Logistics Cybersecurity

Logistics companies operate under constant time pressure. Contractual delivery windows, perishable goods and just-in-time supply chains mean that even hours of downtime create cascading failures. Attackers exploit this urgency. When a ransomware attack encrypts your warehouse management system or fleet tracking platform, the cost of inaction grows by the minute. This pressure is why logistics firms pay ransoms at above-average rates.

The Maersk lesson: In June 2017, the NotPetya malware hit Maersk's global operations. Within hours, 49,000 laptops, 3,500 servers and the company's entire booking system were encrypted. Operations at 76 port terminals stopped. The company handled shipping bookings by paper for ten days. Total cost: over $300 million USD. The attack did not specifically target Maersk. It spread through a compromised Ukrainian accounting software update. Collateral damage to logistics infrastructure was devastating.

Warehouse Management Systems (WMS): Modern warehouses run on software that controls inventory tracking, pick-and-pack operations, shipping label generation and integration with carrier systems. A compromised WMS can misdirect shipments, corrupt inventory data, generate fraudulent shipping labels or halt picking operations entirely. We test WMS platforms for authentication weaknesses, privilege escalation, API vulnerabilities and network segmentation from other business systems.

Barcode and RFID Infrastructure: Handheld scanners, fixed RFID readers and the wireless networks they operate on are often overlooked in security assessments. These devices frequently run embedded operating systems with default credentials and unencrypted communications. A compromised scanner can be used to manipulate inventory data or as a pivot point into the broader warehouse network. We test the full wireless and device infrastructure in warehouse environments.

Fleet management systems track vehicle location, driver behaviour, fuel consumption, maintenance schedules and electronic logging device (ELD) compliance data. These platforms collect and transmit sensitive operational data continuously. Vulnerabilities in fleet tracking systems can expose real-time vehicle locations, enable route manipulation, allow unauthorized geofence changes or provide access to driver personal information. We assess the security of telematics platforms, their API connections and the data they transmit.

GPS spoofing and telematics tampering are emerging threats for high-value freight operations. An attacker who can manipulate vehicle tracking data can mask cargo theft or create false delivery confirmations. We test for GPS spoofing susceptibility, telematics data integrity and the authentication mechanisms that protect fleet management consoles from unauthorized access.

ERP Security: Logistics companies depend on ERP systems (SAP, Oracle, NetSuite and others) for order management, invoicing, financial reporting and supply chain planning. These systems contain sensitive business data and often have complex permission structures that accumulate misconfigurations over time. We test ERP platforms for authentication bypass, privilege escalation, insecure API endpoints, default configurations and data exposure through reporting interfaces.

Supplier and Customer Portals: Every external portal is an attack surface. Logistics companies commonly provide suppliers, customers and carriers with portal access for order placement, shipment tracking, document exchange and invoice submission. Each of these connections extends your network perimeter. Common risks include weak authentication, shared credentials, excessive data access, unmonitored file uploads and insufficient logging. We test portal security from the perspective of both a legitimate user and an external attacker.

EDI Connections: Electronic Data Interchange remains a backbone of logistics communication. EDI connections between trading partners, carriers and customs brokers often operate on legacy protocols with minimal encryption. We assess EDI security including transmission encryption, partner authentication, message integrity validation and the network architecture that isolates EDI systems from the broader corporate environment.

We test your ransomware readiness from the attacker's perspective. This includes testing backup systems for offline integrity, verifying network segmentation between IT and operational systems, testing endpoint detection capabilities, evaluating email filtering against phishing payloads and assessing your incident response procedures. The goal is to identify whether an attacker who gains initial access can reach the systems that would cause the most operational damage.

For logistics companies, the critical recovery targets are WMS, TMS, fleet tracking and ERP systems. We assess whether each of these can be restored independently, how long restoration takes and whether backup data is protected from the same attack that compromises production systems. A backup strategy that fails during a real ransomware event is no strategy at all.