The Importance of Cybersecurity for Warehousing Operations

In 2019, supply chain players were facing increased risk from cybercriminals, with attacks doubling in just one year.

Hackers continue to evolve, developing new techniques to infiltrate data stored on cloud infrastructure, employee mobile devices, third-party applications, and other platforms.

Cryptominers, mobile malware, botnet strikes, and banking malware topped the list of new toolsets targeting supply chain partners.

In 2020, that trend exploded with a 430% increase in next-gen attacks on supply chain actors, homing in outdated architecture.

Specifically, hackers are waiting for the public exposure of zero-day vulnerabilities and then attacking them before they are patched.

As we move into the new year, cybersecurity continues to be a primary concern for warehousing operations as the world of commerce continues to adjust to further restrictions and processes brought about by the ongoing pandemic.

The Importance of Cybersecurity for Warehousing: Preventing Crime at the Source

Warehousing operations and other logistics companies must work harder than ever to protect operations and assets from falling prey to cybercrime.

While cyberattacks cannot be prevented altogether, having targeted security safeguards in place can help protect critical customer and business data.

Here are some cybersecurity best practices you can take to secure your warehouse or distribution center:

1. Create a Policy to Address Cybersecurity

Employees are often considered the weakest link when it comes to cybersecurity. Many are so wrapped up in the daily tasks that they forget to pay attention to emails, pop-ups, texts, passwords, and other avenues hackers can use to break through your protections.

Developing a corporate culture centered around cybersecurity ensures employees are educated on current security threats such as social engineering, phishing, and others.

Develop a written policy detailed cybersecurity best practices and ensure your employees understand and practice scenarios that they may encounter in the work environment.

Keep your policy updated and be sure to return to it often, training employees at onboarding and requiring periodic reviews to ensure everyone fully understands what is expected.

2. Ensure All Systems Stay Up to Date

These systems are often unsupported in terms of security fixes that address emerging threats. Hackers are always evolving new attack methods, a danger that most outdated systems cannot defend against.

Even modern technology can offer cybercriminals a foothold into your infrastructure, data, and processes if not adequately updated. To reduce risk, ensure that your warehouse is outfitted with the most recent technology. Also, ensure that all software and hardware patches are conducted as soon as updates are released.

3. Invest in Redundancy

Nothing is more critical than business continuity in warehousing. In the event of a disaster — a power outage, natural disaster, or cyberattack — you need to be able to keep the product moving and your business on target.

Having redundant data backup sites is the best way to ensure access to critical data in a breach or other slowdown event.

Redundancy ensures that, even if one backup is offline or inaccessible, you can still get control of the information you need to keep the business moving.

4. Leverage Specialized Software

Antivirus programs and firewalls are just a few of the software tools you can use to keep your data protected.

Not only can they provide web protection, but they come with system cleanup tools, password managers, and encryption to provide a safer online environment for employees.

Blue Technologies Has the Cybersecurity You Need to Succeed

Hackers are at their most active in a crisis — and this year’s continuing coronavirus pandemic has given them the advantages they need to cause more disruption than ever.

As more employees work from home and bring-your-own-device (BYOD) environments increase, all businesses have to keep a more careful watch for suspicious activity on their networks.

Warehousing and distribution centers have been the targets of cybercriminals seeking to break down supply chains further and wreak havoc.

Having a trusted, knowledgeable cybersecurity partner can help you secure the data processed by your warehouse or distribution center and keep you on the cutting-edge of advances in data protection.