Data at risk: helping your customers close gaps in their supply chain

"You can't outsource accountability, but many organizations are doing just that, often without even realizing it. This is especially the case when it comes to data. As businesses rely more heavily on third-party suppliers to store, move, and manage their data, the risk of something going wrong multiplies. Whether that's compliance, the ability to restore lost data, or susceptibility to cyber attack."

"But even though we're continuously reminded that data is our most valuable asset, most companies still lack visibility into how their suppliers handle sensitive information. Just 14% of UK businesses actively review supplier-related risks, according to the UK government's 2025 Cyber Security Breaches Survey. That's a problem. But it's also an opportunity for the channel to step in, take the lead, and help customers close governance gaps before they turn into costly incidents."

Accountability for data cannot be outsourced; companies remain responsible even when third parties store, move, or manage sensitive information. Reliance on external suppliers increases the likelihood of compliance failures, data loss, and cyber attacks. Only 14% of UK businesses actively review supplier-related risks, creating governance gaps that can become costly incidents. Channel partners can help customers monitor and verify supplier security posture, strengthening resilience and positioning themselves as trusted advisors. Supplier access expands organizations' attack surface, and suppliers may not meet internal control standards. EU rules such as GDPR, NIS2, and the EU Data Act apply when working with European data, with significant penalties.

Read at ChannelPro