**Why Third-Party Access Remains the Weak Link in Supply Chain Security**

Imagine a world where security threats originate not from within, but from the trusted partners you collaborate with every day. This is the harsh reality for many organizations, as attackers exploit weaknesses in supply chain access to compromise systems and spread malicious activity.

The Thales Digital Trust Index report, Third-Party Edition, paints a stark picture: over half of surveyed professionals (51%) retain access to partner systems for days or even months after they no longer need it. This creates hidden vulnerabilities that accumulate over time, waiting to be exploited by attackers.

But why does this happen? The answer lies in the lack of maturity in processes and controls around identity lifecycle management. Gaps are overlooked, leading to weak authentication methods, frequent password resets, and delayed revocation of access. These practices not only drain productivity but also leave identities vulnerable to phishing and other attacks.

Take, for example, the OAuth specification, which is well understood but often poorly implemented. Attackers seize on these weaknesses, exploiting them to gain access to systems and data. The result is an expanding attack surface area that bad actors are actively exploiting.

**The Consequences of Weak Third-Party Access**

The consequences of weak third-party access are far-reaching and costly. Operational delays are prevalent, with 31% of partners waiting days for access, slowing revenue before work even begins. Inefficient access control costs end users an average of 48 minutes per month, which could be spent optimizing supply chains and logistics.

Regulators have taken notice, with new rules pushing enterprises to prove third-party resilience. The EU's Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA) mandates stronger oversight of ICT vendors, while the U.S. OCC and SEC guidelines are also being enforced. Fines for non-compliance can be steep, up to 2% of global annual turnover or 1% of average daily turnover.

**The Cost of Overlooking Third-Party Access**

The costs of overlooking third-party access go beyond financial penalties. When confidence erodes, brands lose trust, reputation, and deal velocity. A whopping 82% of consumers have abandoned brands due to concerns over digital trust. Confidence is far harder to recover than the costs of prevention.

**Securing the Supply Chain Starts with Securing Identity**

The key to securing the supply chain lies in extending zero-trust principles to third parties and monitoring vendors with access review, just as you would your workforce. Assume breach, because attackers have an economic incentive to exploit mistakes. This requires frictionless onboarding that enables business at speed (with automation, roles, and attributes) without compromising security.

Federated identity should never equal permanent trust, and authenticated shouldn't mean trusted. Policies and risk signals continuously evaluate whether users, sessions, and devices should be granted access to your resources. Securing the supply chain starts with securing identity.

**What Can You Do Today?**

The first step towards genuine digital trust is auditing who still has access, automating what you can, and monitoring what you can't. Closing dormant accounts, delaying revocation automation, and modernizing logins brings your organization closer to digital trust.

Third-party access will always be part of business – but it doesn’t have to be your weakest link. By prioritizing identity and access management, you can protect systems, relationships, revenue, and reputation.