COMMENTARY
In today’s interconnected digital landscape, supply chain attacks are no longer an anomaly — they’re a persistent, growing threat. From SolarWinds to Kaseya, high-profile breaches have demonstrated that attackers are increasingly exploiting vulnerabilities in the supply chain to infiltrate targets at scale. For cybersecurity professionals, the days of relying on traditional vendor risk management are over. A broader, more proactive approach to securing the supply chain is required — one that goes beyond checklists and questionnaires.
The Shortcomings of Traditional Vendor Risk Management
Historically, organizations have relied on static risk assessments and due diligence processes to evaluate their suppliers. This involves vetting vendors using questionnaires, compliance audits, and sometimes even on-site assessments. While these methods help ensure compliance with industry regulations and basic cybersecurity hygiene, they are no longer enough to combat today’s sophisticated supply chain attacks.
The major flaw of traditional vendor risk management is that it assumes security is a one-time evaluation rather than an ongoing process. A vendor might pass an initial…
