Crossword Cybersecurity Plc (AIM:CCS, “Crossword”, the “Company” or the “Group”), has today announced the launch of its Supply Chain Cyber solution, comprised of an end-to-end suite of cyber and regulatory expertise, managed services and software solutions designed to manage third party risk with a “cybersecurity and regulatory led” approach.

The new approach empowers customers to rapidly and radically improve their cyber resilience against third party incidents and breaches through a robust and cohesive methodology. This innovative approach will be fundamental in helping companies understand and mitigate the ever-growing risks to their business from supply chain attacks.

In today’s environment of tightening regulation, coupled with a bewildering array of frameworks and guidance, Crossword Cybersecurity’s Supply Chain Cyber provides a clear route for customers to identify the right requirements for their business – cutting through the complexity and reducing cyber risk. The solution is the latest release from Crossword’s established consultancy practice, which combines a wealth of practical experience helping clients to meet their cybersecurity needs.

Supply Chain Cyber Resilience at Pace

Time is of the essence when building supply chain resilience, but knowing where to start can often be the biggest hurdle when supply chains are large or complex. To overcome this challenge Crossword has developed a ground-breaking Supply Chain Cyber Standard Operating Model (SCC SOM) based on best practices, which provides a complete toolkit to reduce and manage cybersecurity risk. The solution is scalable and simple to use, comprising controls, methodology, tooling, and fits any industry.

The modular approach helps organisations understand where to start, pinpoint at-risk suppliers and focus resource where needed, while reducing the burden on both internally and on third parties contributing to the process. Crossword’s Supply Chain Cyber practice is fully underpinned by our Rizikon Assurance platform, enabling customers to automate third-party risk management with secure online assessments, 360 degree risk scorecards, and intelligent BI reporting.

The SCC SOM consists of six modular areas, each customised to the needs of the client, and supported by a wealth of expertise in cybersecurity, supply chain, IT, governance, risk and compliance, to accelerate the supplier risk management lifecycle and make it more streamlined:

• Strategy & Appetite – A benchmarking and maturity assessment, which leads to strategic alignment with business objectives and sets the target operating model.
• Framework – Helps the organisation adopt the tools needed to manage Supply Chain Cyber risk and right-size the framework for the organisation against industry best-practice and regulations.
• Processes – Gaining visibility of supply chain risk via discovery, inventory build, and a multidisciplinary risk-based approach to assurance and remediation.
• People & Culture – Supports the building of responsive relationships with suppliers, leadership support and employee engagement with new processes.
• Governance & Reporting – Working with clients to develop effective oversight with real-time insights and driving continuous improvement of processes and risk profiles.
• Tooling – Cost and information confidence, automated workflows and intelligent BI.

Laura Greenwood, Head of Crossword’s Supply Chain Cyber Practice, said: “Managing cyber risk in the extended supply chain has long been viewed as an intractable problem.  An organisation can have the best cyber defences available yet still be vulnerable to an attack via a critical supplier. Challenges around visibility, the growing number of cyber attacks and increasing regulation have highlighted the need for a simple, cost-effective way to manage the risk.

“The launch of Crossword’s Supply Chain Cyber practice sees the culmination of years of experience, talent and innovation and offers all organisations a proven and unique way to rapidly assess and address the cyber risk in their supply chain, while ensuring regulatory compliance.”

You can learn more about Supply Chain Cyber by https://www.crosswordcybersecurity.com/supply-chain-cyber