How to Protect Your Transportation Technology from Supply Chain Cyber Threats

When a system outage disrupts operations, it’s not just an IT issue. From delayed shipments to financial losses to unhappy customers, the ripple effect can impact your entire organization. Understanding the broader business impact is no longer optional—it's critical.

Supply chain ecosystems have become prime targets for cybercriminals. Just last month, a major ransomware attack hit Blue Yonder’s private cloud computing service, affecting several hundred of their clients. Unfortunately, this was not an isolated event.

Given the recent events, Shipper Tech Talk co-hosts Brad Forester and Mike Mulqueen sat down with JBF team members Justin Wilcox and Mark Workman to discuss the rise of cyber attacks and what shippers can do to protect themselves. Watch the entire discussion below or keep reading for the highlights.

 

With the shift from on-premise software to SaaS-based models, many organizations have outsourced IT security checks to cloud providers. However, this reliance can be risky. Many companies fail to conduct due diligence when selecting cloud vendors, assuming robust security measures are guaranteed.

Key Questions for Vendor Selection:

• Cloud Redundancy: Are systems hosted across multiple cloud zones or platforms?
• Authentication Security: How are credentials managed and secured?
• Disaster Recovery Testing: Are recovery plans regularly tested and validated?

If you are hit by a cyber attack, companies that have service and platform redundancy experience less of a disruption.

• Service Redundancy: Using multiple carriers or service providers within key logistics functions.
• Platform Redundancy: Ensuring cloud applications have failover systems hosted on different platforms.

Operational Considerations:

• Conduct annual disaster recovery tests.
• Develop fail-safe protocols that allow seamless switching between services.
• Implement multiple layers of platform redundancy, such as using different cloud providers for various system components.

Redundancy allows businesses to stay operational amidst a cyber attack. However, redundancy is pointless without resiliency, aka the ability to seamlessly transition from a failure of one host to another. 

 

The human element remains the weakest link in cybersecurity. Social engineering tactics like phishing have become common attack vectors. Regular employee training and simulated phishing tests can strengthen organizational defenses.

Best Practices:

• Conduct annual cybersecurity training.
• Use simulated phishing exercises.
• Establish a zero-trust environment with strict access controls.

System failures have direct financial consequences, affecting revenue and operational efficiency. As such, business leaders in transportation and logistics must move beyond viewing cybersecurity as just an IT concern. 

A Pragmatic Path Forward:

1. • Conduct regular data backups and host them on separate platforms.
   • Establish cross-functional teams for disaster recovery planning.
   • Design resilient system architectures using microservices and platform-independent modules.

Resilient IT infrastructure is no longer optional—it’s essential. While system outages are inevitable, proactive measures can mitigate risks, minimize downtime, and safeguard operational continuity. By asking the right questions, building redundancy, and fostering a culture of cybersecurity awareness, shippers can navigate the evolving digital landscape with confidence.