The numbers paint a stark picture of an escalating threat landscape. Supply chain attacks have been occurring at twice their long-term average in recent months, with Cyble researchers observing over 30 such attacks in April 2025 alone. Supply chain attacks have evolved from occasional nuisances to sophisticated, large-scale operations targeting the very foundation of modern business operations. For managed service providers (MSPs), understanding this shift isn’t just academic—it’s survival.
The numbers tell a stark story. According to recent research from Lineaje AI Labs, 95 percent of vulnerabilities stem from open-source dependencies: those nested software components that power much of today’s technology often lack proper maintenance and oversight.
The new attack landscape
Mircea Dima, founder and CEO of AlgoCademy, points out that supply chain attacks are happening with unprecedented frequency this year. “More advanced techniques such as attacking third-party vendors or using software updates to add malicious code to trusted systems are now part of these attacks,” Dima explains.
The interconnected nature of modern business has created what Anar Israfilov, Founder & Technical Architect at Cyberoon Enterprise, calls a perfect storm. “Currently, adversaries are targeting software updates, managed service providers, and cloud-based integrations, so compromising one service will directly affect hundreds of organizations.”
This shift means that traditional security approaches, such as those built around protecting isolated networks, are becoming obsolete. The new reality requires MSPs to think about protecting an entire ecosystem rather than individual components.
What MSPs can do today
The experts agree that MSPs need to take three foundational steps to reduce supply chain attack risks:
Extend zero trust beyond the perimeter. Trust needs continuous verification in every vendor interaction, not just initial approval. This means treating every software update, every third-party integration, and every vendor relationship as potentially compromised until proven otherwise.
Build continuous visibility. Javed Hasan, CEO and co-founder of Lineaje, emphasizes the importance of looking “deeper under the hood.” This means tracking not only direct software dependencies but also the nested components that come along with them. Maintaining an up-to-date Software Bill of Materials (SBOM) offers a clear inventory that supports faster incident response and smarter risk management.
Design for resilience, not just prevention. This involves segmentation, immutable backups, and automated remediation to prevent attacks from entering and spreading.
Training is your first line of defense
While technology solutions are critical, Dima stresses that universal employee cybersecurity training remains “an effective, yet simple, security measure.” This training should focus specifically on proper handling of software updates and vendor relationships—areas where human error can open doors to supply chain compromises.
Employees need to understand the risks associated with installing unauthorized software, clicking on suspicious update notifications, or bypassing established vendor approval processes. Regular training sessions should cover real-world scenarios and emerging threats specific to supply chain attacks.
AI-powered detection
The scale and stealth of modern supply chain attacks require automated detection capabilities. Dima notes that “by investing in artificial intelligence (AI)-based detection devices, it is possible to get real-time notification on any malfunction in the software supply chain and reduce the harm caused by a possible breach.”
This approach aligns with the broader trend toward intelligent automation in cybersecurity, where machine-speed responses are necessary to counter increasingly sophisticated threats.
The future of MSP security is interconnected
Israfilov says the biggest change in risk management over the next 2–5 years will be transitioning from protecting isolated networks to safeguarding interconnected ecosystems. For MSPs, this represents both a challenge and an opportunity.
Organizations that master supply chain security can turn what was once a vulnerability into a competitive advantage. But this requires a fundamental shift in thinking, from reactive security measures to proactive ecosystem protection.
Supply chain security is no longer just a development concern. As Hasan puts it, “it’s a shared responsibility for any provider committed to protecting client environments and maintaining trust.” For MSPs, that shared responsibility starts with understanding that in today’s interconnected world, you’re only as secure as your weakest vendor—and your clients’ success depends on getting this right.
Photo: NikOStudeo / Shutterstock
This post originally appeared on Smarter MSP.