Fri. Mar 29th, 2024

One key economic area is the logistics and transportation sector. It oversees the delivery of goods and services around the world. The industry’s use of tech has increased, making it a target for cyberattacks.

Given how linked the economy is, a cyberattack on these sectors may have a large effect. 

Note that malicious hackers are always looking for fresh ways to abuse loopholes. They are doing so to harm supply chains and steal classified info about firms.

Thus, firms in this industry need to have a strict cybersecurity plan. Also, firms should understand the nuances between patch management vs vulnerability management. This is extremely important, especially the addition of vulnerability management.

You may be thinking, what is vulnerability management? Well, it is the method for finding and testing security flaws. Also, it involves fixing and disclosing security flaws in systems. The processes affect the system and the software that runs on them.

So, in this article, you’ll learn about the need for cybersecurity in the logistics and transportation industry. Keep reading!

  1. To Follow Security Regulations

In today’s world, the logistics and transportation industry has grown more complex. And it is due to the global flow of goods and services. 

As such, many nations are now involved in supply networking. The network consists of producers, transporters and retailers. It also consists of suppliers, and each person must join forces to make the business work.

Also, these sectors must abide by many security laws due to their complexity. One of which is the International Maritime Organization (IMO) security law—cybersecurity is part of that law.

With cybersecurity, it is easy to have data about the flow of products and services across the globe. It can help protect against dangers like online threats. Also, it helps protect against unlawful access to these data. 

So, these sectors need cybersecurity to ensure compliance with security laws. Also, it makes them qualified to operate globally.

  1. To Improve Situational Awareness

Recent reports show that the cost of breaches has risen in the last few years. Thus, the logistics and transportation industry needs cybersecurity to improve situational awareness.

The reason is that these firms are of high diversity. That is, the supply chain involves a wide range of partners. And these partners may need to know how their firm’s data gets used. 

For example, what data gets shared with third parties, and who has access to it? But with cybersecurity, the firm will be aware of everything going on. 

With cybersecurity improving situational awareness, there will be a faster incident response. There will also be faster recovery times. Also, it can lessen the harm done to them. Finally, it will lower the expense connected with cybercrime.

  1. To Maintain Operational Stability

Hackers prey on anybody and everything. It’s not only small firms. They attack the loopholes in every industry. Examples of these industries include the government, the finance and insurance sector, etc.

Therefore, hackers can also get into the logistics and transportation sectors. And they are in charge of moving goods and services across the nation.

So, imagine if their system gets hacked, it will negatively affect the economy. It can also have a bad impact on the livelihood of the citizens.

For example, you need cybersecurity if you run a transportation service firm. The reason is that it will help you oversee the logistics operations for your trucks, buses or vans.

You can also protect the data containing the info about your vehicles’ destinations.

Note that hackers will always try to gain access to your firm’s operations to ruin it.

So, apply the best cybersecurity plan to reduce security issues against your operations.

  1. To Avert Data Loss

It’s no news that hackers are becoming more clever. They discover new ways to steal data from their targeted company every day.

Today’s hackers use modern methods such as IP theft, breach of access, etc., and with these cyber attacks comes data loss.

The hacker will decide to misuse or corrupt the stolen data. Also, stolen data can cause damage to the firm or its clients.

But, the logistics and transportation sector needs cybersecurity to identify the risk. It will also help in checking and installing measures to reduce these risks.

A backup and secured data storage are two things cybersecurity can do to help prevent that data loss.

Your cybersecurity program should also include vulnerability management best practices. These practices include:

  • Discovering all IT assets, like systems, apps, devices, data, and users, to identify what you need to protect.
  • Use a platform driven by artificial intelligence (AI). And it should always be able to analyze all assets. Also, it should be able to predict which vulnerabilities can get hacked.
  • Focus on vulnerabilities depending on the threat they provide to your firm.
  • Create a response plan to help your security team decide the best remedy for your loopholes.
  1. To Perform Real-Time Monitoring

Another need for cybersecurity is to perform real-time monitoring. First, however, you need to understand what monitoring means in the logistics industry.

Monitoring has to do with the act of recording the vital parameters of the transported goods. Not only when they get to their destination but while they are still in motion. And you can perform real-time monitoring through cybersecurity.

With the help of cybersecurity, staff in a logistic firm gets equipped to avert issues faster. It can also avert delays in the supply chain. It is much better to avert such issues rather than react to them after they arise.

Also, cybersecurity will help the logistic firm maintain control over their goods’ transport. As a result, it keeps one step ahead of the competition. They will also be able to make good-informed decisions. 

Bottom Line

Transportation and logistics firms must improve their security as they rely more on tech. And these firms also have a lot to lose. But they have little or no means to defend themselves against evolving cyber threats.

But, the firms must act before a fatal attack force them to adopt more strict security measures. So, to prevent such attacks, they need a robust cybersecurity plan.

Note that the cybersecurity plans must meet the above-discussed needs. As a result, their data and operations will be safe from cyber-attacks.

By Manali