Procurement meets cybersecurity. How to close the gap.

Most people wouldn’t think of the Procurement team as the first line of defence against cyber threats, but in many ways it is.

Every time a business procures new technology whether it be on a SaaS platform, cloud services, hardware, or even bespoke software development, it is potentially opening the door to cyber risk. What’s more, the biggest threats often come from the smallest contracts, so using traditional dollar value thresholds as a proxy for risk no longer works.

Fortunately, these same Procurement teams are now uniquely placed to lead from the front and turn risk management into a strategic advantage. However, to do so means moving past generic contract templates and dollar value-based risk assessments.

The Federal Government Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) provides clear, practical guidance that procurement teams can use to strengthen their role in managing cyber risk. Their Procurement Guidelines emphasise early risk assessment, supplier vetting, and shared responsibility for security.

The Supply Chain Risk Management Framework highlights inherited risks from vendors and the need to scrutinise access privileges and security practices. The Software Development Guidelines focus on secure coding, environment segregation, and vulnerability management.

These resources offer a blueprint for recognising when cyber risks are present and crafting fit for purpose contractual responses that go beyond boilerplate clauses.

It’s not about rewriting contracts every time, it’s about making sure they’re aligned to the risk and the nature of the engagement.

Contact ⚡Virtus Advisory⚡ to learn more.