How a Logistics Company Can Protect Itself From a Data Breach

In recent years, the global logistics industry has found itself under increasing attack by hackers. It’s happening because hackers have correctly surmised that crippling global logistics can give them massive financial leverage to exploit. As a result, logistics firms worldwide have experienced major cybersecurity incidents in quick succession. The threat landscape such firms face makes it vital that every business in the industry take concrete steps to protect itself from any potential data breach. Here are the best ways they can do it.

Embrace Encryption Everywhere

The best way to guard against data breaches is to make your data useless to any would-be attacker. To do this, it’s important to embrace encryption everywhere. Logistics firms should upgrade digital systems to encrypt all data at rest and in transit. Such end-to-end encryption ensures that a data breach would offer nothing of value to an attacker. That ensures that even in the event of a data breach, the business could continue operating without fear of any usable customer or proprietary data ending up in unauthorized hands.

Deploy MFA and Hardware Keys

Another way that logistics firms can protect themselves against data breaches is by deploying multifactor authentication or hardware keys. Multifactor authentication (MFA) involves the use of a smartphone or other physical device to use as a second type of authentication beyond a password. This can rely on single-use codes sent via text message or through an authenticator app that generates the codes on demand. Better still, logistics firms can upgrade their systems to use physical hardware keys for authentication. They use the latest encryption and eliminate passwords from the authentication equation entirely. Their use can all but eliminate the possibility of anyone executing a successful phishing attack against protected systems.

Adhere to Industry Standards

Logistics firms should also follow industry standards published by relevant industry groups. Such organizations act as clearinghouses for information on the latest cyber threats the industry faces as well as the generally accepted guidelines for defending against them. By aligning their digital systems with those standards, logistics firms can mount a credible defense against data breaches at all times. They can also keep abreast of new data security tactics and technologies to help remain one step ahead of threat actors.

Invest in Employee Training

Finally, logistics firms should invest in a robust cybersecurity awareness training program for all employees. Making every employee capable of spotting threats or attempted attacks is essential to avoiding data breaches. This can function as a critical early warning system that allows IT staff to react quickly to any potential unauthorized access to business systems. Plus, as employees are one of the most frequent accidental enablers of data breaches, this will also minimize a major attack surface.

Safety in a Challenging Environment

At the end of the day, logistics firms face a challenging cybersecurity landscape that’s rife with threats. However, staying safe from most data breaches and attacks is not only possible but relatively simple. By using the methods outlined here, any logistics firm can dramatically reduce its digital risk and protect itself from all current and emerging threats.