Let’s presume that your cybersecurity is top-notch, and your network is protected. Your employees undergo regular Security Awareness Training, so they know how to spot threats as they come in. Sounds like you’re all set, right?
What happens when malware gets in through a back door, courtesy of a trusted but unwitting vendor with network access. This happens more often than you think. Cybercriminals aren’t always hacking directly into your systems anymore. Instead, they exploit the vulnerabilities in the software, services, and suppliers you rely on every day. For small businesses, this can feel like an impossible puzzle. How do you secure every link in a complex chain when resources are tight?
Fortunately, you don’t have to reinvent the wheel. This is where reliable IT solutions come in. They help you gain visibility and control over your entire supply chain, providing the tools to spot risks early and keep your business safe without breaking the bank.
Hackers are increasingly targeting the supply chain, and most organizations fear that their suppliers aren’t prepared to defend themselves. SecurityScorecard’s 2025 survey found that 88% of security leaders are concerned about supply chain cyber risks.
A separate 2025 report from Cyble indicated the number of monthly attacks has doubled compared to early 2024. Additionally, 30% of breaches involved a supply chain third party (vendors), representing a 100% increase from the previous year's 15% in the U.S., according to the Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report.
Don’t leave your business exposed. With good cybersecurity, the right mindset and practical steps, securing your supply chain can become manageable. Let’s go through some easy-to-understand strategies that even the smallest business can implement to turn suppliers from a risk into a security asset.
Is the supply chain as strong as its weakest link?
Yes, but the difficulty is in knowing which links in your supply chain are the weakest. Take stock of your own vendors that have some type of access to your system. Do you know what their cybersecurity standards are?
Many businesses put a lot of effort into protecting their internal networks but overlook the security risks lurking in their supply chain. Every vendor, software provider, or cloud service that has access to your data or systems is a potential entry point for attackers. And what’s scarier? Most businesses don’t even have a clear picture of who all their suppliers are or what risks they carry.
According to Marsh, 70% of organizations experienced at least 1 material third-party cyber incident in the past year.
Map Your Vendors and Partners for a Clear Picture
No matter how well you think you know your suppliers, take a closer look. Chances are you’re missing some potential red flags. Start by creating a ‘living’ inventory of every third party with access to your systems, whether it’s a cloud service, a software app, or a supplier that handles sensitive information.
Track every vendor who touches your data or systems and look beyond your direct vendors to their suppliers, sometimes risks come from those hidden layers.
This is an ongoing task. Don’t treat it as a one-time job. Vendor relationships change, and so do their risks. Review your inventory regularly.
Profile Your Vendors to Evaluate Your Risks
Vendors do not necessarily carry the same weight in terms of risk. For example, a software provider with access to your customer data deserves more scrutiny than your office supplies vendor.
Prioritize vendors by:
Access level: Which vendors can reach your sensitive data or core infrastructure?
Cybersecurity history: Has this vendor been breached before? Past problems often predict future ones.
Certifications: Check for security certifications like ISO 27001 or SOC 2, but remember, certification isn’t a guarantee, but if a vendor has none, it may indicate a casual attitude towards security. Dig as deep as you can.
Practice Continuous Due Diligence
You cannot treat vendor security like a box to check once during onboarding and then forget about. Cyber threats are evolving, and a vendor who was safe last year might be compromised now.
Here’s how to keep your guard up:
1: Do NOT rely on self-reports: Don’t take questionnaires from vendors as gospel - they often hide problems. Request independent security audits or penetration testing results.
2: Enforce security in contracts: Make sure contracts include clear security requirements, breach notification timelines, and consequences if those terms aren’t met.
3: Continuously monitor: Adopt tools or services that alert you to any suspicious activity, leaked credentials, or new vulnerabilities in your vendor’s systems.
Do Not Blindly Trust: Hold Vendors Accountable
You simply cannot trust vendors to keep your business safe without verification, but many businesses do just that.
Follow these tips to prevent unwelcome surprises:
1: Enforce mandatory security: As a price of having you as a customer, it is no unreasonable to require vendors to implement multi-factor authentication (MFA), data encryption, and timely breach notifications.
2: Limit access: Make sure that vendors only have access to the systems and data necessary for their job, not everything.
3: Request proof: Ask for evidence of security compliance, such as audit reports, and don’t stop at certificates.
4: Adopt Zero-Trust Principles
What is Zero-Trust? It means never assuming any user or device is safe, inside or outside your network. This is especially important for third parties.
Here are the key steps:
Unwavering authentication: Require and enforce MFA for any vendor access and block outdated login methods.
