercrime Investigation & Coordinating Center (CICC)

The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) is an attached agency of the Philippines Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT).

VIPRE Security Group

VIPRE Security Group

VIPRE Security Group is an award-winning global cybersecurity, privacy and data protection company.

eLearnSecurity

eLearnSecurity

eLearnSecurity is an innovator in the IT Security training market providing quality online courses paired with highly practical virtual labs.

HancomWITH

HancomWITH

Hancomwith is an information security company. We provide optimized blockchain solutions in areas including next-generation authentication, security and digital asset transaction.

Dawgen Global

Dawgen Global

Dawgen Global is an integrated multidisciplinary professional service firm in the Caribbean Region providing a range of services including Risk Management and Information Systems Assurance.

Atomic Data

Atomic Data

Atomic Data is an on-demand, always-on, pay-as-you-go expert extension of your enterprise IT team and infrastructure.

MajorKey Technologies

MajorKey Technologies

MajorKey improves security performance by reducing user friction and business risk, empowering your people, and protecting your IP.

vpnMentor

vpnMentor

We started vpnMentor to offer users a really honest, committed and helpful tool when navigating VPNs and web privacy.

Telenor Cyberdefence

Telenor Cyberdefence

Telenor Cyberdefence is a newly established (2024) cloud-born Managed Security Service Provider focused on the Nordic markets.

Downdetector

Downdetector

Downdetector helps people all over the world understand disruptions to vital services such as the internet, social media, web hosting platforms, banks, games, entertainment, and more.

Endari

Endari

Endari specializes in building cybersecurity maturity within the operational DNA of early-stage startups and SMBs.

Nova Microsystems

Nova Microsystems

Nova's mission is to revolutionize cybersecurity through continuous data analysis and dynamic AI-driven encryption.