Ways NAC & SOC Help In Preventing Supply Chain Cyber Attacks

Supply Chain Security; SOC Threat Monitoring; Third-Party Access Control – these are the top concerns for businesses today. Hackers target vendors, suppliers, and third-party providers to gain access to internal systems. One weak link in your supply chain can put your entire business at risk.

So what can companies do to protect themselves? This is why NAC (Network Access Control) and SOC (Security Operations Center) come into play. These solutions can monitor, detect, and block cyberattacks before they can cause damage.

In this post, we explore supply chain attacks and how NAC & SOC work collaboratively to stop them.

What Are the Supply Chain Attacks?

Supply chain attack: A supply chain attack occurs when hackers attempt to infiltrate an organization by compromising its suppliers, vendors, or service providers. Rather than targeting businesses directly, cybercriminals search for weaknesses in third-party partners.

Such attacks can take many forms:

• Compromised software updates — Hackers insert malicious code into software that an organization uses.
• Third-party credentials – Attackers exfiltrate login details from third-party teams that have access to the network.
• Hardware or firmware manipulation – Malicious components are installed in hardware before they are delivered, under the surface.
• Phishing attacks suppliers – Vendors are being lured into giving cybercriminals sensitive business data.

After attackers gain entry, they laterally traverse the network, exfiltrate data, or install malware. That’s why Third-Party Access Control is the most important thing to enact.

How NAC Prevents Unauthorized Access by Third Parties

Network Access Control (NAC) is a security solution that establishes policies controlling who, and indeed what, is able to connect to your network. It prevents unauthorized devices and users from getting into critical systems.

What is the role of NAC in Supply Chain Security?

• App-only access – Only approved devices are allowed to connect to the network. Access is denied to any untrusted system.
• User Verification — Restricts access to third-party vendors only to authorized users.
• Segmented Access – Vendors have access only to what they need, limiting the risk of lateral movement.
• Dynamic Monitoring – NAC monitors device behavior and can prevent suspicious activity in real-time.
• Policy Enforcement — If a vendor’s security is inadequate according to the company’s standards, NAC can deny access.

NAC keeps untrusted users and devices out, allowing businesses to shut down supply chain attacks before they hit the network.

So What Does SOC Monitor About Supply Chain Risks?

A Security Operations Center (SOC) is a team of cybersecurity experts who monitor environments 24/7, looking for threats and responding as required. It is the nerve center of cybersecurity for a business.

What does SOC protect against Supply Chain Attacks?

• Continuous Monitoring – Our team monitors any suspicious activity across its perimeters including vendors and suppliers.
• Threat Intelligence – They keep track of new supply chain attack trends and vulnerabilities.
• Incident Response – If an attack happens, the SOC jumps into action to investigate and contain the threat.
• Essentially Vulnerability Assessment – Cyberspace scanning consistently figures out potential hybrid weaknesses or gaps.
• Log Analysis – Each login, data transfer, or software update is screened for anomalies.

NAC systems are closely tied to SOC teams. While NAC prevents unauthorized access, SOC actively hunts for threats that may have evaded defenses. Such a high-quality combination strengthens Third-Party Access Control while in turn enhances SOC Threat Monitoring functions.

Supply Chain Security Solutions by PJ Networks

At PJ Networks, we know how important Supply Chain Security is for corporations today. Our NAC & SOC solutions are complementary and work together to protect organizations from third-party cyber threats.

Why are our solutions sound?

• Advanced NAC — We use industry-leading Network Access Control (NAC) solutions to block unauthorized devices, ensuring only verified users have access to our systems.
• 24/7 SOC Threat Monitoring – Our team is dedicated to ensuring that your network is being monitored and that threats are detected and mitigated before they can be serious.
• Vendor Security Assessment — Third-party vendors undergo an assessment process to ensure they meet security standards before being granted access.
• Incident Response – In the event of a supply chain attack, we quickly identify and contain the threat.
• Proactive Threat Intelligence — We monitor cybersecurity trends to identify new supply chain risks ahead of the curve.

We ensure organizations aren’t just safe when NAC is implemented, but with SOC monitoring, security expands beyond the perimeters even when NAC is not adapted.

Conclusion

The threat of supply chain cyberattacks is increasing. It is imperative that vendors, suppliers, and third-party providers are not the weak link in the security framework of an organization.

This is where NAC comes into play to prevent unauthorized access and limit third-party permissions. SOC provides continuous monitoring, incident response, and threat intelligence that reinforces security.

Together, both solutions provide businesses a strong defense against supply chain attacks. We are trained in Supply Chain Security, Third-Party Access Control, SOC Threat Monitoring, and more.