U.S. manufacturers are the top target for nation-state adversarial cyber-attacks from foreign nations. These adversaries aim to disrupt the nation’s economy and global competitiveness, reduce the ability of manufacturers to deliver goods and erode U.S. innovations in advanced manufacturing.
Over the past year, the COVID-19 pandemic has underscored several vulnerabilities in U.S. supply chains. Notably, nation-state sponsored hackers have targeted the COVID-19 cold supply chain, which is critical to the transport of temperature-sensitive products like COVID-19 vaccines.
The chief targets have been companies and organizations associated with Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance’s Cold Chain Equipment Optimization Platform. Gavi is an effort to streamline and strengthen the cold supply chain.
At the start of this year, for example, China attempted to cyber-attack Moderna, a leading COVID-19 manufacturer. In July, officials from the United States, U.K. and Canada identified Russian hackers targeting vaccine development, presumably for competitive advantages.
Earlier this month, reports emerged that North Korean hackers cyber-attacked at least six pharmaceutical companies in the U.S., U.K. and South Korea, seeking critical information to sell or weaponize. These attacks are concerning, given the delicate and precise nature of vaccines.
As we plan COVID-19 vaccine development and distribution, the logistics and operation of cold supply chains is pivotal. Preventing an attack requires effective cybersecurity diligence at each step of the vaccine supply chain.
While there are specific steps being taken to prevent any harm stemming from these attacks, we must do more.
We need to develop supply chains that are “PURE”:
•Pandemic adaptive, including operational modes that accommodate pervasive physical (social) distancing and remote work.
•Usable and accessible to everyone, such as soldiers, factory workers, engineers.
•Resilient, agile, and able to withstand physical-world challenges such as pandemics, electrical grid failures and cyber-attacks.
•Economical so resiliency and security are maintained at all levels of the supply chain including small- and medium-sized manufacturers.