Adrian Johnson
TLDR:
HP Wolf Security’s survey revealed that businesses are increasingly fearing that physical supply chains are being compromised, posing a cyber risk. The complex nature of the supply chain makes it challenging to ensure device security, with concerns about tampering or the insertion of malicious hardware. Nation-state actors targeting physical supply chains to insert malware is a growing concern, with potential catastrophic breaches. To mitigate these risks, HP Wolf Security recommends proactive steps such as adopting Platform Certificate technology and securely managing firmware configurations.
Article:
The possibility of tampering or the insertion of malicious hardware or firmware during the manufacturing process is a growing concern for businesses. HP Wolf Security’s survey, which included 800 IT and security decision-makers, revealed that over a third of organizations believe that they or others have been impacted by nation-state actors attempting to insert malicious hardware or firmware into devices. Unlike malware planted via the internet, this represents a gap in physical security that can lead to unprecedented cybersecurity breaches.
The complex physical supply chain of computing equipment involves multiple locations for manufacturing and assembly, diluting control over devices and making it challenging to ensure their security. The involvement of nation-state actors further exacerbates the issue, with potential widespread impact across factories and suppliers.
Having malware implemented at the source presents detection difficulties, as malware installed at a base level is difficult to detect. Attackers gaining control at the hardware or firmware layer can lead to catastrophic breaches, especially with critical devices. This infiltration level can grant attackers unparalleled access and control.
To combat these supply chain risks, HP Wolf Security recommends proactive steps such as adopting Platform Certificate technology and securely managing firmware configurations. These measures can help verify hardware and firmware integrity upon device delivery, manage firmware remotely, and monitor ongoing compliance across the fleet of devices.
While the global and complex nature of supply chains makes them susceptible to tampering and attacks, the study highlights the growing need for companies to address these challenges as part of their overall security posture.
