The 2025 Cyber Risk Reality

In 2025, cyber risk extends beyond your perimeter. It touches every employee, platform, and partner across your digital ecosystem. From endpoints to credential theft, unpatched third-party software, or exposed vendor access, cybersecurity risk can span an organization’s entire digital ecosystem, whether internal or external.

Malicious threat actors and cybercriminals will always look for your weakest link. And SecurityScorecard’s 2025 Global Third-Party Breach Report revealed that:

• 35.5% of breaches originate through third-parties
• 41.4% of ransomware attacks begin with supply chain vulnerabilities
• Residual risk is rising due to deepening vendor interdependence

Reducing cyber risk now requires a multi-layered strategy that spans internal controls, external monitoring, cross-functional accountability, and continuous monitoring. Here are 15 crucial actions organizations should adopt this year.

1. Continuously Monitor Third-Party Vendors

One-time vendor assessments no longer protect against fast-changing risks. Instead, use tools that monitor:

• Shifts in cyber hygiene and patching cadence
• Newly discovered vulnerabilities or leaked credentials
• Drop in vendor security ratings

SecurityScorecard’s Supply Chain Detection and Response (SCDR) solution offers real-time monitoring and breach alerts.

2. Enforce Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

Multi-factor authentication (MFA) remains one of the most effective defenses against account compromise. Enforce it for:

• All users, including contractors and partners
• Any system that handles sensitive data
• Remote access, cloud platforms, and third-party portals

3. Prioritize Patch Management Based on Risk

Not all vulnerabilities are equal. Focus patching efforts on:

• Exploitable CVEs (Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures) with known weaponization
• Internet-facing systems
• End-of-life or unpatched supply chain technologies
• Zero-days

Adopt a risk-based vulnerability management strategy—not just speed.

4. Segment Networks by Role and Sensitivity

Use segmentation to block lateral movement and contain breaches:

• Separate users by department or role (such as finance or marketing)
• Isolate high-value assets from general access
• Restrict vendor access to only essential systems

5. Implement Least Privilege Access

Users and systems should access only what they need. This reduces:

• Credential value
• Lateral movement paths for attackers in case of breach
• Insider threat exposure

6. Replace Generic Awareness Training with Real Threat Simulations

Simulate actual threat vectors to build preparedness. Use breach case studies to reinforce real-world consequences. Focus on:

• Phishing techniques relevant to your industry
• Social engineering over phone or chat
• Vendor impersonation scenarios

7. Audit Data Flows and Eliminate Shadow IT

Unmonitored platforms often introduce unmanaged risk. Audit regularly to:

• Discover unauthorized tools and accounts
• Map where sensitive data travels
• Secure department-specific endpoints and applications

8. Test Incident Response Plans Regularly

Don’t wait for an actual breach—review and test incident response plans. Conduct exercises that simulate:

• Supply chain compromise during a product launch
• Ransomware infection ahead of an earnings release
• Vendor system outage impacting customer operations

Involve security, legal, executive, and communications teams.

9. Classify and Encrypt Sensitive Data

Apply data classification to guide protections. For all sensitive data:

• Encrypt data both at rest and in transit
• Use data loss prevention (DLP) controls
• Enforce secure file sharing protocols

10. Reduce Attack Surface Through Asset Discovery

Unknown assets cannot be protected. Build a dynamic asset inventory that includes:

• All devices, IPs, and cloud instances
• Domain and subdomain sprawl
• Third-party integrations

SecurityScorecard can help security teams reveal hidden risks across external assets.

11. Monitor for Leaked Credentials

Cybercriminals often use credentials from past breaches. Monitor for:

• Employee accounts on leak sites or dark web forums
• Exposed vendor credentials linked to your environment
• Credential reuse across applications

Use automated alerts and integrate with identity governance workflows. Create and enforce strong password policies for your organization.

12. Embed Security in Procurement

Every new vendor is a new attack surface for bad actors. Require:

• Cybersecurity ratings at onboarding
• Disclosure of recent breaches or security incidents
• Clear contractual language around breach notification timelines and remediation support

13. Use Behavioral Analytics to Detect Abnormal Activity

Look for early warning signs like:

• Unusual hours for system access
• Unusual data downloads or transfers
• Privilege escalations or lateral movement attempts

Behavioral analytics can help identify insider threats and compromised accounts.

14. Build a Supply Chain Resilience Program

Prepare for potential disruption. SecurityScorecard’s MAX service offers remediation support and escalation workflows for high-risk partners.

15. Report the Metrics That Matter

Executives don’t necessarily need technical noise—they need trend clarity. Focus reporting on key metrics:

• Change in high-risk vendor count
• Open vulnerabilities sorted by criticality
• Residual risk indicators by business unit
• MTTR (mean time to remediation) and rating recovery timelines

Provide clear narratives that tie risk to business objectives.

Transform Third-Party Risk into a Supply Chain Resilience

With SecurityScorecard’s Supply Chain Detection and Response (SCDR), gain actionable insights into your vendors’ security postures. Our solution empowers you to make informed decisions, ensuring compliance and strengthening your supply chain’s cybersecurity.

🔗 Explore SCDR