Cyber Defense eMagazine December Edition for 2021

How Do You Secure the Modern Supply Chain?
By Brett Raybould, EMEA Solutions Architect, Menlo Security
Supply chains demand better security and in today’s highly interconnected world, this means more
security innovation.
The day-to-day operations of a supply chain are often complex, with businesses and individuals
demanding that products and services are delivered quickly, efficiently, cost-effectively and,
increasingly, sustainably. The role of supply chains has come sharply into focus in the last 18 months
during the global pandemic with major challenges for many industries, including retail, manufacturing,
energy and oil & gas.
We have seen cases of empty supermarket shelves across several countries, as well as concerns
around energy supplies to keep the lights on. Companies have voiced concerns about supply chain
bottlenecks due to a spike in demand for items, such as agricultural and petrochemical commodities,
paper, chemicals and construction materials, in many cases leading to inflation.
Growing pressures
So the pressure has never been more intense. Add to this, the increase in cyber attacks on supply
chains in recent years. ENISA, the European Union Agency for Cybersecurity, estimates that there
will be four times more supply chain attacks in 2021 than last year 1 .
The ransomware attack in May on the Colonial Pipeline has been one of most high profile security
stories this year. The attack by hacking group, DarkSide, shut down a 5,500 mile-long fuel pipeline on
the east coast of the US, which carries 45% of the fuel used on the east coast. Since then the US
1
https://www.enisa.europa.eu/publications/threat-landscape-for-supply-chain-attacks
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