Security Magazine logo
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Security Magazine logo
  • NEWS
    • Security Newswire
    • Technologies & Solutions
  • MANAGEMENT
    • Leadership Management
    • Enterprise Services
    • Security Education & Training
    • Logical Security
    • Security & Business Resilience
    • Profiles in Excellence
  • PHYSICAL
    • Access Management
    • Fire & Life Safety
    • Identity Management
    • Physical Security
    • Video Surveillance
    • Case Studies (Physical)
  • CYBER
    • Cybersecurity News
    • More
  • BLOG
  • COLUMNS
    • Cyber Tactics
    • Leadership & Management
    • Security Talk
    • Career Intelligence
    • Leader to Leader
    • Cybersecurity Education & Training
  • EXCLUSIVES
    • Annual Guarding Report
    • Most Influential People in Security
    • The Security Benchmark Report
    • Top Guard and Security Officer Companies
    • Top Cybersecurity Leaders
    • Women in Security
  • SECTORS
    • Arenas / Stadiums / Leagues / Entertainment
    • Banking/Finance/Insurance
    • Construction, Real Estate, Property Management
    • Education: K-12
    • Education: University
    • Government: Federal, State and Local
    • Hospitality & Casinos
    • Hospitals & Medical Centers
    • Infrastructure:Electric,Gas & Water
    • Ports: Sea, Land, & Air
    • Retail/Restaurants/Convenience
    • Transportation/Logistics/Supply Chain/Distribution/ Warehousing
  • EVENTS
    • Industry Events
    • Webinars
    • Solutions by Sector
    • Security 500 Conference
  • MEDIA
    • Videos
      • Cybersecurity & Geopolitical Discussion
      • Ask Me Anything (AMA) Series
    • Podcasts
    • Polls
    • Photo Galleries
  • MORE
    • Call for Entries
    • Classifieds & Job Listings
    • Continuing Education
    • Newsletter
    • Sponsor Insights
    • Store
    • White Papers
  • EMAG
    • eMagazine
    • This Month's Content
    • Advertise
  • SIGN UP!

Supply Chains: Get a Global View and Find the Weakest Link

By Mark McCourt
August 1, 2007


Increased competition, changing regulatory requirements, ever-shifting customer expectations and the threat of theft, terror and natural disaster are all forces driving increased supply chain activity. Your enterprise is part of a broader supply chain that is constantly being tested for weaknesses.

We have seen the negative side of long and dynamic supply chains again and again. In June 2005, Card Systems Solutions was hacked and 40 million customers’ personal credit information was exposed despite best practices and security requirements demanded by their customers: Visa, MasterCard, AmEx and Discover. That made Citifinancial’s loss of 4 million customer accounts during the prior month in May 2005 pale in comparison.

Fast forward and despite millions of dollars invested, neither asset nor data protection has improved much. This June, Ohio revealed that the names and Social Security numbers of all 64,000 plus state employees were on a stolen computer. And while the immediate damage cannot be estimated, it is clear that these thefts do come back around and bite organizations.

The well-publicized 45.7 million-customer information hack at TJX bit hard until a well-organized money-laundering scheme was recently broken up in Florida. The TJX information was used to create credit cards, which were turned into Wal-Mart gift cards.

Gift of Greed

This one operation is estimated to have purchased over $1 million in goods. And while those committing the crimes were caught, those behind the sophisticated credit card scheme are still at large. This was only one group using the stolen TJX customer information. Certainly others are at-large. By the way, how is Wal-Mart doing with physical asset protection? Annual losses are $3 billion. That is $3,000,000,000.

And it is not just for profit businesses that are at risk. Colleges, public school districts and student record sites, hospitals and the government are in supply chains that improve performance but create risks.

Open vs. Secure

In an age of relentless outsourcing and globalization, how is a security executive to manage the accelerating pace of change? Within any organization the supply chain not only crosses all departments but incorporates a broad array of external partners from suppliers’ suppliers to customers’ customers. What role should security play? How do you interact with numerous departments from purchasing to sales, your logistics suppliers and finance factors or from IT to finance?

To begin, the goal of any supply chain is to improve organizational performance. Crippling events to damaged reputation or brand, negatively impacted stakeholders or bottom line losses including physical theft, data loss, terrorism or risks created by insecure supply chain partners reduce rather than improve performance.

