Cybersecurity Readiness: Practical Steps for Distributors and Manufacturers

Cybersecurity is no longer an IT issue that lives in the back office - it’s a business continuity issue for every distributor, manufacturer, and rep in the PHCP and PVF supply chain. Whether it’s ransomware locking up order systems or a fraudulent email convincing someone to reroute a payment, digital threats now strike organizations of every size. ASA’s latest Embracing the Future podcast tackles this reality with an insider’s view, featuring a conversation between ASA’s Manager of Innovation and Technology, Nils Swenson, and Rachel Wilson, Head of Wealth Management Data Security and Infrastructure Risk at Morgan Stanley and former senior executive at the National Security Agency (NSA).
 

In the episode, Wilson explains that small and mid-sized distributors are now prime targets precisely because they sit at the center of complex supply networks. “Threats run the full spectrum,” she notes, “from technical ransomware attacks to social engineering and confidence games designed to trick employees.” For companies that manage thousands of SKUs, multiple supplier portals, and remote access between branches, that risk surface is growing fast.
 

Wilson stresses that strong cybersecurity starts with fundamentals - not expensive tools. “It’s the brush-your-teeth and eat-your-Wheaties side of cybersecurity,” she says. “Keeping systems patched, enforcing multi-factor authentication, and running ongoing phishing-awareness training are the basics that make you a much harder target.”
 

For a wholesaler, that can mean protecting your ERP logins, making sure customer order data is backed up securely, and verifying payment requests before funds move. It’s about consistency and leadership, not perfection.
 

When an attack does occur, Wilson reminds listeners that it becomes a company-wide event - not just an IT problem. “When ransomware hits, suddenly the CEO, CFO, operations, and customer service teams are all part of the response,” she says. She urges companies to conduct tabletop exercises - practice runs where leadership walks through what would happen if systems went down. Who makes the call on paying a ransom? How are customers notified if e-commerce or delivery scheduling stops? Who restores pricing and product data once systems come back online? These questions are best answered before the crisis.
 

Wilson also highlights the importance of backups and testing them regularly. “Too many companies learn during a crisis that their backups don’t actually restore or that the person who built them left years ago,” she says. A disruption that should last eight hours can easily become days of missed orders, stalled trucks, and lost customer trust.
 

Looking ahead, Wilson warns that new risks are emerging faster than ever. Artificial intelligence is already being used to create fake supplier voices and spoofed emails that appear to come from trusted partners. Even further out, quantum computing could render today’s encryption obsolete within the next decade. “Nation-states are already storing encrypted data they can’t read yet,” Wilson explains. “When quantum computing matures, they’ll be able to unlock it.” Her advice: start mapping where you use encryption in your business systems and plan now for future upgrades.
 

For ASA members, this conversation underscores that cybersecurity is a shared responsibility across every department - from warehouse to accounting to the front counter. A phishing link clicked in one branch can disrupt dozens of locations. The good news is that building resilience doesn’t require massive budgets - just leadership commitment and steady improvement.
 

To help, ASA has launched a Cybersecurity Resource Center at ASA.net → Innovation → Cybersecurity. It includes frameworks, incident-response templates, and readiness checklists designed specifically for distributors and manufacturers. These tools focus on practical steps any company can take to protect its operations and reputation.
 

The episode is part of ASA’s broader Embracing the Future initiative, which helps members navigate the technologies shaping the future of distribution - cybersecurity, AI, customer intelligence, and product data standards. Wilson’s perspective brings clarity to a fast-moving issue and delivers advice that any wholesaler, manufacturer, or rep can act on today.
 

The full conversation, Cybersecurity Readiness with Rachel Wilson, is available now at ASA.NET → News → Podcasts and on major podcast platforms. It’s a timely, actionable discussion for every company that depends on reliable data, trusted partners, and uninterrupted operations to serve customers each day.
 

For more information or to get involved in ASA’s cybersecurity initiatives, contact innovation@asa.net.
 

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