Proactive Steps a Logistics Company Should Take to Cybersecure The Trucking Industry

Essential cybersecurity measures for logistics companies to protect against ransomware attacks and maintain supply chain integrity in trucking operations.

The following is a guest post from my bloggy friend Taylor McKnight on behalf of National Motor Freight Traffic Association. Interested in having a guest post on my website? Click here for my guest post submission form.

What Cybersecurity Steps Should the Trucking Logistics Industry Take?

In March 2024, international freight and logistics technology company Radiant Logistics filed a Form 8-K with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission to notify investors about a ransomware attack that forced the company to suspend its operations in Canada. Radiant Logistics is based in Washington state but conducts about 40% of its business in Canada. It took the company almost a week to resume delivering and picking up freight loads for Canadian customers.

According to IT news website The Register, the Radiant incident was the second ransomware attack perpetrated against major American logistics data networks in six months. Many cybersecurity analysts believe that the logistics sector is starting to get a taste of what the future holds for this pillar of critical infrastructure in the United States. Geopolitical tensions are prompting adversaries of the U.S. to wage cyber warfare through a proxy methodology; in other words, foreign intelligence agencies are working with established cybercrime groups, encouraging them to go after logistics firms and trucking companies and disrupt their operations. Even worse the processes are more than likely stemming from other countries or in some cases can be happening internally within the United States.

Why Are Hackers Targeting the Supply Chain?

Ransomware attacks are the tip of the spear in the cyber warfare campaign that has ensnared the logistics sector. The malicious encryption of files and the ensuing disruption of operations are like candy for adversaries, but the damage often runs deeper. In the ways hackers operate these days, you have to assume that ransomware gangs have been camping on the targeted networks, which means that they may have stolen data for identity theft purposes, destroyed files for vandalism purposes, and obtained information about freight networks that is valuable to adversaries.

With the above in mind, there is no question that companies operating in the logistics sector, including trucking firms and independent contractors, should be actively shoring up their data networks. If we look at the history of cybercrime, the supply chain industry enjoyed a long period of not being targeted, but the attack surface has expanded to include it. What this means for professionals in the trucking, logistics, and general freight fields is that they should be proactive in terms of shoring up their cybersecurity, so it is safe.

Proactive = Preventative + Reactive

In the early days of information security, the general approach was largely preventative because the attack surface was just a tiny fraction of what it had grown into. In the 1990s, installing a firewall and running an antivirus scanner from time to time was sufficient prevention against cyber attacks. By the mid-2000s, the emergence of complex hacking techniques and the expansion of the internet meant that preventative measures alone became less sufficient; this is when computer science scholars called attention to the need for more reactive measures.

These days, the vast and sophisticated cybercrime landscape calls for a proactive approach to cybersecurity. IT managers in the logistics industry must assume that their networks will one day be breached, which means that they must apply mitigation strategies and work on effective recovery planning, but this does not mean that they should not focus on cybercrime prevention. Within both cases the individual must know the ins and outs of cybersecurity and prevention. The supply chain cannot take chances on this; their systems and equipment must be protected with robust cybersecurity measures, and companies such as trucking firms should be ready to quickly recover from incidents such as ransomware attacks. What is a main factor here however, is that the supply chain cannot stop or a domino effect of negative proportions will occur.

A proactive approach to cybersecurity for businesses operating in the trucking and logistics industry should include the following steps:

Complete Security Audits That Include Penetration Testing

This is where cybersecurity begins. All data networks have vulnerabilities at various levels, so they need to be assessed regularly through security audits and penetration testing to identify and patch weaknesses before hackers exploit them.

Security Management

Not all trucking firms or logistics will be able to keep a dedicated cybersecurity manager on payroll, but what about paying for managed IT services through a monthly subscription? Effective cybersecurity management means implementing robust security protocols and procedures to safeguard systems and data from unauthorized access. Detection systems, access control, and automated responses for immediate mitigation are also essential for effective management.

Incident Response Planning

This step should headline modern cybersecurity plans, and it must be written in detail. Incident response planning must involve the outline of a clear and coordinated course of action in the event of a cyberattack. It should clearly define roles and responsibilities for all personnel involved, establish communication protocols, and indicate how recovery would be conducted.

Data Privacy and Compliance Policies

Trucking and logistics companies handle sensitive data. The implementation of robust data privacy and compliance policies is crucial to safeguard customer information and avoid hefty fines that may be imposed by regulators. When it comes to protecting sensitive information, the cybersecurity manager is responsible for ensuring that all employees are on the same page, and this involves training as well as periodic testing.

By implementing proactive measures, logistics companies can significantly reduce their risk of cyberattacks and ensure business continuity as part of their incident response processes. Hopefully, these steps will assist in business success and overall have a positive affect on the logistics industry altogether.