Published: November 17th, 2025
The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has issued expert advice to ensure businesses can have maximum confidence in the security of their supply chain.
The NCSC has set out 12 principles to help organisations strengthen their supply chains and protect against disruption.
The principles are grouped into four areas, starting with understanding the risks.
Businesses should identify who their suppliers are, what service or products they provide and how critical they are to operations. By conducting a thorough audit of the supply chain at this stage, businesses can assess where potential threats lie and gauge their likely impact.
The second stage is about establishing control.
This means setting clear security requirements for all suppliers so that you can have confidence that you are best protected from the risk of an attack.
Security requirements should then be embedded into contracts, with a clear understanding of responsibilities on all sides. Access to systems and data should also be audited and action taken so that it is restricted only to what suppliers need to deliver their service.
Next, check your arrangements. It’s important to monitor supplier performance and review compliance against the standards set out in the contract. Take the time to also test resilience at this point.
This is not about trying to catch a supplier out but ensuring that everyone is operating in the way set out in the contract and building confidence that the supply chain is secure.
The final – and ongoing stage – is one of continuous improvement.
Supply chains rarely remain static and are likely to evolve significantly over time. Security arrangements should be kept under regular review and updated to keep pace with changes.
It’s also vital to review any security incidents and share lessons from them. Act on any concerns so that you can strengthen the whole network.
The NCSC’s 12 principles provide a clear framework for all businesses to follow to ensure they are protected in the best way possible. By applying them, businesses can reduce risk, build trust with partners and protect their reputation.
For more detail about the 12 principles and to download an easy-to-follow infographic summarising the NCSC advice, visit https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/collection/supply-chain-security/principles-supply-chain-security/
