The logistics industry has come a long way from clipboards and paper trails. Today, supply chains run on software or logistics technology aka LogiTech. Route optimization tools, vehicle telemetry data, warehouse automation, and real-time shipment tracking platforms help logistics companies optimize operations, improve efficiency, and enhance their customer experience. 

The right tech keeps everything moving like clockwork, but there’s a catch: cybercriminals love logistics technology. Why? Because the industry deals with vast amounts of sensitive data like payment details, proprietary routing algorithms, and live fleet tracking. And the consequences of an operational disruption are significant. One breach, and suddenly, shipments are misrouted, trucks are stuck in limbo, and customer trust vanishes into thin air. 

So, how can LogiTech companies keep their software secure while meeting customer and business demands? Continue reading for a breakdown of security challenges that Logistics Tech companies face, how application security fits into a broader security strategy, and how SOOS can help LogiTech companies protect their business.

Logistics Tech Software Security Challenges

The LogiTech industry is undergoing a rapid digital transformation, and this transformation brings with it several unique software security challenges. Logistics companies must balance operational efficiency with having a secure, compliant infrastructure to protect critical data and ensure uninterrupted business operations. Logistics technology companies face challenges like:

1. Integration of Legacy Systems with New Technologies

Many logistics companies still rely on legacy systems for core business functions like inventory management, fleet tracking, and warehouse operations. These older systems often have security vulnerabilities that make them more susceptible to cyberattacks. Additionally, integrating legacy systems with newer, cloud-based applications can expose security gaps. Without proper oversight and security measures, this can increase the risk of breaches. 

2. Managing Sensitive Data Across a Complex Supply Chain

Logistics tech companies manage vast amounts of sensitive data, including customer orders, delivery addresses, payment information, and inventory data. With this data moving between multiple stakeholders such as third-party logistics providers, suppliers, and customers, securing the flow of information is paramount. Weaknesses in proprietary or third-party software could lead to unauthorized access, data breaches, or the manipulation of critical shipping and inventory data.

3. Securing Internet of Things (IoT) Devices

Many logistics companies have adopted Internet of Things (IoT) devices, such as GPS trackers, RFID tags, and smart sensors, to track shipments, manage inventory, and monitor warehouse conditions. These devices generate large volumes of data, which must be securely transmitted and stored. Unfortunately, many IoT devices in the logistics space have weak security features, making them particularly vulnerable to attacks. This is an issue LogiTech companies face when providing technology and when facing customer expectations for heightened security, so whether companies are providing IoT technology or not, they’re affected by the use of and expectations around all logistics technology.

4. Supply Chain Attacks and Third-Party Risk

Logistics companies are deeply embedded in complex global supply chains, which often involve a wide range of third-party vendors and service providers. These third parties may have access to sensitive data, and any vulnerabilities in their systems can become a pathway for cybercriminals to breach a logistics company’s network. Supply chain attacks, where an attacker compromises a third-party vendor to gain access to the main company’s system, are becoming more common. One of these attacks occurred every two days in 2024 and in total, supply chain attacks are expected to cost $60 billion this year.

5. Ransomware and Cyberattacks

The LogiTech industry has become a prime target for ransomware attacks, where attackers lock valuable data and demand a ransom for its release. With the digital transformation of logistics operations, a cyberattack that disrupts shipping, delivery, or inventory management can have disastrous consequences. Logistics and LogiTech companies must be prepared to prevent, detect, and respond to these types of cyber threats.

How Application Security Fits into the LogiTech Ecosystem

As logistics software systems become more interconnected and cloud-based, the need for comprehensive application security has only grown. Here’s how application security fits into the overall strategy for securing logistics technology:

1. Secure Development Lifecycle

Logistics companies need to adopt secure software development practices to minimize vulnerabilities in their applications. By incorporating security testing early in the development lifecycle, companies can identify and resolve vulnerabilities before they are deployed. This includes using techniques such as static application security testing (SAST) and dynamic application security testing (DAST) to identify potential threats in the codebase, including common vulnerabilities like SQL injection and cross-site scripting (XSS).

2. Data Encryption and Access Control

Data is a valuable asset for logistics companies, and protecting it is a top priority. Strong data encryption protocols should be implemented in LogiTech platforms to protect sensitive information both in transit and at rest. Furthermore, role-based access control (RBAC) and multi-factor authentication (MFA) should be used to limit access to only authorized users and prevent unauthorized data access.

