Security is essential in nearly every aspect of supply chain management, from protecting business communications and supplier data to verifying software components and raw material sourcing. Making security a priority at all levels of the organization — or establishing a culture of security — can boost compliance and resilience while adding a competitive advantage.
This article will explore what a culture of security means, some key components, and how it can benefit your organization’s supply chain management.
What Is a Culture of Security?
The culture starts with a commitment to security from all parts of the organization, beginning at the top. This can include elevating the security function to the executive level, making security themes part of the organization’s mission and values, and reinforcing them through employee training regarding security issues and protocols.
“A culture of security requires a tone from the top that says security is going to be a key to business success,” says Bob Kolasky, Exiger SVP for Critical Infrastructure. “It means thinking about security implications at the beginning of every business decision, whether it’s a merger and acquisition or the procurement of basic supplies.”
“The message also has to be that security is everybody’s responsibility,” says Clewin McPherson, Chief Information Security Officer at Exiger. “Security is not just a mandate for the legal, risk, and IT departments.”
“A culture of security says you’ve embedded security into every layer of the organization and that every team member feels some obligation to deliver a secure work environment,” says McPherson.
Regulatory Compliance Builds a Foundation
Obtaining certifications and authorizations —like FedRAMP, ISO 27001, and others — can provide assurance to customers and prospects that an organization has met high security standards. These objective standards go a long way in building a foundation of trust in your organization and its security posture.
Exiger recently announced its FedRAMP® Moderate Authorization, which reflects our commitment to meeting the highest security standards in supply chain risk management. This milestone enhances our ability to serve the U.S. federal government and the Defense Industrial Base (DIB) with streamlined, secure cloud services. Exiger also signed the CISA Secure by Design Pledge as part of its commitment to high standards for security posture.
Kolasky calls the FedRAMP authorization a “leading signal,” adding, “It’s a commitment that our company is putting in place controls, leading practices, being transparent about what we’re doing, and being audited.”
“It also tells potential government and Defense Industrial Base customers that we have been approved to handle sensitive data that they would generally put in their internal systems,” says McPherson. “Making that commitment to protecting customers’ data is critical to national security.”
Continuous Monitoring Adds Overall Strength
Continuous monitoring is important for a security culture because it allows organizations to stay proactive and vigilant in identifying and addressing potential security risks. By continuously monitoring their systems and networks, organizations can detect any anomalies or suspicious activities in real-time, enabling them to respond quickly and effectively to mitigate any potential threats.
What’s more, continuous monitoring allows organizations to gather valuable data and insights about their security posture. This data and insight can be used to improve security practices and make informed decisions regarding risk management. This proactive approach helps prevent security breaches and minimize the impact of any security incidents.
McPherson adds that continuous monitoring is also a condition of FedRAMP authorization. A monthly review and update must be coordinated with the government’s authorizing agency to approve security status. “This is not just a one-time annual assessment.”
“At Exiger, it’s very important for us to demonstrate that we’ve taken seriously the practices ourselves in how we secure our vendor relationships, follow good software development processes, secure software development process,” he says. “Bringing that kind of expertise to bear — in addition to the technology and the practices we have in place — helps us succeed in the market.”
Advanced Technology Can Bolster Security
A culture of security fosters an environment where people are informed about the threat landscape, know what red flags and risks to watch for, and have the right data to make informed decisions. These elements also contribute to supply chain resilience, which can be a competitive advantage for your organization. Resilience allows you to respond to disruptions quickly and effectively, while maintaining operational continuity and revenue streams. It’s a quality that can help you stand out in the marketplace from competitors who aren’t as nimble.
The AI and advanced technology in Exiger’s supply chain risk management solutions, including the Supply Chain Product Assurance Playbook, are purpose-built with security at the forefront. The suite of tools in the 1Exiger platform screen all dimensions of supply chain risk that could threaten the security of your organization and beyond. Our unmatched AI-driven, multi-tier supply chain visibility delivers clarity on all entities, third parties, software and firmware components, product parts, and materials in your value chain.
Recent enhancements to Exiger’s technology can strengthen the culture of security for your organization:
- Expand multi-tier visibility with advancements in supply chain tracing, data, and orchestration.
- Generate SBOMs, continuously monitor for vulnerabilities in electronic components, and achieve full cyber supply chain visibility.
- Get advanced predictive risk analytics and insights into supply chain crises as they arise.
Building a culture of security includes gaining transparency into the entire value chain of your organization. Contact us to learn how Exiger’s supply chain risk management solutions can anchor your culture of security.
