As a small business owner, you rely on your suppliers to deliver goods and services that meet your high standards. But have you considered their cyber security posture? Asking the right questions can give you confidence in their ability to protect your business from cyber threats. Here are 5 simple questions to ask your suppliers
Question 1: What is your cyber security policy?
- Suppliers should be prepared to provide a clear, concise policy document outlining their cyber security protocols, including data protection, access controls, and incident response procedures.
Question 2: How do you protect sensitive data?
- Suppliers should explain their data encryption methods, access controls, and storage procedures, including backup to ensure sensitive information is secure.
Question 3: What is your incident response plan, and if so, when was it last tested?
- Suppliers should have a documented incident response plan in place, and importantly, it should be tested (making sure it works), outlining procedures for responding to cyber security breaches, including notification protocols and mitigation strategies. You should also verify as a part of their incident response, if they have cyber insurance cover in place, as many policies provide critical incident response support.
Question 4: Do you conduct regular security audits and testing?
- Suppliers should demonstrate a commitment to regular security audits, penetration testing, and vulnerability assessments to identify and address potential weaknesses.
Question 5: How do you ensure employee awareness and training?
- Suppliers should provide evidence of regular employee training and awareness programs, ensuring staff understand cyber security best practices and can identify potential threats.
How Suppliers Can Prepare to Answer These Questions
- Develop a clear, concise cyber security policy and incident response plan, and check if cyber insurance could ad value to your incident response and resilience
- Implement robust data protection measures, including encryption and access controls. Develop a data loss prevention policy, and classify your data
- Conduct regular security audits, testing, and vulnerability assessments
- Provide employee training and awareness programs
- Be transparent and open about your cyber security posture and protocols, this can be included in marketing material to give clients confidence in your business
By asking these 5 simple questions, small businesses can gain confidence in their suppliers ability to protect their business from cyber threats. Suppliers, be prepared to demonstrate your cyber resilience capabilities, it signals trust, and importantly, it shows commitment to taking their (your customers) data and business seriously.