3. API Security

Logistics platforms often rely on APIs to communicate with third-party vendors, service providers, and IoT devices. Securing APIs is essential to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive data and ensure the integrity of transactions. Using strong authentication mechanisms and encryption for API communications helps mitigate potential security risks, as does implementing web and API testing using dynamic application security testing, or DAST tools. DAST tests API security by simulating real-world attacks against a live API, essentially mimicking how someone would try to exploit the API from the outside in; this allows for the detection of security flaws that might not be apparent through other testing methods like static application security testing (SAST) and identifies potential vulnerabilities without requiring access to the underlying source code.

4. Automated Vulnerability Monitoring and Incident Response

With the growing complexity of logistics operations and the rise in cyberattacks, constant and automatic monitoring of applications is needed to keep LogiTech applications secure. Logistics technology companies can integrate real-time or regular monitoring of live applications to identify suspicious activity early and prevent cyberattacks before they escalate into serious breaches. And an incident response plan or, even better, automated incident management tools, are essential to ensure issues are resolved swiftly. 

5. Supply Chain Security

Third-party risk management is a key aspect of securing logistics software infrastructure, as vulnerabilities in one part of the supply chain can expose the entire system to risk. Both LogiTech and logistics companies can strengthen their value and minimize their risk by using application security tools to vet their first- and third-party software applications. Make sure every vendor you work with follows strong security practices. Require Software Bills of Material (SBOMs) from third-parties and scan them for known vulnerabilities, monitor third-party integrations, and use Software Composition Analysis (SCA) tools to keep tabs on vulnerabilities in open-source components.

LogiTech Security, Simplified

LogiTech companies already manage complex platforms, so security shouldn’t be another burden. That’s where SOOS comes in. We help you integrate software security into your development process with ease, so you can stay focused on new feature development and growing your business. Here’s how:

1. Unlimited, Automated Vulnerability Scanning

SOOS continuously scans your codebase and dependencies for known vulnerabilities, ensuring you can stay on top of potential threats and fix flaws before attackers can use them. 

2. Comprehensive Security for Open Source Components

LogiTech applications rely on open source libraries: SOOS helps ensure they’re not full of known exploits. SOOS’s patented deep-tree scanning for all major programming languages means you can scan every component of every build and be confident there are no missed issues, unlike with other tools that don’t go as deep in your application’s dependency tree.

3. Seamless Integration Into Development Workflows

SOOS integrates easily with popular development platforms like GitHub, GitLab, and Jenkins, making it a natural addition to existing workflows. This allows LogiTech companies to incorporate security checks without disrupting development processes or adding unnecessary complexity to their operations. In addition, a flexible command line interface (CLI) allows for a high level of customization and adaptability in how SOOS is set up, allowing you to set up and execute multiple different rules in one simple command.

4. License Compliance and Monitoring

Avoid legal issues by ensuring open-source components comply with licensing requirements. Learn more about open source software license analysis, governance, and management best practices here.

5. Prioritized Risk Management

Cut through the noise and focus on the vulnerabilities that pose the highest risk to your platform, because the more software you have, the more likely it is there will be outdated components that don’t present a significant risk. Just as you want to know what needs immediate attention, you also want to know what doesn’t need attention so your team can stay focused on delivering for your customers.

6. Compliance Without Complexity

SOOS automates compliance reporting for industry standards like PCI DSS and SOC 2, so you can easily demonstrate security readiness. 

7. Unified Security Dashboard

Monitor, take action on, and report on all Application Security tools (SCA, DAST, Containers, SAST, and SBOMs) via one pipeline-integrated hub, with a single dashboard and optional API access for seamless integration into your environment.

8. Secure the Entire Software Supply Chain

Assess the security practices of external vendors, make sure their software is vulnerability-free before you integrate with it, and continuously monitor for newly discovered vulnerabilities in first- and third-party software. Learn more about our SBOM Manager.

9. Scalable, Cost-Effective Protection

SOOS offers flat-rate pricing based on team size with unlimited scanning for all, so LogiTech companies can scan as often as needed without unexpected costs. This ensures security efforts can scale with business growth and reduces mental burden on teams as they can set up scans to run automatically without having to think about them.

Security Without Sacrificies

Logistics technology is all about precision, efficiency, and reliability. But none of that matters if your software isn’t secure. A single breach can bring your customers’ operations to a halt, costing time, money, and trust. By prioritizing security, LogiTech companies can keep systems running safely while ensuring that your customers’ shipments arrive on time, every time. And with SOOS, you can prioritize security without sacrificing that all-important efficiency that keeps your customers’ businesses, and your ability to support them, running smoothly.
Want to learn how SOOS can help secure your logistics software? Reach out with questions or start a free trial to see for yourself how easy SOOS is to use. Because the only thing that should be lost in transit is your old security vulnerabilities.