The vast, intricate web of systems, partners and technologies that make up the supply chain today keeps the trade of goods flowing and our economies growing.
Among the most pressing supply chain threats today are cyberattacks, which have evolved into one of the most significant risks facing global logistics. These attacks don’t just compromise data — they can halt operations and disrupt livelihoods. As digital transformation continues to accelerate, the stakes for cybersecurity in supply chain management have never been higher.
According to Verizon’s recent 2025 Data Breach Investigations Report, the most common type of cyberattack is ransomware (in which a bad actor gains access to a system and locks users out until they pay a “ransom”), followed by stolen credentials (which could be taken in a number of ways, including information-stealing malware).
Unfortunately, these two scenarios are frighteningly frequent, so it behooves us all – regardless of what we do for work or in our personal lives – to stay vigilant and take the necessary precautions to prevent hackers from infiltrating our devices and systems.
Transportation, logistics and supply chain professionals should double down on their cybersecurity efforts – because the global supply chain that we all benefit from relies on time-sensitive operations and countless interconnected digital and physical systems, it’s a particularly valuable target for hackers with nefarious intentions.
Technology leaders in this space must wear multiple hats: on the one hand, enabling the business to explore and adopt new digital tools and platforms that help operations run more smoothly; but on the other hand, providing critical guardrails in the form of policies that prevent cyber incidents.
Supply chain cyberattacks
This year, it’s likely that ransomware and stolen credentials will continue as some of the top forms of cyberattacks to watch out for in the coming months.
The supply chain is particularly vulnerable to a few specific types of cyberattacks that merit additional attention:
● Operational technology (OT) and Industrial IoT (IIoT) compromise: Attacks are increasingly targeting the systems that control physical operations, according to the National Motor Freight Traffic Association’s annual cybersecurity trends report. This includes devices used for fleet management (such as telematics), port and warehouse automation, and physical security systems. Disrupting these OT/IIoT systems can lead to real-world chaos, such as cargo delays, rerouted shipments or a complete halt to essential logistics functions.
● Transportation management systems (TMS), warehouse management systems (WMS) and enterprise resource planning (ERP) attacks. A successful attack on these central hubs can paralyze the movement of goods across an entire network, forcing companies to pay large ransoms to restore business continuity.
● Freight fraud and cargo theft are increasing, with criminal groups using impersonation scams and spoofed domains, highlighting the need for more robust verification and carrier vetting to prevent costly disruptions.
These types of attacks can be extremely disruptive and expensive for not just one company, but the entire supply chain can be greatly impacted.
The role of AI
Unfortunately hackers’ efforts are getting better, thanks to the increased adoption of generative AI. Phishing scams, which are used to trick people into giving up their login credentials, are becoming uncannily realistic and more difficult to catch.
However, the good news is technology providers can leverage AI to their advantage for improved threat detection and response during emerging challenges.
While not a comprehensive list, a few technologies that companies should prioritize leveraging to improve their cyber resilience include:
● A premier endpoint detection and response solution that continuously monitors for threats to your system
● Multi-factor authentication to verify users’ identity
● Immutable backups – copies of data that cannot be modified or deleted
● Cloud configurations that automatically scan and fix settings that could create vulnerabilities
● Independent third-party penetration testing to check for areas of improvement
The idiom “a rising tide lifts all boats” applies well to how AI directly impacts both the cybersecurity strategies that we adopt, and the evolving threats that we are proactively identifying and preventing at all times.
The human firewall
Humans – no surprise – are the leading cause of cybersecurity incidents, but we are also the key to preventing them.
Organizational culture plays a tremendous role in any company’s cyber defense strategy. People are an active line of defense – the “human firewall.”
For this to happen, company leaders and department managers must understand the risks involved and receive training on what to watch out for and how to help employees prevent unexpected cyber incidents. If given just one day to help a company protect itself against some of the most common cyber threats, a half day of personnel training coupled with thorough review of user/administrator account access to sensitive information and accounts would be a valuable use of time.
Well-trained employees with the awareness of how to recognize malicious attempts to compromise their email or credentials, as well as how to proactively report potential security incidents, can vastly improve a company’s threat resilience.
Be prepared
Working with trusted technology partners and moving to AI-powered, cloud-based platforms can help companies strengthen their security posture. Outdated IT systems can leave gaps in your cyber defense – invest in cloud infrastructure and shared data standards to ensure you’re protected.
Whether your company is big or small, earning executive buy-in towards setting a security-first mindset goes a long way to encourage cybersecurity readiness at every level.
Furthermore, cultivate an environment that promotes learning over blaming when incidents occur, encouraging transparency across the company and for future success.
