Supply Chain Security in ICS
Vendor Evaluation Template
Supply Chain Security in ICS
Vendor Evaluation Template
Supply Chain Security in ICS
Vendor Evaluation Template
Secure Your ICS Supply Chain: Vendor Evaluation Template
As ICS/OT systems underpin critical sectors, manufacturing, energy, utilities, and oil & gas, the supply chain has become a prime target for cyber adversaries. Incidents like the SolarWinds breach and hardware tampering aren’t just theoretical anymore, they’re happening in the real world. The U.S. government’s NIST SP 800-161 guidance and IEC 62443 frameworks now prioritize supply chain risk management (SCRM), focusing on firmware integrity, component provenance, vendor access control, and patching practices. Given this landscape, evaluating your vendors thoroughly is no longer optional, it’s vital.
As ICS/OT systems underpin critical sectors, manufacturing, energy, utilities, and oil & gas, the supply chain has become a prime target for cyber adversaries. Incidents like the SolarWinds breach and hardware tampering aren’t just theoretical anymore, they’re happening in the real world. The U.S. government’s NIST SP 800-161 guidance and IEC 62443 frameworks now prioritize supply chain risk management (SCRM), focusing on firmware integrity, component provenance, vendor access control, and patching practices. Given this landscape, evaluating your vendors thoroughly is no longer optional, it’s vital.
As ICS/OT systems underpin critical sectors, manufacturing, energy, utilities, and oil & gas, the supply chain has become a prime target for cyber adversaries. Incidents like the SolarWinds breach and hardware tampering aren’t just theoretical anymore, they’re happening in the real world. The U.S. government’s NIST SP 800-161 guidance and IEC 62443 frameworks now prioritize supply chain risk management (SCRM), focusing on firmware integrity, component provenance, vendor access control, and patching practices. Given this landscape, evaluating your vendors thoroughly is no longer optional, it’s vital.
Why Supply Chain Security in ICS Matters Now
Rising Cyber-Attacks on Vendors: According to CISA, more than 60% of 2024 incidents in critical infrastructure had vendor or firmware compromises at their core.
Regulatory Pressure: Mandates like NIST SP 800‑161, ISA/IEC 62443-4-1, and NERC CIP enforce robust vendor security measures, and non-compliance invites financial penalties and operational risk.
Visibility & Accountability: Provenance of hardware and software, secure development processes, patch timelines, all require transparent, cross-checked evidence.
Safety & Operational Continuity: A single compromised firmware update can shut down systems, cause environmental incidents, or even pose safety hazards.
What You’ll Gain: The Vendor Evaluation Template
Designed for procurement leads, OT/ICS security teams, and compliance officers, our Vendor Evaluation Template empowers you to:
Classify Vendor Risk Level: Determine criticality of third-party vendors, distinguishing those handling control systems from those supplying peripheral services.
Assess Secure Development Lifecycle: Request details on secure coding, code-review procedures, third-party libraries, and underlying software supply chains.
Verify Firmware & Software Integrity: Ensure vendors support cryptographic signing, maintain provenance records, and offer transparent patching timelines.
Evaluate Access Control & Incident Response: Learn how vendors manage support access, roll out patches, and communicate when vulnerabilities are discovered.
Confirm Compliance & Certifications: Check for pertinent certifications, IEC 62443, ISO 27001, and obtain evidence like audit reports or compliance attestations.
Monitor Post-Delivery Risk: Assess support responsiveness, notification protocols for zero-day discoveries, and mechanisms for firmware rollback or emergency patching.
Why Download the Template?
Tailored for ICS/OT Use-Cases: Carefully structured to respect constraints like planned outages, firmware testing, and OT system stability.
Standards-Based & Exchangeable: Aligns with NIST SP 800-161, IEC 62443-4-1, and CISA's SCRM guidance, making your vendor assessment process robust and repeatable.
Practical & Ready-to-Use: Comes with built-in scoring, vendor tiers (high to low risk), and space for vendor responses and internal evaluations.
Governance Made Easy: Enables consistent vendor reviews for audits, board reporting, and compliance requirements.
Key Takeaways from the Template
Vendor Segmentation: High-risk ICS vendors typically require in-depth questionnaires, while lower-risk suppliers may suffice with basic attestation.
Secure Design Insight: Vendors must document SDLC practices and attest to third-party component testing.
Firmware Control Checkpoints: Templates guide you to ask for cryptographic signatures, verified update mechanisms, and rollback options.