Segment your network: Make sure vendor access is isolated, preventing them from moving freely across your entire system.
Constantly verify: Things change, so recheck vendor credentials and permissions regularly to ensure nothing slips through the cracks.
Companies who have adopted Zero-Trust models have seen a huge drop in the impact of vendor-related breaches, often cutting damage in half.
Quick Detection and Response
Like that old saying about ‘the best-laid plans of mice and man,’ even the best cybersecurity defenses can’t guarantee that there will not be a breach. Early detection and rapid response make all the difference.
Practical actions include:
1: Monitoring vendor software: Look for suspicious code changes or unusual activity in updates and integrations.
2: Threat info sharing: Work with industry groups or security services to stay ahead of emerging risks.
3: Test your defenses: Conduct simulated attacks to expose weak points before cybercriminals find them.
Look at Managed Security Services
Keeping up with all of this can be overwhelming, especially for small businesses. This is where Managed IT Services come into play.
They offer:
24/7 monitoring: Much of this is automated, allowing experts to watch your entire supply chain non-stop.
Threat detection is proactive: Monitoring spots risks before they escalate.
Immediate incident response: When something does happen, they act quickly to limit damage.
Consider outsourcing these tasks to help your business stay secure without stretching your internal resources thin.
It can be quite costly to ignore supply chain security. The average breach involving a third party now tops $4 million, not to mention the damage to reputation and customer trust.
Investing in proactive supply chain security is an investment in your company’s future resilience. It protects your data, your customers, and your bottom line.
Stay a Step Ahead
Criminals don’t wait for a perfect moment, they are scanning for vulnerabilities right now, especially those hidden in your vendor ecosystem. Small businesses that take a proactive, strategic approach to supply chain security will be the ones that avoid disaster.
Don’t allow your suppliers to be your weakest link. By taking control and staying vigilant, you can turn your supply chain into a shield, not a doorway for attackers. The choice is yours: act today to protect your business or risk being the next headline.
Contact us to learn how our IT solutions can help safeguard your supply chain.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does security awareness training cost?
Depending on the quality, cost can run from about $2 to $10 per employee per month, with special workshops typically running about $100.
Usually, the total price will depend on factors like company size, training type (online vs. in-person), features included (like phishing simulations), and contract length. Many providers offer a per-user, per-month model, with additional discounts for longer-term contracts and larger organizations.
What is the concept of Zero Trust?
Simply put, zero trust operates on the principle of ‘never trust, always verify,' which assumes all network traffic is hostile and requires strict identity and device verification for every access request, regardless of location or company position (even the CEO is not off the hook).
How much should managed IT services cost?
It depends on the provider and the extent of services provided. In Southern California, the price range per-user-per-month is typically $75 (be wary of IT this cheap) to $150, with the most common price arriving at $100 to $125.
How often should security awareness training be conducted?
The old standard of once yearly doesn’t cut it anymore because the threat matrix evolves too quickly. Our recommendation is every 3 to 4 months – 6 at the outside.
How secure is your network?
As a reputable member of the IT Support Los Angeles community since 2002, IT Support LA offers a FREE, no-risk network and cybersecurity assessment. It is a non-intrusive scan that allows us to deliver a comprehensive report that is yours to keep. No strings, and no obligation to ever use our Managed IT Services.
The best defenses are expert cybersecurity to protect your data from theft, and a top-notch Managed Services Provider (MSP) to ensure continued reliability and defenses against newly emerging threats.
With our 100% Money Back Guarantee in writing, we offer a risk-free way for prospective clients to try us out. Because we do not require a ‘hard’ contract, our clients can fire us at any time with 30 days’ notice. We have to be good.
Among the Managed IT services we provide:
IT HelpDesk Service
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Cybersecurity
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Backup and disaster recovery
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IT Support LA is an award-winning Managed Services Provider (MSP):
o 3 Years awarded Best IT by the Small Business Expo
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o Listed as one of the world’s Top 501 MSPs by CRN and in the top 250 in the ‘Pioneer’ listing
o 4 years listed as one of the Top 501 MSPs in the World by Channel Futures
o Listed as #21 MSP in the World in Channel Futures NextGen 101
o Globee 2021 Bronze Award winner for Chief Technology Officer of the Year
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o Named one of 2022’s 50 ‘Best’ businesses in California by UpCity
o Named Best of IT winner by UpCity
o Winner of Local Excellence Award for 2021, 2022 and 2023 by UpCity
o Named Best of Cloud Consulting winner by UpCity
o Certified as Top Managed Services Providers and Cybersecurity Pro by UpCity
o Named Best IT in Los Angeles by Expertise.com.
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