Leading business software company, Infor, identifies three aspects to the supply chain:
  • The Internal Dimension- the supply chain you control
  • The External Dimension- the supply chain you don’t control
  • The Customer Dimension- you have influence, but not total control
The internal dimension includes manufacturing, distribution and retail capacity. This is where most supply chains begin and many are focused today.

Links

  • Unpredictable Factors

Share This Story

Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!

Mark McCourt was once the publisher of Security magazine.

Recommended Content

JOIN TODAY
To unlock your recommendations.

Already have an account? Sign In

  • Security's Top Cybersecurity Leaders 2024

    Security's Top Cybersecurity Leaders 2024

    Security magazine's Top Cybersecurity Leaders 2024 award...
    Cybersecurity
    By: Security Staff
  • cyber brain

    The intersection of cybersecurity and artificial intelligence

    Artificial intelligence (AI) is a valuable cybersecurity...
    Cyber Tactics Column
    By: Pam Nigro
  • artificial intelligence AI graphic

    Assessing the pros and cons of AI for cybersecurity

    Artificial intelligence (AI) has significant implications...
    Logical Security
    By: Charles Denyer
Manage My Account
  • Security eNewsletter & Other eNews Alerts
  • eMagazine Subscriptions
  • Manage My Preferences
  • Online Registration
  • Mobile App
  • Subscription Customer Service

More Videos

Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content is a special paid section where industry companies provide high quality, objective, non-commercial content around topics of interest to the Security audience. All Sponsored Content is supplied by the advertising company and any opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily reflect the views of Security or its parent company, BNP Media. Interested in participating in our Sponsored Content section? Contact your local rep!

close
  • Sureview screen
    Sponsored bySureView Systems

    The Evolution of Automation in the Command Center

  • Crisis Response Team
    Sponsored byEverbridge

    Automate or Fall Behind – Crisis Response at the Speed of Risk

  • Perimeter security
    Sponsored byAMAROK

    Why Property Security is the New Competitive Advantage

Popular Stories

Rendered computer with keyboard

16B Login Credentials Exposed in World’s Largest Data Breach

Verizon on phone screen

61M Records Listed for Sale Online, Allegedly Belong to Verizon

Security’s 2025 Women in Security

Security’s 2025 Women in Security

Red spiderweb

From Retail to Insurance, Scattered Spider Changes Targets

blurry multicolored text on black screen

PowerSchool Education Technology Company Announces Data Breach

2025 Security Benchmark banner

Events

July 17, 2025

Tech in the Jungle: Leveraging Surveillance, Access Control, and Technology in Unique Environments

What do zebras, school groups and high-tech surveillance have in common? They're all part of a day’s work for the security team at the Toledo Zoo.

August 7, 2025

Threats to the Energy Sector: Implications for Corporate and National Security

The energy sector has found itself in the crosshairs of virtually every bad actor on the global stage.

View All Submit An Event

Products

Security Culture: A How-to Guide for Improving Security Culture and Dealing with People Risk in Your Organisation

Security Culture: A How-to Guide for Improving Security Culture and Dealing with People Risk in Your Organisation

See More Products

Related Articles

  • An Irish pharmaceutical company sees the need to protect its assets at its distribution center. Photo courtesy of Uniphar

    Securing Supply Chains One Link at a Time

    See More
  • laptop with password login screen

    Security culture is only as strong as the weakest link

    See More
  • rapiscan_feat

    Why Global Supply Chains Need Global Shared Security Standards

    See More

Related Products

See More Products
  • Physical-Security-and-Safet.gif

    Physical Security and Safety: A Field Guide for the Practitioner

  • A Leaders Guide Book Cover_Nicholson_29Sept2023.jpg

    A Leader’s Guide to Evaluating an Executive Protection Program

  • school security.jpg

    School Security: How to Build and Strengthen a School Safety Program

See More Products
×

Sign-up to receive top management & result-driven techniques in the industry.

Join over 20,000+ industry leaders who receive our premium content.

SIGN UP TODAY!
  • RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Store
    • Want More
  • SIGN UP TODAY
    • Create Account
    • eMagazine
    • eNewsletter
    • Customer Service
    • Manage Preferences
  • SERVICES
    • Marketing Services
    • Reprints
    • Market Research
    • List Rental
    • Survey/Respondent Access
  • STAY CONNECTED
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
    • X (Twitter)
  • PRIVACY
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS & CONDITIONS
    • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
    • PRIVACY REQUEST
    • ACCESSIBILITY

Copyright ©2025. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing