New Solution Aims to Address Third-Party Identity Threats in Supply Chains

A new solution has been introduced to enhance visibility into vendor identity exposures and transition from static risk scoring to active protection. This initiative targets both enterprises and government agencies, aiming to extend protection across complex vendor ecosystems.

Understanding the Threat Landscape

The involvement of third parties in security breaches has seen a significant increase, doubling to 30%. These supply chain threats are not just corporate concerns but also pose risks to national security. To combat these threats, the new solution offers continuous monitoring of thousands of suppliers, ensuring a more secure vendor ecosystem.

An Identity Threat Index is utilized to quantify the security posture of vendors, identifying potential risks through the lens of identity exposure. This approach leverages dark web intelligence for a more comprehensive risk assessment, aggregating data from verified sources to pinpoint identity threats effectively.

Enhancing Communication and Due Diligence

The solution facilitates streamlined communication with vendors by providing actionable evidence, which enhances due diligence during the procurement process. This is crucial as AI becomes more integrated into supply chain management, improving solutions for demand management and optimizing warehouse operations.

AI has been employed in supply chain management for demand forecasting over the past two decades. Its application in warehouse management systems helps in optimizing operations, while AI-based labor management systems are designed to require less effort. With AI mapping accuracy at about 80%, these smart tools are instrumental in personalizing onboarding for new associates and recommending learning pathways for skill building.

Resilience and Proactive Risk Management

Nissan has developed a robust supply chain resilience program, prompted by challenges faced during the COVID-19 pandemic. The program is built on key pillars: people, process, and technology, with a focus on adopting a proactive risk management approach. This includes the implementation of a new risk sensing system from Everstream Analytics, which provides continuous monitoring for potential risks one to two weeks ahead.

The program highlights the importance of dedicated and skilled staff to monitor external threats in the supply chain. N-Tier supply impacts production significantly, and mapping has achieved 93% supplier participation. This mapping serves as the foundation of Nissan's resilience program, allowing for effective monitoring of logistics failures and operational efficiency improvements. Real-time monitoring of supplier locations is essential, as weather conditions can affect shipment timeliness and completeness.

Leveraging AI and Technology for Supply Chain Efficiency

AI continues to influence supply chain training, hiring, and operational efficiency. Generative AI enhances documentation and classifies goods more accurately than humans. Autonomous supply chain technology, though still limited in implementation, is gradually affecting hiring processes for young managers.

Critical alerts provide a competitive advantage by cleaning data and correcting parameters. Despite the challenges posed by the "black box" issue in AI solutions, efforts are made to bridge the disconnect between planning and execution, avoiding operational bottlenecks and inefficiencies. Bi-directional collaboration across systems, combined with warehouse robotics, further integrates AI with hardware, predicting equipment failures and enhancing supply chain resilience.

Nissan's cross-functional tasks, initiated by playbooks, categorize alerts by type and severity. Ongoing system configuration and updates ensure that workflows are defined for required actions during disruptions. Cybersecurity alerts are tailored to the type of attack, highlighting the importance of constant communication within the supply chain.

The proactive measures taken by Nissan, such as informing suppliers about incidents like a Tier 2 fire and ordering from alternative sources to mitigate impact, demonstrate the critical role of effective communication and strategy in managing supply chain risks.