Is Your Data Under Threat from Silent Breaches in Third-Party Networks?

Silent breaches are unauthorized accesses to third-party networks that go unnoticed, often for months. These breaches are responsible for over 50% of all data breaches involving third-party networks, siphoning sensitive data and compromising systems. 

As businesses increasingly rely on external vendors and service providers, the risk of silent breaches has become a significant cybersecurity concern.

Silent breaches can wreak havoc not only on the vendor but on every interconnected organization. 

For small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), these breaches can lead to data loss, financial damage, and a loss of customer trust. 

In this article, we’ll explore how silent breaches occur and provide actionable strategies to help your business mitigate the risks.

Who is Impacted By Silent Breaches?

Silent breaches allow cybercriminals to exploit vulnerabilities without triggering alarms. A prime example of this is the infamous SolarWinds attack, where hackers compromised software updates to infiltrate numerous organizations.

Here are some industries that have been impacted by silent breaches:

• Healthcare: Breaches through third-party providers exposing patient data.
• Manufacturing: Supplier system vulnerabilities compromising operational continuity.

Types of Attacks Associated with Silent Breaches

There are two main modes of attack when it comes to silent breaches; unauthorized network access, and ransomware attacks via third-party vendors.

Unauthorized Network Access: Unauthorized access is a leading cause of silent breaches. When attackers infiltrate networks without proper credentials, they can access sensitive data, manipulate systems, and execute malicious commands. 

This type of breach accounted for over 50% of all third-party breaches in 2024, with the healthcare sector being particularly vulnerable.

Ransomware Attacks via Third-Party Vectors: Ransomware is one of the most disruptive cyber threats today. Over 66% of known ransomware attacks in recent years have originated from compromised third-party vendors. 

In one notable example, a software vendor’s vulnerabilities led to a manufacturing firm’s entire network being locked down. 

As cybersecurity expert Jason Vanzin, CISSP, notes, “Ransomware in third-party breaches blurs the line between direct and indirect risks.”

Challenges for SMBs in Third-Party Risk Management

Even when business owners and information security professionals are aware of the risks, there are several challenges when addressing them.

Limited Resources and Expertise: SMBs often face challenges in third-party risk management due to budget constraints and a lack of specialized cybersecurity knowledge. 

Without the resources to thoroughly assess vendor relationships, it’s hard to protect against silent breaches. To overcome these hurdles, SMBs should consider:

• Utilizing third-party risk management software
• Partnering with industry groups for shared knowledge
• Attending local cybersecurity training programs

Compliance and Regulatory Pressures: SMBs also face mounting regulatory pressure to secure data, especially when dealing with third-party vendors. Compliance standards like CMMC, GDPR, HIPAA, and PCI DSS require SMBs to maintain a high level of data security. 

Non-compliance can result in fines and reputational damage, making third-party risk management even more important.

Mitigation Strategies for Silent Breaches

Silent breaches are hard to detect, but possible to prevent. Below are some strategies to minimize the risk of a breach:

1. Accurate Security Ratings for Third-Party Vendors

To avoid the dangers of silent breaches, it’s crucial to assess the security posture of third-party vendors. 

By obtaining accurate security ratings, businesses can identify vulnerabilities before they become significant risks. Some top tools for evaluating third-party security include:

• BitSight
• SecurityScorecard
• RiskLens

2. Regular Updates and Patch Management

Unpatched systems are one of the leading causes of silent breaches. A robust patch management process ensures that systems are updated and vulnerabilities are addressed promptly. 

Automated patch management tools can help streamline this process, reducing the risk of overlooked updates.

3. Continuous Monitoring for Early Detection

Proactive monitoring is key to identifying silent breaches before they escalate. Implement continuous monitoring systems like:

• Network Intrusion Detection Systems (NIDS)
• Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) solutions
• Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) tools

These technologies provide real-time visibility, allowing businesses to spot potential threats and act before they lead to major breaches. Early detection can reduce the impact of a breach by up to 90%.

4. Developing an Incident Response Plan

Every business should have an incident response plan tailored to address the risks posed by silent breaches. A comprehensive plan includes:

• Risk assessments specific to your organization
• Defined roles and responsibilities during an incident
• Regular testing and updates to the plan

As Jason Vanzin advises, “Incident response guidelines should evolve based on real-world threats. It’s crucial to regularly refine your approach.”

Silent breaches are a growing concern for businesses that rely on third-party vendors. By implementing the following strategies, organizations can better safeguard their networks and data:

• Obtain reliable security ratings for third-party vendors
• Establish a solid patch management process
• Implement continuous monitoring systems
• Create and regularly update an incident response plan

These measures will help protect your business from the hidden threats posed by silent breaches. As cyber threats become increasingly sophisticated, third-party risk management is critical.

Ready to assess your business’s vulnerabilities?

Take the first step towards protecting your operations by accessing our comprehensive guide: How Vulnerable Are Your Manufacturing Operations to Cyber Threats? This assessment will help you identify areas of weakness and strengthen your cybersecurity posture.

By following these best practices, you can reduce the risk of silent breaches and ensure your business remains resilient in the face of evolving cyber threats.

About Us - Right Hand Technology Group

WHAT WE DO: We help U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) contractors and subcontractors ensure they can achieve Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC), a requirement for all DoD contractors.

In addition, we help our clients bridge the gap between Information Technology (IT), Cybersecurity and Compliance with a unique approach that includes a comprehensive gap analysis + an enterprise-style approach to individual departments. 

This includes supplying virtual Chief Information Security Officers (vCISOs) and virtual IT Directors (vITD) who utilize mature processes and frameworks + act as a true leader for your cybersecurity, compliance, and IT departments. 

We can also manage your IT and cybersecurity needs remotely.

If we haven’t already, I’d love to connect here on LinkedIn.

You can also visit our website to learn more about RHTG.