Improve Cybersecurity: SCS 9001 Secures ICT Industry Supply Chain
There are many industry standards that focus on improving operational cybersecurity. Take the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Cybersecurity Framework, the Critical Infrastructure Protection standards from the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC CIP standards) or HIPAA, for example: They all offer guidance on how to protect sensitive information and keep it out of the wrong hands.
But safeguarding critical network infrastructure can begin long before a network is operational. It can be addressed during software and hardware development by building security into the processes companies use to create products, solutions and services.
And that’s exactly what the Telecommunications Industry Association’s (TIA) SCS 9001™, Cyber and Supply Chain Security Standard, hopes to achieve. It focuses on helping organizations in the information and communications technology (ICT) industry secure their supply chains and implement comprehensive security policies.
Who Does SCS 9001 Apply To?
By following SCS 9001 guidance, everyone in the ICT industry—network operators, service providers, integrators, manufacturers, buyers and suppliers—can be confident that the software, hardware and other technology they develop, purchase and implement meet specific benchmarks to reduce the possibility of a cybersecurity attack.
As a certifiable standard, SCS 9001 is adaptable to any communications network across all industries and sectors. It helps organizations operationalize guidelines and frameworks from the NIST and other government entities while also becoming certified to SCS 9001.
What’s Different About SCS 9001 2.0?
SCS 9001 Release 1.0 was announced in November 2021, with Release 2.0 becoming available just two short years later in November 2023—a reflection of how fast technology and cybersecurity are changing.
SCS 9001 2.0 builds on Release 1.0 with many new security capabilities and recommendations. Here are just a few examples of what Release 2.0 includes:
- Increased coverage surrounding cloud-based services
- Increased coverage surrounding product origin and component traceability
- Increased coverage surrounding policies and procedures for supply chain procurement, shipping and logistics
- Information on how organizations can use an independent audit and certification program to verify that their products meet security requirements
SCS 9001 vs. ISO 27001: What’s the Difference?
As a process-based standard for measuring and verifying ICT suppliers, SCS 9001 provides the industry with a comprehensive system for global supply chain security.
While SCS 9001 encompasses nearly all the process controls found in the ISO 27001 security standard, it also incorporates elements that aren’t part of ISO 27001, such as:
- Audit logging
- BYOD control policies
- Customer communication
- Problem escalation
- Requirements traceability
- Security test planning
- Supplier selection
- Zero trust architecture
To help you compare SCS 9001 and ISO/IEC 27001 security standards, TIA just developed its latest Technical Bulletin: TIA QuEST Forum’s SCS 9001 Supply Chain Security Management System Expands Upon ISO/IEC 27001.
Use the document as your resource to:
- Recognize when and where each standard can be used in various industries
- Understand the difference between the standards
- Determine which specific security measures each standard emphasizes
According to TIA, more than 60 participants across 34 organizations were involved in the development of the SCS 9001 standard. A draft was provided to approximately 100 organizations (250 individuals) for review and commentary.
Belden is a proud member of TIA, with more than 12 of our experts contributing to the standards, best practices and knowledge sharing that TIA offers.
We participate in this process because we believe in continuous improvement. We also want to better understand how and why standards are written, represent the perspectives of installers and end-users, and make sure standards continue to address the industry’s most critical network and connectivity challenges.
Like I always say, the industry wants to hear your voice, too. If you want to get involved in the development of standards, we can help you get connected.