How to Minimize the Devastating Effects of Third-Party Cybersecurity Breaches

Imagine the world as a giant web, with each organization connected to one another through the flow of data. This flow is essential as it drives decision-making, collaboration, customer engagement, and operations optimization. In fact, by 2024, it’s estimated that the global volume of data created, consumed, and stored will reach 147 zettabytes – a number that’s almost too large to comprehend.

But there’s a catch: the more connected we are, the more connected we are in terms of risk. A data breach in one part of the network can have ripple effects throughout the entire system. So, even if your organization has top-notch cybersecurity, a breach elsewhere could still impact your data’s security, privacy, and integrity.

Feeling a bit helpless? Don’t worry – there are practical ways to reduce your risk from third-party breaches. Let’s dive in!

How a third-party breach can affect you

In a third-party breach scenario, the initial breach happens within the network or system of a third-party entity that your organization has a business relationship with. Hackers then use this breach as a springboard to gain unauthorized access to sensitive data or systems of other organizations in the supply chain.

Take this example: a financial institution partners with a software provider to manage customer data. If the software provider’s network is compromised by hackers, the customer data of the financial institution could be exposed too.

Third-party breaches can lead to:

• Exposure of sensitive data, such as customer information, intellectual property, financial records, or trade secrets.
• Financial losses from investigating and remediating the breach, notifying affected parties, fines by regulatory authorities, and potential legal settlements.
• Operational disruptions, resulting in downtime, loss of productivity, and the need for additional resources to address the breach and restore systems.
• Reputational damage, leading to a loss of customer confidence and potential business opportunities.
• If the breached third-party vendor is a critical part of the organization’s supply chain, other businesses’ ability to deliver products or services to customers could be impacted.
• Exposure of vulnerabilities in other organizations’ own systems and infrastructure, as hackers may use the compromised third-party as a stepping stone to gain access to further targets.

An infamous example: The SolarWinds hack

SolarWinds, a software company providing IT management and monitoring solutions, experienced a notorious third-party breach. Hackers gained unauthorized access to SolarWinds’ systems and inserted malicious code into their software updates, which were then distributed to customers, including numerous government agencies and organizations worldwide.

Consequently, the hackers infiltrated the networks of many of these customers, compromising their systems and gaining access to sensitive data. The SolarWinds hack demonstrated the risks associated with third-party vendors and the potential for supply chain attacks, where attackers target a trusted vendor to gain access to multiple organizations across its global supply chain.

Passwords: The key to third-party breaches

Passwords play a significant role in third-party breaches. One major issue is password reuse. Many people reuse passwords across multiple accounts, including personal and professional ones. When a third-party vendor experiences a data breach and user credentials (including passwords) are compromised, hackers can use those credentials to gain unauthorized access to other accounts where the same password is used.

Hackers often use automated tools to test compromised credentials from one breach against multiple online services, a technique known as credential stuffing. This relies on the fact that many people reuse passwords across different accounts.

If a user’s credentials from a breached third-party vendor are successfully used to gain access to other accounts, it can lead to unauthorized access, data theft, and potential financial loss.

To help combat this issue, consider using a tool like Specops Password Policy, which continuously monitors your Active Directory for passwords that have been compromised elsewhere.

Manage your attack surface and protect your organization

External Attack Surface Management (EASM) can help your organization prevent and mitigate the impact of third-party breaches. EASM solutions can scan and identify all internet-facing assets connected to your organization, including those associated with third-party vendors.

Having this visibility allows organizations to understand the true extent of their attack surface and identify potential vulnerabilities or weak points introduced by third-party vendors. Some benefits of using EASM include:

• Risk assessment: EASM platforms can assess the cybersecurity posture of your organization’s attack surface, including third-party assets. By evaluating factors such as misconfigurations, vulnerabilities, exposed databases, and weak encryption, EASM helps identify potential risks before they’re exploited by attackers.
• Continuous monitoring: Real-time monitoring of your organization’s attack surface, including third-party assets, allows IT teams to detect changes or new vulnerabilities introduced by third-party vendors. By quickly identifying and addressing these risks, organizations can prevent or minimize the impact of third-party breaches.
• Vendor risk management: EASM platforms can integrate with vendor risk management programs, allowing organizations to assess and monitor the cybersecurity posture of third-party vendors. This enables organizations to make informed decisions about which vendors to onboard and implement appropriate security controls.
• Incident response: In the event of a third-party breach, EASM solutions can provide valuable insights and data to support incident response efforts, minimizing damage and reducing the time to remediation.

Ready to better understand your own attack surface, including third-party risks? Request a free attack surface analysis from Outpost24 – we’ll map your current situation and help you stay ahead of potential breaches.

Sponsored and written by Outpost24.