Today, companies are confronted with new security challenges almost every day. Keeping track of which issues are truly critical is essential if an organization wants to remain secure and future-ready. Yet software supply chain security often still has not reached “critical” status. And that is despite the fact that hidden malicious code in third-party software can turn into a worst-case scenario for customer organizations, while software vendors face equally serious risks from forgotten credentials or user data exposed in public repositories. The biggest obstacle right now is this: the measures available to analyze and secure the software supply chain often seem expensive, time-consuming, and impossible to implement given the lack of internal resources. But help is close at hand—with our managed services.

So far, most customer organizations have placed almost unlimited trust in their software vendors—a mindset that significantly increases the risk of becoming the victim of an attack through the software supply chain. In the end, every unchecked dependency on third parties, updates, or hidden open-source components amounts to a potential attack surface. Cybercriminals know this all too well, which is why they are increasingly targeting exactly these weak points. Numerous incidents—from SolarWinds to MOVEit, the latter often described as one of the biggest hacks of 2023—show just how real this threat has become.

There are many technical vulnerabilities along the way. Manipulated updates or compromised build processes can result in malicious code entering corporate networks through trusted channels. Insufficiently vetted open-source libraries—or libraries not properly disclosed by a vendor—also pose a threat, especially because they are used in nearly every modern software product. On top of that, misconfigured dependencies or missing signature checks make it easier for attackers to introduce harmful components. Even standard software becomes a risk when organizations identify or patch vulnerabilities too late.

Awareness of software supply chain security as an area requiring action has grown, but the thought “we need to do something here” is not enough on its own. Even when companies are determined to invest in the right solutions, a secure state is often still nowhere in sight. The reason is simple: they lack the resources to approach the issue efficiently and in a structured way. Internal security teams are already overstretched, and building up the necessary specialized expertise is often unrealistic in terms of both time and budget. Hastily purchased tools, introduced without a clear plan, usually contribute more to tool sprawl than to establishing effective protection.

A lack of internal know-how, combined with years of lost visibility across a wide range of software components and solutions, makes it nearly impossible for companies to adequately protect their own software supply chains. Risks are simply overlooked—or only recognized once vulnerabilities are already embedded in the organization.

Compliance and software supply chain security – a brief overview

Did you know that software supply chain security is not just a nice-to-have, but often a legal requirement?

• NIS2 Directive: Companies must regularly review the security practices of external service providers. Incident reporting obligations apply within 24 to 72 hours.
• KRITIS Umbrella Act: Operators of critical infrastructure are subject to resilience obligations. IT components and software products must be demonstrably secure at all times. Evidence and audits are mandatory.
• Cyber Resilience Act (CRA): The CRA requires a Software Bill of Materials (SBOM), regular security updates, and conformity assessments. These obligations affect not only manufacturers, but also many user organizations—and they can be implemented with technical support.

In many cases, this challenge cannot be solved with in-house resources alone. Simply increasing headcount is usually not an option, and higher personnel costs are rarely budgeted for. But pushing the issue back down the agenda would be short-sighted—and could ultimately lead to even higher costs if an attack succeeds.

Managed services offer a pragmatic solution. Companies can simply outsource time-consuming checks, continuous controls, and analyses to specialists who keep an eye on the software supply chain around the clock. This brings several clear advantages:

• Continuous monitoring: Vulnerabilities in updates, open-source components, or third-party tools are identified early.
• Expertise on demand: Access to security experts with deep knowledge of tools, standards, and attack patterns.
• Relief for internal teams: IT departments do not need to free up their own capacity for complex reviews.
• Predictable costs: Instead of expensive ad hoc measures, companies pay manageable service fees.
• Compliance assurance: Managed services help ensure ongoing compliance with NIS2, KRITIS, and CRA requirements.

Even organizations with limited resources do not have to leave software supply chain security to chance. Managed services make resilience achievable. They take pressure off the shoulders of IT teams and create a stronger sense of security across the organization. Blind trust becomes a thing of the past, replaced by a holistic, expert-supported approach to software supply chain security.

Together with our partner ReversingLabs, we offer the full security package—from a modern software supply chain security solution to a managed service. And there are several ways to approach it.

Because software supply chain security is still a relatively new topic and few companies have practical experience with it, we help establish the necessary processes, workflows, and documentation procedures through a managed service onboarding model—at low base cost. Whether you want your own software products analyzed regularly before release and equipped with an SBOM (Software Bill of Materials), or only want to review a new software version from time to time before internal deployment, our consultants and engineers are there to support you. For every binary assessed, we provide the appropriate reports. If needed, we also include guidance on how to mitigate specific findings or whether an identified risk can be classified as acceptable.

Would you prefer to conduct more regular assessments yourself, but do not yet know what your monthly volume will look like? No problem. Through our user-friendly portal, your specialists get direct access to the analysis functions and can generate reports independently. The best part: you only pay for the actual volume used each month and retain full control over your costs. There is also further potential for savings if you only request the most up-to-date reports for standard software that has already been submitted by third parties. In this case, the community helps reduce the workload—and we pass that benefit directly on to you.