NIST 800-161 Rev 1 - Cybersecurity Supply Chain Risk Management (C-SCRM)

The term "supply chain security" broadly refers to the measures taken to protect the integrity and reliability of the goods and services that make up an organization's supply chain, which includes suppliers, partners, consultants and other vendors that provide goods or services to that organization. The goal of supply chain security is to ensure that those obtained goods and services are of the highest quality, are free from tampering and were delivered to the intended recipients (e.g., man in the middle supply chain attack). There are several aspects to supply chain security that include, but are not limited to:

• Physical Security: Measures taken to protect the goods and facilities in the supply chain from theft, tampering, and other physical threats.
• Cybersecurity: Measures taken to protect the supply chain from cyber threats, such as malware attacks, data breaches, and unauthorized access.
• Quality Control: Measures taken to ensure that the goods and services being provided meet the required standards of quality and performance.
• Tracking and Traceability: The ability to track the movement of goods and services through the supply chain and identify their point of origin.
• Risk Management: The identification and assessment of potential risks to the supply chain, and the implementation of measures to mitigate or eliminate those risks.

Ensuring the security of the supply chain is important for the integrity and reliability of goods and services, as well as for the reputation of those organizations involved in the supply chain. The encompassing terminology used to define this broad practice is Supply Chain Risk Management (SCRM).

Cybersecurity Supply Chain Risk Management (C-SCRM) Documentation Templates

Cybersecurity Supply Chain Risk Management (C-SCRM) is the process of identifying, assessing, and mitigating risks to an organization's cybersecurity that are associated with its supply chain. This includes risks that may be introduced by third-party suppliers, contractors and other partners that provide goods, services and/or technology to an organization.

C-SCRM involves understanding the cybersecurity risks and vulnerabilities associated with different parts of the supply chain and implementing measures to minimize or eliminate those risks. This includes, but is not limited to the following activities:

• Conducting risk assessments of potential suppliers and partners to identify potential cybersecurity risks.
• Implementing security controls and safeguards to protect against cyber threats throughout the supply chain.
• Regularly monitoring and testing the supply chain for vulnerabilities and weaknesses.
• Ensuring that contracts and agreements with suppliers and partners include provisions for cybersecurity and data protection.
• Establishing incident response plans to quickly address and resolve any cybersecurity incidents that occur within the supply chain.

By implementing effective C-SCRM practices, an organizations can (1) help protect itself and its customers from cyber threats and (2) minimize the impact of any security incidents that do occur.

C-SCRM Strategy & Implementation Plan (SIP)

National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) SP 800-161 Rev 1, Supply Chain Risk Management Practices for Federal Information Systems and Organizations, is the "gold standard" for C-SCRM practices and provides recommendations for managing supply chain risks. NIST SP 800-161 Rev 1 provides the structure to generate a C-SCRM Strategy and Implementation Plan (SIP).

NIST SP 800-161 R1 covers a wide range of topics related to supply chain risk management, including:

• The importance of supply chain risk management for federal information systems and organizations
• The process of identifying, assessing, and mitigating supply chain risks
• The role of risk management in the acquisition of goods and services from external suppliers
• The use of security controls and safeguards to protect against supply chain risks
• The role of incident response in managing supply chain risks
• The role of contracts and agreements in managing supply chain risks

C-SCRM Documentation Templates

ComplianceForge offers editable C-SCRM documentation templates that range from policies, standards and procedures to SCRM Plan templates. Contact us for any product-related questions you have to address your NIST 800-161 compliance needs.

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