30 January 2025

How Identity Management Can Protect You From Supply Chain Attacks

Today’s businesses are facing a rising tide of supply chain attacks. In recent years, they’ve become one of the most pressing concerns for organisations in all industries. Criminals are increasingly targeting vulnerabilities in third-party systems. Once they’re in, they’re able to bypass security measures and infiltrate businesses’ networks. It’s more important than ever to use advanced cyber security solutions, and Identity and Access Management (IAM) has emerged as a critical line of defence.

The Rise of Supply Chain Attacks

As businesses have become more and more interconnected, their attack surface has grown, and cyber criminals have been quick to exploit this. An attack on just one third-party supplier can have dire effects on businesses up and down the supply chain, causing operational, financial, and reputational damage to dozens of businesses – if not more. According to a report last year, 90% of attacks on energy companies that had been breached more than once involved supply chain attacks on third parties.

Cyber criminals are targeting smaller businesses as these will often lack sophisticated cyber defences. Once in, they use these as a gateway to bigger, more secure organisations. Probably the most high-profile example of a supply chain attack was the SolarWinds incident in 2020. SolarWinds, a provider of network management software, was hit by a cyber attack that affected businesses and government agencies around the world. Malicious actors were able to infiltrate SolarWinds’ software update mechanism, which gave them access to the networks of over 18,000 customers. One of the biggest impacts of the attack was financial – on average, the attack cost companies 11% of their annual revenue.

Strengthening Supply Chain Security With IAM

Put simply, IAM plays a key role in reducing the risk of supply chain attacks, as it ensures that only authorised individuals or systems have access to your network and resources. IAM is a framework that includes policies, tools, and technologies, all of which are used to manage identities and control who can access your network. By protecting the authentication process this way, and restricting users’ access based on roles, businesses can deal with vulnerabilities that could otherwise be exploited by criminals lurking in the supply chain.

One of the main benefits of IAM is strong authentication processes, which are particularly useful in preventing supply chain attacks. Many breaches are caused by attackers gaining access through compromised or weak credentials. Google Cloud’s 2023 Threat Horizons Report, for example, revealed that 86% of data breaches involve stolen credentials, Multi-factor authentication requires multiple forms of identity verification, which significantly reduces the chance of anyone gaining unauthorised access. Even if a criminal manages to steal credentials, they will still face obstacles to accessing your network.

Managing third-party access is another element of IAM that helps to reduce supply chain risks. Third-party vendors and contractors are the most common source of vulnerabilities, because of  poorly managed or excessive access privileges. By adhering to the principle of least privilege, IAM systems ensure users only have the minimum access required for their tasks. IAM solutions can also be used to implement role-based access control (RBAC) and time-bound access – these ensure that users only have permissions when absolutely necessary. Their access can also be automatically revoked after a set period, minimising the risk of unauthorised access.

The Broader Benefits of IAM

Of course, IAM isn’t only useful for stopping supply chain attacks. In fact, a strong IAM solution – like those that we offer here at Infosec K2K – has several other benefits. Firstly, it improves user experience by streamlining authentication processes and offering single sign-on (SSO) capabilities. This allows employees and partners to access necessary systems easily and securely. IAM also supports regulatory compliance by ensuring robust access controls and maintaining audit trails, helping businesses meet the requirements of data protection laws like GDPR, as well as newer ones like NIS2. IAM also helps businesses save money by automating access management, reducing operational expenses, and minimising the financial risks associated with security breaches. Here at IAM, we help firms save more money with our flexible pay-as-you-go model.

We specialise in IAM solutions designed to protect businesses from the growing threat of supply chain attacks. Our services have been tailored to meet the unique needs of businesses of all sizes, and our customisable IAM solutions can be integrated seamlessly with your existing infrastructure. Along with our partners, which include LevelBlue and CyberArk, we offer real-time monitoring and analytics to detect suspicious activity in your network, while our expertise in regulatory compliance helps you meet data protection laws, minimising any legal and operational risks.

Supply chain attacks show no sign of stopping, as cyber criminals look to exploit the vulnerabilities of interconnected systems. However, with the help of a robust IAM strategy, businesses can secure their access points, protect themselves, third-party risks, and safeguard critical systems from unauthorised access.

Whatever solution you’re looking for, we can help. The experts at Infosec K2K can offer you specialist guidance, and help you find the product that’s the best fit for you.

Get in touch with us to find out more about how we can help you.