Patch Management Expectations: Clarifies expected patch schedules, zero-day policies, and notification protocols.
Incident Response Collaboration: Vendors should clearly define their response timelines and escalation workflows.
Auditable Documentation: Includes fields for gathering certificates, audit results, and proof of compliance.
Ongoing Updates & Monitoring: Ensures your vendor reviews stay current by tracking new threat advisories and firmware revisions.
How Shieldworkz Helps You Turn Templates into Practice
Professional Guidance: Our ICS/OT security experts help you match with the right vendors, send out evaluation forms, and follow up to ensure everything stays on track.
Tool Integration: Easily integrates with GRC platforms, allowing you to score vendors, trigger alerts for missing evidence, and manage review cycles.
Continuous Updates: The template evolves with threats and standards, rest assured it stays current with firmware attack trends, updated NIST guidance, and active vendor feedback loops.
Get the Vendor Evaluation Template Now
Don’t leave your ICS supply chain vulnerable. Complete the form below to download the ICS Supply Chain Vendor Evaluation Template and start assessing your third-party partners today. Join decision makers in manufacturing, energy, utilities, and oil & gas who trust Shieldworkz to secure their supplier ecosystem.
Complete the form to download the ICS Vendor Evaluation Template and take the first step toward securing your supply chain.
Download your copy today!
Why Supply Chain Security in ICS Matters Now
Rising Cyber-Attacks on Vendors: According to CISA, more than 60% of 2024 incidents in critical infrastructure had vendor or firmware compromises at their core.
Regulatory Pressure: Mandates like NIST SP 800‑161, ISA/IEC 62443-4-1, and NERC CIP enforce robust vendor security measures, and non-compliance invites financial penalties and operational risk.
Visibility & Accountability: Provenance of hardware and software, secure development processes, patch timelines, all require transparent, cross-checked evidence.
Safety & Operational Continuity: A single compromised firmware update can shut down systems, cause environmental incidents, or even pose safety hazards.
What You’ll Gain: The Vendor Evaluation Template
Designed for procurement leads, OT/ICS security teams, and compliance officers, our Vendor Evaluation Template empowers you to:
Classify Vendor Risk Level: Determine criticality of third-party vendors, distinguishing those handling control systems from those supplying peripheral services.
Assess Secure Development Lifecycle: Request details on secure coding, code-review procedures, third-party libraries, and underlying software supply chains.
Verify Firmware & Software Integrity: Ensure vendors support cryptographic signing, maintain provenance records, and offer transparent patching timelines.
Evaluate Access Control & Incident Response: Learn how vendors manage support access, roll out patches, and communicate when vulnerabilities are discovered.
Confirm Compliance & Certifications: Check for pertinent certifications, IEC 62443, ISO 27001, and obtain evidence like audit reports or compliance attestations.
Monitor Post-Delivery Risk: Assess support responsiveness, notification protocols for zero-day discoveries, and mechanisms for firmware rollback or emergency patching.
Why Download the Template?
Tailored for ICS/OT Use-Cases: Carefully structured to respect constraints like planned outages, firmware testing, and OT system stability.
Standards-Based & Exchangeable: Aligns with NIST SP 800-161, IEC 62443-4-1, and CISA's SCRM guidance, making your vendor assessment process robust and repeatable.
Practical & Ready-to-Use: Comes with built-in scoring, vendor tiers (high to low risk), and space for vendor responses and internal evaluations.
Governance Made Easy: Enables consistent vendor reviews for audits, board reporting, and compliance requirements.
Key Takeaways from the Template
Vendor Segmentation: High-risk ICS vendors typically require in-depth questionnaires, while lower-risk suppliers may suffice with basic attestation.
Secure Design Insight: Vendors must document SDLC practices and attest to third-party component testing.
Firmware Control Checkpoints: Templates guide you to ask for cryptographic signatures, verified update mechanisms, and rollback options.
Patch Management Expectations: Clarifies expected patch schedules, zero-day policies, and notification protocols.
Incident Response Collaboration: Vendors should clearly define their response timelines and escalation workflows.
Auditable Documentation: Includes fields for gathering certificates, audit results, and proof of compliance.
Ongoing Updates & Monitoring: Ensures your vendor reviews stay current by tracking new threat advisories and firmware revisions.
How Shieldworkz Helps You Turn Templates into Practice
Professional Guidance: Our ICS/OT security experts help you match with the right vendors, send out evaluation forms, and follow up to ensure everything stays on track.
Tool Integration: Easily integrates with GRC platforms, allowing you to score vendors, trigger alerts for missing evidence, and manage review cycles.
