Nexeris: Mitigating Supply Chain Risk
Your subcontractors and vendors form an integral part of your supply chain, and vulnerabilities within their systems can introduce significant risks to your sensitive data and operations. Nexeris understands the critical importance of managing supply chain risk, and we provide specialized solutions to help you secure your extended enterprise and protect your valuable assets.
Understanding Supply Chain Risk: A Critical Threat to Defense Contractors
Supply chain risk in the defense industrial base (DIB) refers to the potential for disruptions, compromises, or unauthorized access to your information and systems stemming from your relationships with subcontractors, vendors, and other third-party entities. These risks can manifest in various forms, including:
- Cybersecurity Breaches: Weak security controls at a subcontractor or vendor can provide an entry point for malicious actors to access your network and sensitive data, including Federal Contract Information (FCI) and Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI).
- Data Leaks and Exposure: Inadequate data protection practices by third parties can lead to the unintentional or malicious disclosure of your confidential information.
- Operational Disruptions: Security incidents or other disruptions at a critical supplier can impact your ability to deliver products and services, leading to contractual penalties and reputational damage.
- Compliance Violations: If your subcontractors or vendors fail to meet relevant security standards or regulatory requirements (such as those outlined in DFARS 252.204-7012 or potentially future CMMC requirements for subcontractors), it can impact your own compliance obligations and contract eligibility.
- Counterfeit or Compromised Products/Services: In some cases, inadequate vendor vetting can lead to the introduction of counterfeit or compromised hardware or software into your supply chain.
Why Proactive Supply Chain Risk Management is Essential for Defense Contractors
Protecting Sensitive Information
Safeguarding FCI and CUI requires ensuring that all parties involved in handling this information adhere to stringent security standards.
Maintaining Operational Resilience
A secure supply chain minimizes the risk of disruptions that can impact your ability to fulfill contractual obligations.
Ensuring Compliance
Meeting regulatory requirements often extends to your supply chain, necessitating due diligence in selecting and overseeing third-party partners.
Preserving Trust and Reputation
A robust approach to supply chain security demonstrates your commitment to protecting sensitive data and maintaining the integrity of the defense industrial base.
Avoiding Costly Consequences
Supply chain breaches can lead to significant financial losses, legal liabilities, and reputational damage.
How Nexeris Helps You Fortify Your Supply Chain:
Nexeris offers specialized services designed to help defense contractors effectively identify, assess, and mitigate supply chain risks. We work with you to establish a comprehensive approach to securing your extended enterprise.
Our Supply Chain Risk Management Services Include:
- Subcontractor and Vendor Agreement Review: Our cybersecurity experts meticulously review your existing and prospective subcontractor and vendor agreements to identify potential security gaps and ensure that appropriate cybersecurity clauses and requirements are included. This includes:
- Analyzing security-related provisions and obligations.
- Identifying areas of ambiguity or insufficient security language.
- Recommending specific cybersecurity requirements and standards to be incorporated into contracts.
- Ensuring alignment with relevant regulations (e.g., DFARS clauses, potential CMMC flow-down requirements).
- Subcontractor and Vendor Security Control Review: We conduct thorough reviews of the security controls implemented by your critical subcontractors and vendors to assess their effectiveness in protecting your data and systems. This includes:
- Questionnaire-Based Assessments: Developing and deploying tailored security questionnaires to gather information about their security practices.
- Documentation Review: Analyzing their security policies, procedures, and relevant audit results (e.g., ISO 27001, SOC 2).
- Remote or On-site Security Assessments (where appropriate): Conducting deeper dives into their technical and organizational security controls.
- Vulnerability Assessment and Penetration Testing Oversight: Assisting you in coordinating and reviewing the results of security testing conducted on your vendors’ environments (where applicable and authorized).
- Risk Prioritization and Mitigation Strategies: Based on our reviews, we help you prioritize identified risks and develop effective mitigation strategies. This includes:
- Categorizing risks based on potential impact and likelihood.
- Recommending specific security enhancements for your subcontractors and vendors.
- Developing monitoring and oversight processes for third-party security.
- Assisting in the development of incident response plans that account for supply chain dependencies.
- Continuous Monitoring and Assessment: We help you establish ongoing processes for monitoring the security posture of your critical subcontractors and vendors to identify and address emerging risks proactively.
- Supply Chain Security Policy Development: We assist you in developing and implementing internal policies and procedures for managing supply chain security risks throughout the lifecycle of your third-party relationships.
Why Choose Nexeris to Secure Your Supply Chain?
- Deep Understanding of the Defense Industrial Base: We are intimately familiar with the unique cybersecurity challenges and regulatory requirements facing defense contractors and their supply chains.
- Expertise in Third-Party Risk Management: Our team has extensive experience in assessing and mitigating risks associated with subcontractors and vendors.
- Comprehensive Approach: We offer a holistic suite of services to address all aspects of supply chain security, from contractual agreements to technical controls.
- Actionable Insights: Our reviews and assessments provide clear, actionable recommendations to improve the security of your supply chain.
- Proactive Risk Mitigation: We help you move beyond reactive measures to implement proactive strategies for preventing supply chain security incidents.
Protect Your Business by Securing Your Supply Chain. Partner with Nexeris Today.
Don’t let vulnerabilities in your supply chain become your weakest link. Contact Nexeris today to learn how our specialized services can help you effectively manage supply chain risk, protect your sensitive information, and ensure the security of your extended enterprise.
"Nexeris provides risk and compliance support for our growing IT services company. Nexeris is sharp in every respect, from technical competence to communication and presentation. Their work is excellent."
"Nexeris helped our company to rapidly meet cybersecurity and compliance requirements during the due diligence process of a potential customer. The speed of delivery and quality of the work was exceptional. I highly recommend Nexeris for cybersecurity and compliance support."
