ThreatNG Security

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Digital Supply Chain Assets

Threat NG Staff

In cybersecurity, digital supply chain assets encompass all the digital components involved in creating, delivering, and maintaining an organization's products or services. These assets extend beyond the organization's immediate boundaries to include those of its suppliers, vendors, and partners.

Here's a breakdown of key asset categories:

1. Software:

  • Applications: This includes all software the organization and its suppliers use, from custom-built applications to off-the-shelf software and open-source components.

  • Code Repositories:  Platforms like GitHub, GitLab, and Bitbucket where code is stored and managed. These repositories can contain sensitive information like API keys, credentials, and proprietary code.

  • Development Tools:  Tools used to build, test, and deploy software, including IDEs, CI/CD pipelines, and testing frameworks.

2. Hardware:

  • Devices: This includes all devices used in the supply chain, from servers and laptops to network equipment, IoT devices, and even employee-owned devices that access company systems.

  • Manufacturing Equipment:  Machines and systems used in the physical production of goods are increasingly connected to the internet and vulnerable to cyberattacks.

3. Data:

  • Customer Data:  Personal, financial, and other sensitive customer data.

  • Intellectual Property:  Trade secrets, designs, and other proprietary information.

  • Operational Data: Data related to the organization's operations, such as financial records, inventory data, and supply chain logistics.

4. Services:

  • Cloud Services: Cloud computing platforms like AWS, Azure, and GCP host critical applications and data.

  • Third-Party APIs: APIs used to integrate with external services and applications.

  • Managed Security Service Providers (MSSPs):  External companies that provide security services like threat monitoring and incident response.

Why are digital supply chain assets crucial in cybersecurity?

  • Expanded Attack Surface: Each asset in the digital supply chain represents a potential point of vulnerability. Attackers often target weaker links in the supply chain to gain access to the ultimate target.

  • Interconnected Risks: A compromise in one part of the supply chain can have a ripple effect, impacting other organizations and potentially leading to widespread disruptions.

  • Increased Complexity: Modern supply chains are highly complex, with numerous interconnected systems and dependencies. This makes it challenging to identify and manage all potential risks.

Securing digital supply chain assets requires:

  • Visibility:  Gaining a clear understanding of all assets within the supply chain, including those of your suppliers and vendors.

  • Risk Assessment: Identifying and evaluating the risks associated with each asset.

  • Access Control: Implementing strong authentication and authorization mechanisms to limit access to sensitive assets.

  • Vulnerability Management: Regularly scanning for vulnerabilities and applying patches to secure systems.

  • Third-Party Risk Management:  Assessing and mitigating risks associated with third-party vendors and partners.

  • Incident Response: Plan to respond to security incidents that may occur within the supply chain.

By effectively securing digital supply chain assets, organizations can minimize their risk of cyberattacks, protect their data and reputation, and ensure the continuity of their operations.

ThreatNG offers a robust solution for securing digital supply chain assets, addressing the key challenges of visibility, risk assessment, and ongoing monitoring. Here's how its features and modules contribute:

1. Visibility:

  • Deep and Broad Discovery: ThreatNG's Domain Intelligence module maps the entire online presence of your organization and your suppliers, including subdomains, IP addresses, certificates, and exposed APIs. This provides a comprehensive inventory of all internet-facing assets within your digital supply chain.

  • Technology Stack Identification: ThreatNG identifies the technologies used by your organization and suppliers, revealing potential vulnerabilities associated with outdated software or insecure configurations.

  • Sensitive Code Exposure: This module scans public code repositories for exposed credentials, API keys, and other sensitive information that could compromise your supply chain. This is particularly critical for identifying risks within your suppliers' codebases.

  • Cloud and SaaS Exposure: ThreatNG identifies cloud services and SaaS applications used across your supply chain, highlighting potential misconfigurations and security gaps.

2. Risk Assessment:

  • Predictive Risk Scoring: ThreatNG assesses the susceptibility of your organization and your suppliers to various cyber threats, including BEC, phishing, ransomware, and data breaches. This allows you to prioritize remediation efforts based on the most critical risks in your supply chain.

  • Third-Party Risk Monitoring: ThreatNG continuously monitors the security posture of your suppliers, alerting you to any changes or emerging threats that could impact your organization.

  • Sentiment and Financials Monitoring: This module tracks news articles, SEC filings, and online sentiment to identify potential risks related to your suppliers' financial stability, legal issues, and ESG violations, which could indirectly affect your organization.

3. Ongoing Monitoring and Management:

  • Continuous Monitoring: ThreatNG monitors your digital supply chain, alerting you to new vulnerabilities, emerging threats, and changes in your suppliers' security posture.

  • Dark Web Monitoring: It actively scans the dark web for mentions of your organization and suppliers, leaked credentials, and planned attacks, providing early warnings.

  • Collaboration and Management: ThreatNG facilitates collaboration between your security team and your suppliers through features like Correlation Evidence Questionnaires and customizable policy management. This helps ensure everyone is aligned on security practices and incident response procedures.

Complementary Solutions:

ThreatNG can integrate with existing security tools to enhance your overall supply chain security posture:

  • Software Composition Analysis (SCA) Tools: Integrate with SCA tools to gain deeper insights into open-source components used within your supply chain and identify potential vulnerabilities.

  • Security Information and Event Management (SIEM): Feed ThreatNG's findings into your SIEM to correlate external threats with internal security events and gain a holistic view of your security posture.

  • Threat Intelligence Platforms (TIP): Enrich your threat intelligence with ThreatNG's data on emerging threats, vulnerabilities, and dark web activity related to your supply chain.

Examples:

  • Identifying a Vulnerable Supplier: ThreatNG discovers that a critical supplier uses an outdated web server version with known vulnerabilities. You can then proactively work with the vendor to address this risk before it's exploited.

  • Preventing a Supply Chain Attack: ThreatNG detects a phishing campaign targeting employees of one of your suppliers. You can quickly alert the supplier and provide support to mitigate the attack and prevent it from spreading to your organization.

  • Responding to a Data Breach at a Supplier: ThreatNG's dark web monitoring identifies leaked credentials belonging to supplier employees. You can immediately notify the supplier and take steps to contain the breach and protect your systems.

By providing comprehensive visibility, proactive risk assessment, and continuous monitoring across your entire digital supply chain, ThreatNG empowers you to manage third-party risks and strengthen your overall security posture proactively.