Let’s imagine a scenario for a second; one of your key suppliers gets hit with a cyberattack. Their systems go down, their data is locked behind a ransomware demand, and suddenly, your business is affected too. Orders are delayed, customers are frustrated, and you’re scrambling to figure out what to do next.
How connected we are nowadays is great, but the reality is this interconnected world can quickly cause problems with your supply chain. Businesses rely on cloud services, third-party vendors, and digital tools to keep things running, but all of that comes with risks. If one link in the chain breaks, the whole system can grind to a halt.
That’s where a Disaster Recovery Plan (DRP) comes in, making sure your business can recover quickly when something goes wrong. Because at some point, it will.
Understanding cyber supply chain risks
The way businesses operate today is completely different from even ten years ago. We’re more connected than ever, with cloud platforms, remote teams, and automated systems. That’s great for efficiency, but it also means that a cyber incident anywhere in your supply chain can affect you directly.
Some common risks include:
System outages: If a cloud provider goes down, so do your services.
Data breaches: If a supplier gets hacked, your sensitive data could be exposed.
Ransomware attacks: If a key partner is locked out of their systems, it can delay your entire operation.
Now it’s not only about your own security, you also need to think about the security of everyone that you rely on.
What is a Disaster Recovery Plan (DRP)?
A Disaster Recovery Plan (DRP) is exactly what it sounds like — a plan for how to recover from a disaster, whether it’s a cyberattack, a system failure, or even a natural disaster. Without a clear plan, businesses end up scrambling in the moment, leading to longer downtimes, lost revenue, and serious reputational damage.
A strong disaster recovery plan should include:
Risk analysis
What are the biggest threats to your supply chain?
Recovery objectives
How quickly do you need to get systems back online?
Backup plans
Do you have cloud backups, alternative suppliers, or other safety nets?
Communication plans
Who do you need to inform when disaster strikes, for example, employees, partners, customers?
Why does a disaster recovery plan matter?
Cyber incidents and IT failures happen all the time. Without a plan in place, businesses are left scrambling when disaster strikes, often suffering huge financial losses in the process.
Some of the biggest risks of not having a DRP include:
Lost productivity – If systems are down for hours or days, work grinds to a halt.
Financial losses – Downtime can lead to lost revenue, extra costs, and fines.
Reputational damage – Customers and partners lose trust if you’re unable to recover quickly.
Companies that fail to prepare often find themselves in crisis mode, making decisions under pressure with no clear strategy in place. And making decisions when you’re panicking is not the best for you or the business!
How to build a disaster recovery plan
Now we’re all clued up on why disaster recovery plans are so important, let’s go over how you can build one.
Identify the biggest risks
Map out your supply chain and identify the most critical vendors.
Consider what would happen if key suppliers or service providers experienced a cyberattack.
Evaluate how data is shared and stored across your supply chain.
Define your recovery plan
Set up cloud-based backups to restore lost data quickly.
Establish alternative suppliers or workarounds in case one partner is compromised.
Determine how long your business can function without key systems and set recovery time objectives.
Test and update your plan
Run simulations of different disaster scenarios to see how quickly systems can be restored.
Make sure employees know their roles and responsibilities in an emergency.
Review and update your plan regularly to keep up with new threats and changes in technology.
It’s also a good idea to put one or two people in charge of the disaster recovery plan. After all, having a plan in place is great, but if no one knows who’s responsible for executing it, chaos will take over when disaster strikes.
What business leaders should do now
Review your current DRP – Does it cover cyber supply chain risks?
Assess supplier security – Are the companies you rely on prepared for a cyberattack?
Ask critical questions – Do your partners have strong cybersecurity measures in place?
Some things to check with suppliers and vendors:
Do they have a disaster recovery plan?
Do they use secure connections like VPNs?
What are their password policies?
How quickly can they recover from an attack?
Every business in the supply chain plays a role in cybersecurity and disaster recovery. If one fails, others will feel the impact. The key is all in the preparation!
Need help with your organisation’s cybersecurity? Contact us today to find out how we can help.
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