Security Challenge for Logistic Services

In the current scenario of global economics, logistics play a key factor in facilitating trade and, by extension, ensuring the success of business operations. Innovations in technology are making security easier than ever before. However, now with so much data being stored online and in the cloud, there’s a whole new risk to consider—security challenges for logistic services. How does an organization gain the benefits offered by advancing technology, while also ensuring their data, and customers’ personal information, stay safe?

Challenges faced by the logistic services industry

Inventory Theft

Inventory theft by employees, in particular at distribution centres, remains a major threat to supply chains. The scale of goods moving through these centres makes it difficult to track everything with precision, and theft operations are often complicated, involving workers inside the company colluding with the people outside the company like drivers, to move stolen goods outside the distribution centre for resale.

Mismanagement of Cloud Access

As data storage move to the cloud, there is an urgent need to safeguard cloud data and applications. Failure to manage cloud access result in serious IT risks, including providing users with excess privileges, or, worse still, leaving cloud storage repositories open and accessible to anyone. A cloud solution must encompass strong permissions and access management.

Data Privacy

The backbone of every successful logistic operation is the amount of data collected from clients and other stakeholders along the supply chain, which then translates into larger efficiencies and shorter lead times. With growing digital transformation efforts in many companies today, most sensitive customer data — delivery addresses, purchase history and other personal information — sits on internal cloud-based platforms.

Best data security practices

Job and Equipment Training

As employees learn how to do tasks and use the equipment, their training needs to cover the proper and safest ways to do the job. Creating checklists can make a huge difference. Before they operate machinery or equipment, they would review the checklist to verify everything before turning it on. Management also conducts risk assessments on a scheduled basis.

Deploy industry-leading security protocols

One of the most crucial parts in securing the perimeter of the logistics network with the right security solutions is by training people. Logistics players must affirm that their employees know the value of ensuring physical and safety by following all protocols such as changing the password regularly, not clicking on phishing links, never revealing information that is confidential, not falling for social engineering tricks, etc. Regularly updating and upgrading security software is significant to avoid the occurrence of weak links in the network.

Engage specialist security partners

Shipments are always going to be vulnerable to theft. With billions of money worth of goods or data lost every year, hiring specialist partners who can guarantee the security of the logistics industry is advisable. There are specialist advanced technology companies now that provide advanced tools to safeguard logistics, such as real-time container tracking, live monitoring, video analytics, user-defined accessibility and more.

Conduct regular audits and analysis

Regular penetration testing and audits are the hallmarks of any successful security setup. This is applicable in the logistics industry as well, and logistics players are encouraged to employ trusted partners to spot weak points in their networks and routinely address their risk. Annual or bi-annual security audits may seem excessive, but they can go a long way towards protecting the logistic services industry possesses.

There will never be a time at which businesses can remove all risk, but by investing in employee training, to undertaking intelligent device use strategies, every logistic services company can provide the foundation for a safer, more successful operation.