In logistics, what counts is horsepower, load capacity, and on-time delivery. We optimize routes, calculate cargo space, and ensure the supply chain keeps running. But the attack that can truly cripple your company today no longer comes with a bolt cutter to break into a warehouse. It comes silently, digitally, and often via email.
In the latest episode of our LogTech Podcast, we hosted cybersecurity expert Dennis-Kenji Kipker from the cyberintelligence.institute. And to be clear: the conversation was a real wake-up call.We urgently need to talk about IT security in logistics – and in plain terms.The episode had several "oh wow" moments, even for us as hosts.
"We're not a target" – A fatal misconception
Honestly: Many of us in the industry think, "A cyberattack? That affects the big corporations, the banks, maybe critical infrastructure. But surely not my medium-sized shipping company!"Dennis showed us with a simple example how wrong this assumption is. Imagine a car dealership whose tire warehouse is managed digitally. A cyberattack paralyzes the systems, and suddenly, thousands of stored customer tires can no longer be identified. The end result? Insolvency.
This is logistics on a small scale, and it perfectly illustrates the pain point: even if your trucks are physically rolling, your accounting, route planning, warehouse management, and customer communication all depend on IT. If it fails, your business comes to a standstill – or worse, you incur contractual penalties because your customer's production line stops due to missing parts. Just-in-Time quickly becomes Just-in-Chaos.
The days when we could see ourselves as mere transport service providers are over. We are a digital link in a highly interconnected supply chain. And that makes us vulnerable.
The Real Dangers: It's not about espionage, it's about your money
Forget the image of the state-sponsored hacker specifically targeting German logistics SMEs. As Dennis clarified, the reality is often more mundane and brutal: it's about ruthless, criminal business. Cybercriminals specifically target companies they consider "easy pickings" – often because basic security measures are lacking.
The most common scenario is ransomware. Your data is encrypted, and you are asked to pay for its release. But today, the extortion often goes even further: the attackers also threaten to publish your sensitive data – customer lists, transport details, calculations – on the darknet. Once you've paid, you're not safe. You're marked as willing to pay. The criminals still have the data anyway. Once the data is gone, it's gone.
Your Emergency Plan: What you can do right now (without spending €100,000)
The good news is: you don't need to immediately hire an IT specialist for a six-figure annual salary. As Dennis emphasized in the podcast, effective cybersecurity starts with the basics, which often cost little to nothing and can be implemented with common sense.
- Employee training is essential: The best technology is useless if an employee carelessly clicks on a phishing link. The human element is and remains the biggest gateway for attacks. Regular, simple training on how to recognize suspicious emails or calls (keyword: CEO fraud) is the most effective investment.
- Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Yes, it's one more click when logging in. But those 30 seconds are nothing compared to weeks of operational downtime. Make it the standard for all important accounts.
- Real backups are offline backups: A backup in the cloud that is permanently connected to your network will often be co-encrypted in a ransomware attack. The solution is simple and time-tested: regular backups on external hard drives that are then disconnected from the network and stored securely (e.g., in a safe).
- Updates are like the safety inspection for your truck: You wouldn't send your fleet on the road without maintenance. Likewise, your IT systems – from the office PC to the IP camera in the yard – must be regularly updated with the latest security patches.
Cybersecurity is a Leadership Issue
In the end, our conversation with Dennis showed one thing above all: IT security is not just an IT topic; it's a leadership task. If the boss doesn't take the topic seriously and lead by example, every initiative will fizzle out. It's about creating awareness throughout the entire company.
Honestly: What's the situation at your company? Have these basics already been implemented, or is this topic still a blind spot in your risk management?
For the complete deep dive with all the details and examples, listen to the full episode with Dennis-Kenji Kipker on the LogTech Podcast. It's worth it.