Continuous Updates: The template evolves with threats and standards, rest assured it stays current with firmware attack trends, updated NIST guidance, and active vendor feedback loops.
Get the Vendor Evaluation Template Now
Don’t leave your ICS supply chain vulnerable. Complete the form below to download the ICS Supply Chain Vendor Evaluation Template and start assessing your third-party partners today. Join decision makers in manufacturing, energy, utilities, and oil & gas who trust Shieldworkz to secure their supplier ecosystem.
Complete the form to download the ICS Vendor Evaluation Template and take the first step toward securing your supply chain.
Download your copy today!
Why Supply Chain Security in ICS Matters Now
Rising Cyber-Attacks on Vendors: According to CISA, more than 60% of 2024 incidents in critical infrastructure had vendor or firmware compromises at their core.
Regulatory Pressure: Mandates like NIST SP 800‑161, ISA/IEC 62443-4-1, and NERC CIP enforce robust vendor security measures, and non-compliance invites financial penalties and operational risk.
Visibility & Accountability: Provenance of hardware and software, secure development processes, patch timelines, all require transparent, cross-checked evidence.
Safety & Operational Continuity: A single compromised firmware update can shut down systems, cause environmental incidents, or even pose safety hazards.
What You’ll Gain: The Vendor Evaluation Template
Designed for procurement leads, OT/ICS security teams, and compliance officers, our Vendor Evaluation Template empowers you to:
Classify Vendor Risk Level: Determine criticality of third-party vendors, distinguishing those handling control systems from those supplying peripheral services.
Assess Secure Development Lifecycle: Request details on secure coding, code-review procedures, third-party libraries, and underlying software supply chains.
Verify Firmware & Software Integrity: Ensure vendors support cryptographic signing, maintain provenance records, and offer transparent patching timelines.
Evaluate Access Control & Incident Response: Learn how vendors manage support access, roll out patches, and communicate when vulnerabilities are discovered.
Confirm Compliance & Certifications: Check for pertinent certifications, IEC 62443, ISO 27001, and obtain evidence like audit reports or compliance attestations.
Monitor Post-Delivery Risk: Assess support responsiveness, notification protocols for zero-day discoveries, and mechanisms for firmware rollback or emergency patching.
Why Download the Template?
Tailored for ICS/OT Use-Cases: Carefully structured to respect constraints like planned outages, firmware testing, and OT system stability.
Standards-Based & Exchangeable: Aligns with NIST SP 800-161, IEC 62443-4-1, and CISA's SCRM guidance, making your vendor assessment process robust and repeatable.
Practical & Ready-to-Use: Comes with built-in scoring, vendor tiers (high to low risk), and space for vendor responses and internal evaluations.
Governance Made Easy: Enables consistent vendor reviews for audits, board reporting, and compliance requirements.
Key Takeaways from the Template
Vendor Segmentation: High-risk ICS vendors typically require in-depth questionnaires, while lower-risk suppliers may suffice with basic attestation.
Secure Design Insight: Vendors must document SDLC practices and attest to third-party component testing.
Firmware Control Checkpoints: Templates guide you to ask for cryptographic signatures, verified update mechanisms, and rollback options.
Patch Management Expectations: Clarifies expected patch schedules, zero-day policies, and notification protocols.
Incident Response Collaboration: Vendors should clearly define their response timelines and escalation workflows.
Auditable Documentation: Includes fields for gathering certificates, audit results, and proof of compliance.
Ongoing Updates & Monitoring: Ensures your vendor reviews stay current by tracking new threat advisories and firmware revisions.
How Shieldworkz Helps You Turn Templates into Practice
Professional Guidance: Our ICS/OT security experts help you match with the right vendors, send out evaluation forms, and follow up to ensure everything stays on track.
Tool Integration: Easily integrates with GRC platforms, allowing you to score vendors, trigger alerts for missing evidence, and manage review cycles.
Continuous Updates: The template evolves with threats and standards, rest assured it stays current with firmware attack trends, updated NIST guidance, and active vendor feedback loops.
Get the Vendor Evaluation Template Now
Don’t leave your ICS supply chain vulnerable. Complete the form below to download the ICS Supply Chain Vendor Evaluation Template and start assessing your third-party partners today. Join decision makers in manufacturing, energy, utilities, and oil & gas who trust Shieldworkz to secure their supplier ecosystem.
Complete the form to download the ICS Vendor Evaluation Template and take the first step toward securing your supply chain.