No matter where your company sits in the supply chain, you probably have a lot of moving parts in your IT infrastructure. From vendor relationships to supply management software, there’s a lot to keep track of and protect. The SOC for supply chain framework can help you take charge of your cybersecurity and protect your business.
What Is the SOC Supply Chain IT Framework?
The system and organization controls (SOC) for supply chain framework is a voluntary regulation created by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). It helps companies implement and communicate risk management strategies.
Because SOC for supply chains is a voluntary reporting method, it looks different for every organization. Businesses first need to describe their production, manufacturing, and distribution system and the components of their IT system to receive an SOC report. These components can include software, personnel, procedures, files, and applications. Companies also need to outline and present the internal controls used to prevent security breaches.
Achieving compliance with the SOC supply chain IT framework isn’t easy, but it’s highly beneficial. You can increase trust with your customers and business partners and prevent devastating cyberattacks that could have a ripple effect across the supply chain.
Who Needs To Achieve SOC for Supply Chain Compliance?
While SOC compliance isn’t mandatory, the SOC for supply chain framework was designed for companies that produce, manufacture, or distribute products.
Other companies that can benefit from SOC for supply chain compliance include software developers and vendors. Software developers play an essential role in the supply chain by building the technology platforms that allow businesses to produce and distribute products.
Essentially, if your business plays any role in the product manufacturing and distribution supply chain, you could benefit from supply chain compliance.
Why Is a Supply Chain Compliance System Important?
Cyberattacks and other risk events are an issue for all types of businesses, from small companies to Fortune 500 enterprises. However, security threats are even more concerning for companies situated in a supply chain.
If a standalone company loses data in a breach, the results can be devastating, but they don’t usually extend far beyond the business itself. When companies in a supply chain suffer data loss or downtime, the effects are widespread. One attack could impact a manufacturer’s software vendors, distribution partners, customers, and more. That’s why each person, process, and platform in a supply chain should comply with the same requirements.
Achieving SOC for supply chain compliance shows your customers and vendors that you’re a trustworthy partner.
How Can You Achieve Compliance With a Supply Chain IT Framework?
You want to reduce your company’s risk and earn the trust of current and potential vendors, so you’re ready to implement an IT framework. But where do you start? First, you need an audit.
Supply Chain Audit Services
Before you can work towards SOC for supply chain compliance, you need to audit your current technology. During a supply chain audit, an outside IT company looks for risks across your IT infrastructure. Your auditor analyzes your systems, your software and hardware vendors’ security posture, and your current security processes and controls.
After your audit, your IT provider can help you implement cybersecurity measures that meet SOC reporting framework standards. However, a certified public accountant must also audit your overall risk management strategy and give a professional opinion if you want to achieve SOC for supply chain compliance.
Managed Security Services
To meet the security requirements outlined in regulatory frameworks, you need advanced cybersecurity controls in place. A managed security service provider (MSSP) can help you ramp up your security posture and maintain compliance for the long term. From migrating your data to a supply chain management platform to monitoring your systems from a cloud-based security operations center (SOC), experienced MSSPs can give you all the tools you need to achieve compliance.
Protect Your Supply Chain With RCS Secure
Whether your goal is to improve your overall cybersecurity or achieve SOC for supply chain compliance, RCS Secure is here to help. With our compliance expertise, we can assess your IT infrastructure, develop a game plan, and roll out the solutions your business needs. RCS offers:
- SOC as a service: With our cloud-based security operations center, we monitor and mitigate security threats before they harm your supply chain.
- Compliance services: Our team has the compliance expertise your team needs to meet your security goals.
- Continual compliance: We don’t just help you reach compliance; we help you maintain and improve your security posture.
- Vendor management: We ensure your vendors meet strict security standards so they don’t pose a risk to your company.
If you want to learn more about the above cybersecurity solutions or discuss the path to SOC for supply chain compliance, get in touch with our team today.
