What is cyber supply chain security?

Cyber supply chain security refers to the practice of protecting an organization from security risks that come through third-party vendors, suppliers, or partners with access to their systems. It involves technologies and strategies to secure all the connections between a company and its external ecosystem, ensuring that vulnerabilities in one organization don't compromise another.

What happened in the Qantas data breach?

Qantas experienced a major data breach when hackers accessed customer information through a vulnerability in a third-party call center platform that served the airline. This breach exposed millions of customers' data and highlighted how companies can be compromised through their external partners rather than through direct attacks on their own systems.

Why are supply chain attacks increasing?

Supply chain attacks are growing because businesses increasingly rely on external vendors and cloud services for critical functions. This creates a larger "attack surface" with multiple entry points. Hackers have realized it's often easier to target smaller vendors with weaker security than directly attacking well-protected large corporations, then using those connections to access their real targets.

What is Zero Trust security?

Zero Trust is a security approach that treats all users and connections as potentially hostile until verified—even those inside the network. It operates on the principle of "never trust, always verify," requiring continuous authentication for anyone trying to access resources. This model is particularly effective for managing third-party access, as it doesn't automatically trust anyone based solely on their network location.

What's the difference between cybersecurity ETFs and individual security stocks?

Cybersecurity ETFs (like CIBR and HACK in this list) offer diversified exposure to many companies in the security sector, reducing risk if individual companies underperform. Individual cybersecurity stocks offer greater potential returns if that specific company succeeds, but come with higher risk. ETFs provide broader industry exposure while individual stocks let you invest in specific security technologies or approaches you believe will outperform.

15 handpicked stocks

Cyber Supply Chain Security

The Qantas data breach highlighted how companies are vulnerable through their external partners. This collection features stocks of companies that protect businesses from third-party security risks, a growing priority for corporations worldwide.

Han Tan | Market Analyst

Updated 2 days ago | Published at juillet 2