Supply chain security

Supply chain management is a complex topic as it encompasses sourcing, vendor management, supply chain continuity, and quality across the enterprise and requires a coordinated effort in a whole company.

Supply chain security is an integral part of supply chain management and primarily focuses on risk management. Risk management is an ongoing process of identifying, assessing, and responding to security risks.

The European Agency for Cybersecurity identified a supply chain compromise of software dependencies as the top emerging cybersecurity threat for 2030. Supply chain attacks are, without a doubt, on the rise.

It’s nice to see predictions like this; it helps you realize how important it is what you do within a security team and, the most challenging thing, how to address the risks arising from the supply chain.

NIST guidelines provide an approach to managing cybersecurity risk rather than a specific set of guidelines to follow. 

How do we ensure supply chain security at Kontent.ai?

Kontent.ai decided to build a strong security program where the security team actively collaborates with the management team.

Pursuing the mission, the day-to-day operations encounter a multitude of risks and opportunities requiring well-informed decisions. Our Risk Appetite Statement defines the amount of risk Kontent.ai is willing to accept in order to meet its strategic objectives.

This is the place where many organizations often struggle. They have a lot of technologies, human resources, and effective or ineffective controls, yet they miss a strong commitment from a management team. This important step is often overlooked.

You may be asking yourself, why the management team? The security team is here to protect us against cybercriminals, aren’t they? Indeed, the security team’s main goal is to present this topic in a broader context with its potential impact, introduce a common language of risk management, and conduct a risk assessment. Still, none of them can work properly without strong cooperation with the management team.

That’s where our Information Security Management System is in place. Supply chain security policy alone cannot address such a complex concern. 

Let’s look under the lid of managing supply chain security in our organization:

• Risk management

Our organization creates a risk management framework with the management team. Determining the organization’s risk tolerance is part of this. We can identify possible risks and create methods to mitigate them by setting up a framework for risk management.

• Tailored cybersecurity training

All employees at Kontent.ai, including developers, system administrators, and IT specialists, receive specific cybersecurity training. We intend to foster a security culture within the company by promoting employee accountability for their roles in asset protection. This way, we can reduce the likelihood of security breaches brought on by human error.

• Architecture board process

Our company makes sure that, like our clients, our suppliers are carefully chosen. Validating, approving, and acquiring new platforms, systems, and integrations is a crucial part of this. We ensure that these new platforms comply with legal and privacy requirements and align with our strategy and architecture requirements. We also recognize dangers and potential problems and take steps to mitigate them. In addition to supporting contract talks with third parties and conducting security evaluations to guarantee compatibility with corporate vision, we also examine and approve platform operation strategies. By doing this, our business can guarantee that the terms of security are covered in each RFP and contract.

• Identity protection

By incorporating user policies and restrictions with verified identity management, we can ensure that only authorized users can access sensitive information, reducing the likelihood of security breaches caused by unauthorized access.

• Asset management system

Another crucial stage is keeping track of and managing our company’s assets. In this manner, we are able to recognize possible security concerns and take action to reduce them, such as unlawful access to assets.

• ISO standards

With a formalized certification and recertification process, we comply with ISO standards. We don’t only get certified; we embody the ideals, carry out processes, and build best practices. Our company may ensure it follows accepted best practices for information security management by complying with ISO standards.

• Vulnerability management

As for vulnerability management, we know that keeping an eye out for weaknesses in the supply chain is a must. As a result, it’s easier for us to predict any security gaps and take the necessary steps to close them before they are exploited. Plus, we regularly monitor supply chain problems to ensure that our vendors are following the necessary security procedures.

• SSDLC

By establishing a Secure Software Development Lifecycle, we can ensure the security of product suppliers. By doing this, we can make sure that security is incorporated into the development process from the start, decreasing the possibility of security breaches brought on by software flaws.

Takeaway

Supply chain security is a critical aspect of supply chain management, and organizations need to take it seriously to identify, assess, and respond to security risks. We at Kontent.ai are committed to ensuring supply chain security for our customers. We believe conducting an extensive review of our suppliers is essential. 

Our plan calls for creating a strong security program in which the management team and security team collaborate effectively. Risk management, specialized cybersecurity training, and the architecture board process are some of the items that are involved. By implementing these strategies, organizations can improve their defenses against supply chain attacks and promote a security culture.