The Challenge: Understanding and Securing the Software Supply Chain
Organizations today operate in an interconnected digital economy where software is assembled from countless external and internal sources—open-source code, third-party APIs, legacy systems, and even AI-generated components. While this modular approach speeds innovation, it also obscures risk. Most companies lack clear visibility into what their software is made of, let alone how secure those components are.
The consequences are significant. According to recent research, 80% of companies with low visibility into their software supply chain experienced a security breach in the last year. That’s not a coincidence—poor visibility directly translates into heightened risk. Yet most organizations continue to build, integrate, and ship software without a full inventory of components or a clear understanding of where vulnerabilities exist.
Even when companies recognize the risk, they often struggle with accountability. CIOs and CISOs are still expected to manage threats, but the LevelBlue Futures Report reveals that CEOs are now the most aware of software supply chain risk. This is a shift: software risk is no longer siloed in IT—it’s a business concern with implications for reputation, revenue, and regulatory compliance.
The Solution: A Strategic, Culture-Driven Approach to Software Supply Chain Security
To address this, companies must move beyond patchwork security solutions and adopt a systemic approach:
Leverage Executive Awareness
With CEOs already tuned in, cybersecurity teams can gain traction for needed investments. Elevating the conversation from technical fixes to business risk helps secure leadership support.
Inventory and Assess Software Components
Organizations must treat the software bill of materials (SBOM) like any other supply chain document. Knowing what’s inside allows teams to prioritize which vulnerabilities to remediate and which to mitigate through policy or architecture.
Deploy Modern Exposure Management Tools
Traditional patching is not enough. Threat detection and exposure management platforms can help organizations continuously monitor and assess code risk across the development lifecycle.
Hold Third Parties Accountable
Security must extend beyond internal systems. Companies should require transparency from their vendors and partners, including verification of security practices, use of open-source, and development standards.
Embed Cybersecurity into Culture
Security must be built into the business—not bolted on. Organizations that assign cybersecurity KPIs across business functions see fewer breaches and greater resilience.
This multi-pronged strategy enables organizations not only to reduce risk but also to accelerate innovation confidently, knowing they are building on a more secure foundation.
Learn more about LevelBlue: https://itspm.ag/levelblue266f6c
To download the 2025 LevelBlue Data Accelerator: Software Supply Chain and Cybersecurity report, visit: https://itspm.ag/lbdaf6i
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Guest: Theresa Lanowitz, Chief Evangelist of AT&T Cybersecurity / LevelBlue
On LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/theresalanowitz/
