As Nation-State Hacking Becomes 'More in Your Face,' Are Supply Chains Secure?

The threat of nation-state hacking has become increasingly prominent in recent years, with many companies and individuals facing the risk of cyber attacks from adversarial nations. But as these threats grow more sophisticated and brazen, one former US Air Force cyber officer is sounding the alarm about a critical vulnerability in our supply chains.

Meet Sarah Cleveland, a decorated ex-US Air Force officer who spent years working on top-secret cybersecurity projects. Now, she's warning that companies shouldn't wait for government mandates to protect themselves from a major supply-chain attack. According to Cleveland, the risks are real and urgent.

"I'm not just talking about your typical cyber attacks," she explains. "I'm talking about a full-on, coordinated assault on our critical infrastructure. And I'm worried that we're not taking this threat seriously enough."

One of the most pressing concerns is the growing ability of adversarial nations like China to target and disrupt global supply chains. Cleveland fears that if these actors are able to gain access to even a small portion of a company's supply chain, they could potentially bring entire industries to their knees.

"It's not just about stealing sensitive data or disrupting operations," she says. "It's about taking control of the flow of goods and services. And that has catastrophic implications for our economy and national security."

A Personal Warning

But Cleveland isn't just sounding the alarm from a theoretical perspective. She's also speaking from personal experience.

"I installed solar panels on my house," she reveals. "Because what else can you do when you're worried that your entire supply chain is going to be taken down? You want to make sure that you have a backup plan, literally."

"It's not just about being paranoid or over-prepared," Cleveland emphasizes. "It's about taking responsibility for your own security and the security of those around you. And that starts with understanding the risks and taking steps to mitigate them."

The Government Mandate Trap

Cleveland is also warning against waiting for government mandates to protect yourself from supply-chain attacks.

"The problem is, when governments mandate security protocols, they often do so in a top-down manner," she says. "And by the time those regulations are implemented, it's too late. The damage has already been done."

"What we need is more proactive, grassroots-level thinking about supply-chain security," Cleveland argues. "We need to be empowering individuals and companies to take control of their own cybersecurity, rather than relying on government mandates alone."

A Call to Action

So what can you do to protect yourself from supply-chain attacks? According to Cleveland, it starts with education and awareness.

"We need to be having more conversations about the risks of nation-state hacking and the importance of supply-chain security," she says. "We need to be sharing information and best practices, rather than hiding behind government mandates or corporate secrecy."

"And most importantly, we need to be taking responsibility for our own cybersecurity," Cleveland emphasizes. "It's not someone else's problem; it's our problem. And until we take action, the risks will only continue to grow.