Cyber ​​Security: How to Strengthen the Software Supply Chain

Those data sources include long-term trends and systematic information about the broader threat landscape, such as state-sponsored hackers, a growing threat. Companies can monitor the dark web, a hidden corner of the Internet where cybercriminals operate, sell stolen data, and exchange malicious tools and services. This helps leaders stay informed and anticipate risks.

Apply fixes and improvements quickly

Another key question to ask vendors is the patching and modification methods used to address known vulnerabilities in the software. Hackers look for vulnerabilities or flaws that can be exploited. Patches and updates are designed to close these security holes, but often companies are too lazy to prioritize security updates. Implementing these promptly can help reduce the window of opportunity for attackers.

Deploy technology to identify threats

In addition, companies can use technology to monitor their software supply chain for potential vulnerabilities or threats, such as systems that continuously monitor and protect organizations’ custom and third-party software assets.

Many companies use threat detection systems, but they can be too sensitive to false positive alerts. A report by cybersecurity company Critical Start found that 70% of security analysts are investigating more than 10 alerts per day, with a false positive rate of 50% or more. But it is up to the organizations to take them seriously and conduct further investigation.

While deploying such technologies and creating a culture of collaboration with software vendors are two strategies to help organizations proactively identify potential security issues, they are unlikely to stop every attack. Therefore, organizations must always be prepared for a breach that they believe will never happen.

Use the zero trust security model

One way to limit the potential impact of security breaches is to deploy a “zero trust architecture”. So instead of assuming the security of everything inside a corporate firewall, the zero-trust model treats every network access request as a breach that requires authentication and authorization. It also divides the network into smaller zones to reduce the chance of being sidetracked by hackers if a breach occurs.