Dominik Birgelen, CEO of oneclick AG
From IoT solutions to cloud-based technologies, modern innovations have eased the burden on logistics companies by providing them with real-time data, next-gen automation and reporting capabilities. However, reliance on technology has also made the industry more vulnerable to cyberattacks.
Logistics companies operate with vast amounts of sensitive information such as customer data, sensitive financial information, and shipping schedules. Cybercriminals are always on the lookout for this data to conduct malicious activities such as ransomware, identity theft, and financial fraud. They tend to leverage a number of techniques such as phishing, malware, and credential theft to gain access to sensitive information.
While advancements in technology have helped logistics companies bolster cybersecurity, human error still remains a significant weakness. According to the insight report by the World Economic Forum, 95% of cyberattacks are caused by human error.
Wrong clicks & tricky emails: How hackers exploit human mistakes in logistics
According to Statista, 65% of CISOs in the UK believe that human error is their company’s biggest cyber vulnerability. Often, hackers exploit human mistakes to gain unauthorised access to crucial information using a number of tactics.
Social engineering has become a key tactic that cybercriminals use to access crucial information from warehouse employees who, if not trained well, can reveal sensitive information without even knowing it. Phishing is the most common type of social engineering attack used by hackers. By using a deceptive email or a sophisticated malware link, cybercriminals can trick employees into either revealing sensitive information or compromising their login credentials. Creating a sense of urgency, cybercriminals often deceive employees into responding quickly.
Aside from social engineering, hackers actively seek out employees’ common mistakes and poor cybersecurity habits. They use brute-force attacks to crack weak passwords, engage in CEO fraud, and employ pretexting to exploit human error. The challenge lies in how companies can strengthen their “biggest cyber vulnerability”?
Empowering employees to minimise human error
Human mistakes are broadly categorised into two different types: skill-based errors and decision-based errors. To minimise skills-related mistakes, such as setting up weak passwords, logistics companies should provide training and workshops to strengthen and expand the skills of their employees.
Meanwhile, decision-based errors can be mitigated by providing enhanced awareness throughout the company. This could include basic cybersecurity knowledge, ongoing trends, and mock training to help employees become more aware and mindful. This can not only prevent them from clicking on a phishing link but also allow them to identify other potential risks ahead of time. Warehouse and logistics companies can also provide cybersecurity best practices sessions that clearly explain Do’s and Don’ts for employees.
While appropriate training can help mitigate human error, businesses must be prepared to deal with and mitigate the impact of cyberattacks in case they happen. Using the right technology is a must for logistics companies to ensure overall cybersecurity and, above all, to remain capable of acting in case of an attack.
The role of tech: Zero trust architecture (ZTA), continuous monitoring & compliance
Outdated security models operate on the supposition that everything within the company can be implicitly trusted. If a hacker or malicious insider has initial access to a company’s network, they can easily move laterally and extract sensitive data due to granular security controls. Cybercriminals can also impersonate legitimate users and access sensitive data for a longer period until they finally steal information. In order to reduce the risk not only from external hackers but also insiders with malicious intent, logistics companies must deploy solutions based on ZTA, a security model that continuously validates and authenticates each user regardless of whether they are internal or external.
Using ZTA solutions in combination with cloud solutions for central administration, logistics companies can offer siloed access to their employees. Organisations can provide their employees with unique access levels based on their work requirements. For instance, transportation department staff may access specific data, like pickup schedules and inventory, while being restricted from sensitive financial information unrelated to their roles. This limitation of access reduces the risk of insider threats and lateral movement within the organisation.
Another advantage of this combination of advanced cybersecurity solutions is its continuous monitoring capabilities which can help logistics businesses monitor user activity, identify any suspicious movements and revoke access immediately. Early identification of a cybersecurity attack allows for prompt action, minimising its impact.
As cyber threats evolve, logistics firms should implement a resilient cybersecurity solution tailored to their needs and aligned with industry standards. It is recommended that businesses opt for a solution that is certified by ISO 27001, the world’s best-known standard for information security management systems (ISMS) and their requirements.
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