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11 February 2026
At a Glance
Supply chain cyber security is about managing the risks posed by third-party suppliers who have access to your systems or data. Businesses should prioritise high-risk suppliers, assess access and data handling, verify security standards with evidence, and apply proportionate controls with regular reviews to reduce the likelihood and impact of supplier-led cyber incidents. Call Redpalm to protect your business from supply chain risks today.
Supply Chain Cyber Security
If you’re wondering what supply chain cyber security is, you’ll find the answers in this blog.
Supply chain cyber security focuses on safeguarding the data and processes that connect your business to suppliers and partners. It ensures that every link in your supply chain follows robust cyber security measures, so threats from outside your organisation don’t disrupt your operations or compromise sensitive information.
It is a crucial part of running a safe and reliable business. Every supplier your company works with carries some level of risk, and understanding those risks is important to keep your daily operations safe.
As technology evolves, supply chain cyber attack approaches continue to grow more sophisticated. Cybercriminals can recognise weak links in a vendor network and exploit them to gain access to your systems.
Understanding supply chains in cyber security involves evaluating how every external connection could link back to your business. Each supplier introduces a potential entry point for threats, so keeping track of these connections is critical to preventing downtime and protecting business data effectively.
In this blog, we’ll guide you through 4 practical steps to assess your suppliers and implement ongoing security measures to keep your business’ network secure.
1. Identify Which Suppliers Pose the Highest Cyber Risk
Not all suppliers pose the same level of cyber security risk to your business. Some have access to more critical systems and handle sensitive data, which could lead to severe legal repercussions if compromised.
By understanding the specific roles of each supplier within your supply chain, you can effectively prioritise and focus your efforts on those that pose the greatest risk to your organisation.
Start by reviewing each supplier’s access level and the data they can access. Suppliers that integrate directly with your systems or store confidential customer information should be prioritised for assessment.
Additionally, following guidance from authorities such as the NCSC can help you structure your assessment more effectively. This ensures clear priorities and the implementation of strong systems.
2. Assess Supplier Access, Data Exposure, and Security Controls
A key step in supply chain cyber security management is understanding how each supplier interacts with your systems. This includes checking what tools they use, how they manage your data, and how frequently they review their own security practices.
A supplier’s size or reputation doesn’t guarantee strong cyber security, as you can still face cyber risks if their procedures are outdated or inconsistent. By asking clear questions in advance about their access and data handling, you can identify potential vulnerabilities before they impact your business.
For instance, you should ask whether they conduct regular audits or proactively monitor their systems. These practices show that the supplier actively manages risk rather than assuming nothing will go wrong.
Ensure your suppliers regularly share updates regarding their security policies and any security incidents. This will enable you to react promptly to changes in their internal processes.
3. Validate Supplier Cyber Security Standards
Knowing that a supplier claims to follow good cyber practices is not enough. It is important to see evidence that their controls actually exist and work in practice. By requesting recent audit reports or accreditations, you can trust your supplier’s IT environment.
Benchmarks like Cyber Essentials can be a good starting point for verifying a supplier’s cyber security approach. While it doesn’t guarantee complete protection, it provides a solid baseline for comparing suppliers.
You can also look for additional certifications, such as ISO 27001 or PCI DSS, which show that a supplier meets internationally recognised security standards. These credentials demonstrate a higher level of commitment to protecting data and managing risk across their systems.
4. Apply Proportionate Controls and Ongoing Reviews
Once you have assessed suppliers and validated their cyber security standards, the next step is to put controls in place that match the level of risk. For SMEs, complex or expensive solutions are typically not needed.
Implementing straightforward steps, such as restricting system access or mandating encrypted data transfers, provides significant protection while avoiding unnecessary complexity in day-to-day work.
Large organisations often take a different approach, as they have dedicated teams and advanced monitoring tools to manage supplier risks. Their controls can be more complex, covering multiple layers of access and continuous threat assessments to keep operations running smoothly.
It is important to review security protocols regularly. We strongly recommend not skipping this step, as hidden issues can potentially grow into larger problems if not addressed promptly.
Contact Redpalm to Keep Your IT Environment Protected from Supply Chain Risks
Ensuring supply chain cyber security is an ongoing process because technology keeps evolving, and so do cyber risks. You can stay ahead of these threats with Redpalm’s professional services.
Redpalm is a managed service provider (MSP) and a trusted cyber security partner. We equip your business with advanced IT infrastructure to swiftly identify and neutralise any security risks.
Our wide range of services includes technology procurement, vulnerability assessments, endpoint management, and more.
To learn more about our managed IT services, click here or contact us to schedule an appointment today.