15 January 2025

The Top Cyber Security Trends for 2025: What Businesses Need to Know

The cyber security landscape is growing more and more complex every year, with new threats to watch out for and new ways of protecting your assets. Each year, organisations are left scrambling to protect their most sensitive data, keep their operational technology (OT) running, and keep their customers’ trust. In 2025, these challenges aren’t going away. Thanks to advances in technology, it can be hard for businesses to keep up. That’s why we’ve decided to help, and have rounded up the top cyber security trends for 2025 that we think every firm needs to know about.

The Downsides of AI

Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming the cyber security landscape, but it’s not all good news – it’s more of a double-edged sword. On one hand, it makes it easier than ever for businesses to find and deal with threats before they can do any damage. Since AI tools are able to analyse vast amounts of data in real time, they can detect anomalies, and respond faster than humans can. However, this technology is also being weaponised by cyber criminals, and helping them to launch sophisticated attacks.

This means the stakes are higher than ever for today’s businesses. An AI system that hasn’t been configured properly could leave you vulnerable. At the same time, failing to adopt AI solutions could leave your organisation vulnerable to sophisticated attacks. In a recent episode of our podcast, The Keys 2 Your Digital Kingdom, we discussed the impact of AI on IAM, as well as the risks it poses. If you missed it, you can listen here, and hear how industry leaders are addressing the challenges of AI and using it to boost their defences. With the help of our partners like LevelBlue, we help businesses use AI securely, offering threat detection tools that can be securely integrated into your network.

Rising Threats to Supply Chain Security

As businesses all over the world have become more interconnected, supply chains are now prime targets for cyber criminals. Just last year, 38% of UK businesses faced month-long recoveries after being hit by supply chain attacks. A single vulnerability in a supplier’s system can give attackers a backdoor into dozens of organisations, up and down the supply chain. When the supply chain company Blue Yonder was hit by a ransomware attack in 2024, it affected companies including Starbucks and Morrisons

One of the key cyber security trends for 2025 is the growing number of sophisticated supply chain attacks. Organisations need to take a closer look at the cyber security practices of their suppliers, implement third-party risk management policies, and maintain visibility across their entire supply chain. At Infosec K2K, our risk assessments and vulnerability management services help businesses to proactively address any weaknesses they might have in their network.

Tightening Cyber Security Regulations

Governments around the world will be stepping up their data protection laws – and while this is good for consumers, it’s set to create a more challenging regulatory environment for businesses. From new regulations in Asia to increased scrutiny globally, organisations can expect stricter compliance requirements when it comes to cyber security. The US is considering a federal privacy law, the EU’s NIS2 took effect last October, and last year the UK introduced the Data (Use and Access) Bill. 

Integrating existing regional and local data regulations such as GDPR into your cyber security strategies is no longer optional. What’s more, though, businesses must also prepare for new regulations that are set to become legally binding later this year. One such regulation is the EU’s AI Act, which aims to regulate AI usage and address concerns about data misuse. Here at Infosec K2K, we help businesses navigate this complex landscape with our audit and compliance services and regulatory guidance to meet the demands of evolving cyber security laws. With our business application onboarding and integration, we’ll also ensure your digital environment complies with all regulations.

User Verification Challenges

With many data breaches stemming from compromised credentials, user verification is now a cornerstone of cybersecurity. This isn’t always the result of a hack – recent research by Verizon found that 68% of breaches of breaches were caused by human error, or by people falling for a phishing scam. However, finding the right balance between strong authentication measures and usability can be challenging. While MFA is now standard practice for many businesses, criminals have already found ways of bypassing these measures.

In 2025, it will be harder than ever to figure out if a user is legitimate or a criminal. Malicious actors have created bots that mimic human actions – clicking, scrolling, and even typing – making them difficult to detect. Emerging technologies like biometric authentication and behavioral analytics are gaining traction as solutions to these challenges. In 2025, businesses will need to navigate concerns around privacy, accessibility, and implementation costs. Our IAM solutions are designed to help organisations take control of user verification, enabling secure access without compromising on user experience.

Preparing for the Future

Dealing with today’s cybersecurity landscape requires a proactive approach, and here at Infosec K2K we offer a suite of services to help businesses address emerging threats. From customised IAM solutions to OT security expertise, we deliver tailored strategies for organisations of all sizes. 

The cyber security trends of 2025 demand constant vigilance and a willingness to adapt. Cyber security is always changing, and businesses that fail to keep up with these changes risk not only financial losses but also damaging their reputation – and regulatory penalties. By partnering with a company like Infosec K2K, you can confidently face the challenges ahead, protect your most sensitive data, and maintain regulatory compliance at the same time.

Whatever solution you’re looking for, we can help. The experts at Infosec K2K can offer you specialist guidance, and help you find the product that’s the best fit for you.

Get in touch with us to find out more about how we can help you.