Threat actors are constantly looking for the weakest link, and with AI in their arsenal, they’re becoming increasingly sophisticated. For supply chains and e-commerce businesses, this means that traditional defences may no longer be sufficient.
Vaibhav Dabhade, CEO of e-commerce and supply chain SaaS provider Anchanto, discusses the evolving cyberthreat landscape and how companies in these sectors can adapt to emerging challenges.
Where are the biggest security gaps in logistics and e-commerce today?
AI is changing the way threat actors operate, allowing them to exploit vulnerabilities in environments where speed and automation leave little room for manual checks. In our industry, we see two main areas of concern.
The first is automation gaps. Continuous integration, delivery, and deployment (CI/CD) pipelines help accelerate software updates. However, without automated security checks — such as integrated code quality assessments or penetration testing — vulnerabilities can slip through unnoticed.
The second is integration weaknesses. Logistics and e-commerce rely heavily on third-party APIs and webhooks, which create complex integration landscapes. Attackers often exploit gaps in access controls or poorly secured integrations, taking advantage of the trade-off between rapid operations and strong security.
Defences often fall short because organisations prioritise speed and efficiency over embedding security into every automated step. This creates a risk: the faster a system moves, the more exposed it becomes unless security is built in from the beginning.
In our view, the future of secure digital infrastructure in these sectors lies in combining innovation with proactive, integrated security measures. Security must be a built-in component of every automated process, not an afterthought.
How does Anchanto manage security risks from third-party integrations?
We recognise that our security is only as strong as the weakest link in our network. To manage inherited risks, we apply strict integration standards for all partners. This includes strong API authentication and authorisation protocols to ensure only trusted parties can access or exchange data.
We mandate the use of the latest, most secure versions of Transport Layer Security (TLS), the encryption standard that creates a secure “tunnel” for data in transit. This helps prevent interception or tampering between systems. We also run the latest stable versions across our tech stack to ensure that known vulnerabilities are patched.
In addition, we avoid using default configurations in production environments, which opens the door to major vulnerabilities. While convenient, these settings are often generic and lack proper security customisation. For example, a default password or open access port could become an easy target for attackers.
By rigorously customising these settings from the outset, we eliminate gaps that might otherwise go unnoticed until exploited. Our goal is to make security a foundational habit, not an afterthought, across every layer of our ecosystem.
How do you balance scalability, integration, and security?
Instead of trade-offs, we’ve made deliberate investments in over-provisioning key infrastructure to ensure scalability and resilience. However, integrating legacy systems with modern security practices remains a challenge. For instance, older systems sometimes rely on static secrets — hard-coded credentials like passwords or API keys that rarely change. If compromised, these can give attackers persistent access.
To address this, we’ve adopted a secure secrets management system. It rotates sensitive credentials like passwords and encryption keys regularly, reducing the window of exposure and minimising risk. Our approach prioritises a balanced architecture that maintains flexibility and scalability while keeping pace with evolving, AI-driven threats. It’s not about perfection, it’s about ensuring the platform grows securely.
How do you design security for real-world logistics?
The real world is messy, and logistics is no exception. That’s why we rely on a layered security strategy, where each layer supports the next. If one is breached, another stands ready.
We base our approach on two industry-standard frameworks. The first is the OWASP Top 10, a widely recognised and periodically updated list of the most critical security risks for web applications. The second is STRIDE threat modelling, a method to systematically identify risks by categorising them into six types: spoofing (impersonating users), tampering (altering data), repudiation (denying actions), information disclosure (leaking data), denial of service (overloading systems), and elevation of privilege (gaining unauthorised access).
We pair these frameworks with rigorous API specifications and maintain a third-party security assessment process. If a partner integration presents unique risks, we deploy additional controls accordingly. It’s a robust system, although admittedly, one that increases operational costs. But in logistics, where delays or breaches can cripple supply chains, it’s a non-negotiable investment in trust and reliability.
What digital infrastructure risks is the industry overlooking?
In today’s fast-paced digital landscape, the vulnerabilities we face are not solely technical; they’re embedded in legacy mindsets and disjointed oversight. Even a single weak link in digital infrastructure can lead to significant disruptions across an entire supply chain.
Our industry continues to grapple with three fundamental blind spots. The first is underestimating the threat — too many organisations still overlook the scope and sophistication of modern cyberattacks. This complacency leaves critical systems exposed to risks that evolve at breakneck speed.
Next is siloed accountability, where cybersecurity is often viewed as the sole responsibility of the IT department. In reality, securing our digital future requires a holistic, company-wide commitment — one in which every decision, whether in operations, strategy, or technology, is made with security at its core.
Lastly, there is delayed integration of expertise. Bringing cybersecurity professionals into the conversation only after critical infrastructure decisions have been made remains a persistent vulnerability. Involving them from the outset is not just a best practice, it is an essential part of resilient digital design.
