Are You Ignoring Third-Party Risks Here's Why TPRM Should Be a Top Priority
A Breach Beyond Borders: What the Adidas Incident Taught Us
Just last week, global sportswear giant Adidas announced that customer data might have been compromised—not through a direct attack on its own infrastructure, but via a breach involving one of its third-party vendors.
This incident is a stark reminder that even organizations with robust cybersecurity frameworks can be vulnerable—especially when their partners become the target.
As businesses expand and rely on external service providers for logistics, technology, and operations, the cybersecurity posture of these third parties becomes an extension of their own attack surface.
That’s where Third-Party Risk Management (TPRM) comes in—a critical, yet often underprioritized area of cybersecurity.
Understanding Third-Party Risks & Supply Chain Attacks
When businesses grow, so does their ecosystem of vendors and partners. Unfortunately, every new vendor connection introduces potential entry points for cybercriminals.
Supply chain attacks are uniquely dangerous because they often bypass direct defenses. By compromising one weak link in the vendor chain, attackers can gain access to multiple downstream targets.
Some of the most devastating breaches in recent history—such as the Change Healthcare attack, which exposed 6TB of patient data—originated from exploited third-party vulnerabilities.
In fact, Verizon’s 2025 Data Breach Investigations Report reveals that supply chain attacks have doubled year-over-year, rising from 15% to 30%.
What Does a Supply Chain Attack Look Like?
Here’s a simplified breakdown:
An attacker targets a vendor with weak security practices.
They infiltrate that vendor’s system, embedding malware or stealing credentials.
They use that access to move laterally into the primary organization’s environment.
The final result: stolen data, disrupted operations, and reputational fallout.
What Is Third-Party Risk Management (TPRM)?
TPRM is a structured approach to evaluating and mitigating risks introduced by external vendors. It includes identifying potential risks, monitoring vendor activities, and responding to threats before they escalate.
Without a robust TPRM strategy, companies expose themselves to a range of threats:
Strategic failures due to unreliable vendors
Operational disruptions caused by compromised services
Regulatory penalties from data privacy violations
Financial loss from data breaches or ransomware
Reputational damage from publicized incidents
Why TPRM Is a Must-Have, Not a Nice-to-Have
A proactive third-party risk strategy delivers real, tangible benefits:
Helps identify and neutralize vendor-related vulnerabilities earlyCuts costs related to incident response and breach recoveryPromotes vendor accountability and transparencyEnhances data protection and complianceEnables business leaders to focus on core operations
Best Practices to Manage Third-Party Security Risks
To strengthen your TPRM approach, here are some expert-recommended actions:
1. Build Security Into Vendor Onboarding
Integrate cybersecurity assessments into your procurement process. Vet vendors based on their risk profile and security posture before entering into a contract.
2. Continuously Monitor Vendor Risk
Adopt tools that allow real-time monitoring of your vendors’ external attack surface. Watch for anomalies and exposures that may signal a compromise.
3. Implement a Vendor Risk Management Framework
Establish a program that tracks risk throughout the entire vendor lifecycle—onboarding, contract renewal, and offboarding included.
4. Limit Vendor Access to Sensitive Data
Use Privileged Access Management (PAM) to restrict third-party access to only the systems they absolutely need.
5. Segment Your Network
By dividing your network into zones, you limit an attacker’s ability to move laterally if one area is compromised.
6. Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
Make unauthorized access significantly more difficult by requiring an additional layer of authentication for all users, including vendors.
7. Deploy Honeypots
Use decoy systems to detect and divert malicious activity before it reaches your core infrastructure.
8. Test Your TPRM Program Regularly
Conduct periodic penetration testing to evaluate how effective your TPRM controls are in real-world scenarios.
Strengthen TPRM with Cyber Forte
At Cyber Forte, we help organizations build resilient third-party risk strategies. Manage third-party risks with Cyber Forte. Get expert guidance and tailored services to identify, address, and mitigate third-party vulnerabilities.
Don’t let a vendor become your weakest link. Partner with Cyber Forte to proactively manage your third-party risks and stay a step ahead of cyber threats.
What makes a password strong?
* At least 12 characters
* A mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols
* Avoidance of personal information or dictionary words
* Using a password manager helps create and securely store unique, complex passwords for every account—removing the need to remember them all.
Lessons from the $2 Billion Failure
Passwords alone are no longer sufficient. Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) adds an essential layer of security by requiring a second (or even third) method of verification. Even if your password is compromised, MFA can stop an intruder in their tracks.
The Three Types of Authentication Factors:
Something You Know – Passwords or PINs
Something You Have – Smartphones, security tokens, or smartcards
Something You Are – Biometrics such as fingerprints or facial recognition
Common MFA Methods:
SMS One-Time Codes – Convenient but increasingly vulnerable to SIM-swapping attacks
Authenticator Apps – Time-based codes from apps like Google Authenticator or Authy
Hardware Tokens – Physical devices like YubiKey offer high assurance and phishing resistance
While MFA adoption is growing, many still hesitate due to perceived inconvenience. However, the added layer of protection far outweighs the minimal time investment.
Best Practices for Long-Term Authentication Security
Cybersecurity isn’t a one-time fix—it’s an ongoing discipline. Here are some essential habits and tools to maintain a strong security posture:
Monitor for Breaches: Use services like Have I Been Pwned to check if your credentials have been exposed.
Be Phishing Aware: Never enter credentials via suspicious links or email prompts.
Use a Password Manager: Tools like Bitwarden, 1Password, or Dashlane encrypt your credentials and reduce the risk of reuse.
Educate and Enforce: For businesses, enforce password policies and run regular cybersecurity awareness training.
Avoid These Common Password Pitfalls
Understanding what not to do is just as important as knowing best practices. Here are five password mistakes that continue to cause security breaches:
Using Guessable Passwords: Weak options like “password123” or names/dates can be cracked in seconds.
Reusing Passwords: If one account is breached, reused credentials allow attackers into others.
Skipping Two-Factor Authentication: MFA blocks 99% of automated attacks. Don’t leave this protection on the table.
Storing Passwords Insecurely: Avoid sticky notes or unsecured text files—use a password manager instead.
Failing to Update Passwords: Passwords should be changed regularly—especially after a known breach.
Looking Ahead: The Future of Authentication
Cyber threats are evolving—and so are our defenses. From biometric verification to passwordless authentication, advanced identity systems are leading the way toward frictionless, secure access.
At Cyber Forte, we work with individuals and enterprises to implement modern, user-friendly authentication solutions tailored to their risk landscape.
Ready to Level Up Your Security?
Whether you’re a business leader looking to secure your team or an individual wanting peace of mind, Cyber Forte is here to help. Strong authentication is the first step. Let’s build a safer digital future—together.
Need help building or auditing your TPRM program?📩
Contact Cyber Forte Today info@cyberforte.com.au
