Protecting the Software Supply Chain with Public-Private Sector Partnership

After the unprecedented SolarWinds cyber-attack that breached thousands of organizations, the U.S. Government entered a new frontier in addressing the evolution and effectiveness of cyber threats. In response, the Government prioritized securing the software supply chain in a concerted, interdepartmental effort to protect citizens, agencies, businesses, and critical infrastructure. As cyber-attacks continue to mature, through the advancement of technology such as generative artificial intelligence, the importance of protecting the software supply chain has been a prominent concern. Just as important, one could argue, is the public-private sector partnerships needed to effectively address these threats.

Understanding the software supply chain

U.S. Representatives have continued to ring the alarm bell on the importance of protecting the nation’s software supply chain. What exactly is this supply chain, and why does it need protection?

Traditionally, supply chain represents the journey of raw materials into a physical product delivered to consumers. This includes anything from food and automobiles to apparel and smartphones.

The software supply chain relates to the “materials” that create IT applications and systems. This includes building blocks of code, configurations, open-source binaries, plugins, etc. These foundational elements are the backbone of digital and web-based functionality.

With digital transformation and our increased reliance on technology solutions to accomplish critical tasks, such as financial transactions, power generation, water treatment, air travel, medical services, etc., the need to protect each part of the software supply chain has emerged as a chief priority. Consider the speed of internet/online communications and scope of databases housing sensitive data. The need to protect the software supply chain is paramount in safeguarding essential services from bad actors.

Software supply chain vulnerabilities

As our societies and services have become more digitalized, the number and efficacy of cyber threats have risen. Each successful breach acts as a clarion call for cyber-attackers to double down on their nefarious efforts and hunt for organizational vulnerabilities. The list of victims is exhaustive, impacting Federal, State and Local Government, healthcare providers, educational institutions, financial services companies, media conglomerates, casino operators and much more. Finding an unimpacted industry may be the more difficult task. According to the FBI, cybercrime amassed over $10 billion in financial losses in 2022 alone. These damages put into the perspective the massive scale of cyber-criminality and the need to protect overlooked vulnerabilities.

Cybercriminals are getting smarter in exploiting technology and procedural weaknesses. Amongst many targets, they search for outdated systems, weak passwords, inadequate firewalls, accessible endpoints and unsuspecting individuals to gain access to sensitive data. Their aggressive methods can range from notorious ransomware—delivered as Phishing attacks or DDoS attacks which may completely interrupt services of a targeted system or technology—to more covert spyware which is used to mirror keystrokes and lift privileged credentials without alerting potential victims until it’s already too late. As cybercriminals become more prolific in their capabilities, increasing the depth and breadth of their attacks, it puts organizations more at-risk.

Protecting the software supply chain

Now, why are proven cybersecurity protections and collaboration efforts between the U.S. Government and private industry so important? This collaboration aims to bring together the best minds in cybersecurity and business, sharing key insights to strengthen security posture nationwide.

“Protecting our Nation from malicious cyber actors requires the Federal Government to partner with the private sector,” the White House said. “The private sector must adapt to the continuously changing threat environment, ensure its products are built and operate securely, and partner with the Federal Government to foster a more secure cyberspace.”

Recently, it was announced that a new DHS Center will be launched in 2024 to, “collaborate with the private sector to better secure our supply chains. The SCRC will analyze vulnerabilities and conduct scenario planning with private sector stakeholders to help mitigate supply chain disruptions, ensure reliable and efficient deliveries of goods and services, and lower costs for the American people.”

Through this public-private partnership, a more robust security posture may be developed to protect critical digital infrastructure and essential services.

What are some proven recommendations to enhance these protections? According to Federal Times, organizations should consider adopting the following:

• Software scanning services / continuous monitoring: Threat detection is among the first lines of defense against cyber threats. Through scanning/monitoring of applications and systems, visibility is gained into the active state of your digital environment.
• Identity and Access Management: Authentication tools are a valuable safeguard against bad actors. Controls such as duo factor authenticators and encrypted privileges help ensure a closed network of access to important data and capabilities.
• Artificial Intelligence (AI) / Machine Learning (ML): As cybercriminals leverage the power of AI/ML, organizations must be proactive in keeping pace. AI/ML makes a variety of tasks easier and more efficient, such as threat detection and automated incident response.
• Automation: These tools allow organizations to scale their cybersecurity measures with autonomous technology, ensuring threat detection, vulnerability assessment and incident response are activated without manual input.
• Zero Trust Architecture: With this model, each transaction is assumed to be a threat and handled with a proactive, responsive posture. This also includes the enhancement of access controls and continuous verification for all endpoints.

Unfortunately, a magic bullet to address software supply chain vulnerabilities does not exist. It takes a comprehensive, robust approach with proven controls, countermeasures, and strategic recommendations from reputable organizations such as CISA, NIST, DHS, Gartner, etc. To implement these protections and enhance security posture, agencies, authorities and business enterprises should consider partnering with a trusted IT Consulting provider such as Seneca Resources.

Seneca Resources has deep experience providing a variety of cybersecurity services to Government entities, including risk assessments, security architecture, network monitoring, incident response, disaster recovery, and augmentation of cyber talent. The combination of Seneca’s expertise with management consulting, talent sourcing and product solutions provides a comprehensive approach to addressing cybersecurity gaps and threats, ensuring services are highly tailored for organizations and their specific needs.

Commitment to Vigilance

Implementation of cybersecurity protections and continued vigilance is needed to protect the software supply chain and critical infrastructure from bad actors. Over time with the progression of technological capabilities, these threats will not vanish, but only grow stronger and more complex. It is the responsibility of the Government and the best of private industry to continue working together to address the changing threat landscape. Through public-private sector collaboration, effective solutions can be established to safeguard against attacks to the software supply chain.

For more information about Seneca Resources’ proven cybersecurity capabilities, please contact us at info@senecahq.com or (703) 390-9099.