When most people think about cyber attacks, they imagine someone trying to break into their own computer systems. But did you know that your business can be hacked through a supplier? Many businesses rely on outside companies for things like software, payments, marketing or cloud services. If just one of these suppliers is not secure, an attacker may use that weakness to reach you.
The good news is that you can protect your business. The first step is to check a supplier’s cyber security before you decide to work with them.
Why Supplier Cyber Security Matters
Scammers do not always go straight after the main business. Often they target suppliers because it gives them an easy doorway into many companies at the same time. If a supplier has weak cyber security, attackers can slip through unnoticed. This is known as a third party cyber attack and it is now one of the biggest risks for small and medium businesses.
Step One: Ask How They Protect Their Systems
A good supplier should be able to explain how they keep their systems safe. You do not need to be a technical expert. Simple questions can tell you a lot. Try asking:
- Do you run regular security checks
- Do you train your staff to spot scams
- How do you protect customer data
Many attacks happen because someone clicked a bad link or opened a fake email. This is why staff training is so important.
Step Two: Look for Security Standards
One of the easiest ways to check a supplier’s cyber safety is to ask if they follow a trusted security framework. A security framework is a clear set of rules that helps businesses stay protected.
SMB1001 is one of the best suited for small and medium businesses in Australia. It was created to help both suppliers and customers build safer systems without needing a large IT team. It covers risk management, staff training, backups, and what to do during an incident. Other well known standards include the Essential Eight Maturity Model, ISO 27001, NIST and CIS.
If a supplier follows a security framework, it shows they take cyber safety seriously and have already taken important steps to protect your data.
Step Three: Check How They Handle Your Access
Suppliers sometimes need logins to connect to your systems. These logins can be a target for hackers. Make sure the supplier uses strong access controls. Ask questions like:
- Do you use multi factor authentication
- Do you use secure passwords
- Do you limit who can log in
Multi factor authentication is one of the strongest ways to stop attackers from breaking in.
Step Four: Make Sure They Verify Payment and Business Requests
Many scams start with fake invoices or changed bank details. A strong supplier should have clear checks in place to stop this from happening. One of the best habits is to confirm any important changes by phone using a known number. This simple step blocks many scams.
Step Five: Ask for Proof of Regular Checks
Suppliers should run regular security assessments so they can find and fix weaknesses before attackers do. Independent checks are a great sign that the supplier takes security seriously and keeps improving.
Final Thought
Checking your supplier’s cyber security is one of the best ways to protect your business. You do not need to be an expert. Ask clear questions, look for trusted frameworks like SMB1001, and make sure your suppliers follow safe habits. Remember that a chain is only as strong as its weakest link. By choosing safe suppliers, you protect your systems, your money and your peace of mind.
