What is supply chain optimization?
Across industries, the demands of the modern market push supply chains to grow in complexity and scale. Yet, as crucial as supply chains are to everyday life, they are increasingly vulnerable to malware attacks. Hackers prey on supply chains to access the dozens, hundreds, or even thousands of companies connected virtually through a supply chain and the sensitive information they protect.
In addition to outside risks posed by malware intrusions, aging IT infrastructure, inadequate disaster recovery, and on-premises data recovery deepen the threat. These factors severely limit modern companies’ maneuverability when responding to supply chain challenges, such as component shortages, system outages, and unresponsive vendors.
Various means of supply chain optimization have evolved through cloud computing technologies to combat malware threats. In addition, the Cloud offers valuable solutions for updating internal infrastructure and optimizing supply chains.
How optimized supply chains are more secure
Supply chain optimization is a means of securing supply chains. Critical elements include:
- Streamlined data flow.
- Secure data at all points of access.
- Utilizing AI to analyze supply chain trends.
- Monitoring product tracking through IoT-enabled devices such as RFID tags.
Essentially, these elements allow for greater visibility and control at each supply chain station (and company).
Another powerful aspect of supply chain optimization is automation. Utilizing APIs streamlines various SaaS tools into powerful dashboards and workflow processes. This allows companies to automate labor-intensive tasks.
A supply chain is only truly optimized if it is secure. That is why large public cloud providers (Microsoft, Google, AWS, etc.) dedicate substantial resources to cyber security. Additionally, supply chains are a multi-cloud environment, meaning that smaller clouds may link companies without the security measures of Microsoft or Google. And all it takes is one unchecked vulnerability to expose an entire supply chain to ransomware.
Also read: Cloud-enabled security from OnX enhances your critical business applications
Benefits of cybersecurity awareness training
The benefits of proper cybersecurity awareness and information security training programs are numerous. Here are just a few:
- Seek out potential breach points.
- Use security tools to seek out ransomware before it becomes a threat.
- Inventory potential system weaknesses.
- Train employees on how to spot phishing attempts and best-practice password techniques.
- Elevate disaster protection.
- Automate data backups through cloud storage.
- Implement next-generation security protocols such as Zero Trust Networks (ZNAT).
- Create data redundancies through an encrypted data lake.
- Invest in a Disaster Recovery as a Service (DRaaS) system.
Growth and scaling
Uncertainty is simply an element of supply chain management. Component scarcity, labor shortages, inflation, overstock, and virus outbreaks all affect the efficiency of a supply chain. As a result, the ability to respond and pivot quickly has never been more critical.
Cloud tools are vital for managing and optimizing supply chain strategy in near real-time. Because of pay-as-you-go tools such as microservices or serverless computing, the Cloud offers a way to rapidly scale up or down as needed. In addition, AI analysis can point out inefficiencies and opportunities for cost savings.
Disaster recovery and protection
Part of supply chain optimization involves staying ahead of malware and virus development. Leaning on the expertise of DRaaS providers is one way to do so.
Current malware trends
Most companies are familiar with phishing schemes, but hackers continue to develop dangerous new threats. One example is malware that is hidden in a photo file or inside a text document. Instead of locking users out of files or operating systems, sophisticated intruders can even lock the disk drive itself. Sometimes, malware may remain hidden and inactive within a system for months or even years until triggered by the hacker. Perhaps the worst development in recent years is the rise of “Ransomware as a Service,” in which cyber criminals lease out malware to amateur hackers, multiplying the number of potential attackers.
Disaster Recovery as a Service (DRaaS)
Protections offered by DRaaS are two-fold: it defends against natural or other disasters and protects data from a successful malware intrusion. A proper DRaaS setup should not be on-premises but instead a cloud backup system. While it is true that some cloud vulnerabilities exist, these holes can be patched through expert implementation.
The future of supply chains
Keeping a supply chain secure, optimized, and ready to pivot remains one of the most significant challenges in the current business environment. OnX guides our customers to better supply chain management by implementing cloud technology. The OnX team builds critical solutions to manage security, automate backups, and create greater visibility across the entire supply chain. With over 30 years of experience, our team simplifies every aspect of supply chain optimization. And with best-in-class technology partnerships, we ensure that your supply chain will remain future-proof.