Modern businesses run on integrations. From CRM tools and payment processors to chatbots and analytics dashboards — third-party apps make work faster, easier, and more connected.
But there’s a hidden cost to all that convenience: risk.
Every time you connect a new app or API to your systems, you open another door that attackers can walk through.
In fact, 35.5% of all recorded breaches in 2024 were linked to third-party vulnerabilities. That means over one-third of cyberattacks started not inside a company’s own system—but through an external app.
The good news? These risks can be managed.
Here’s how to identify hidden threats, protect your data, and safely build the tech ecosystem your business depends on.
Let’s be honest — no business builds everything from scratch anymore.
Third-party integrations make it possible to:
Streamline operations and communication
Automate analytics, reports, and notifications
Boost productivity without ballooning budgets
Access specialized features faster than internal development allows
For Idaho manufacturers and SMBs, that might mean connecting your ERP with a supply-chain dashboard, using a cloud service for CAD file storage, or syncing accounting tools for easier reporting.
These integrations are powerful — but if left unchecked, they can also become entry points for cyberattacks.
Even trusted integrations can introduce weaknesses. A single plugin with poor coding or hidden malware can create a backdoor into your network.
Once that happens, attackers can:
Steal login credentials and customer data
Corrupt files or disrupt operations
Use your systems as a launchpad for broader attacks
This kind of “supply chain breach” can go unnoticed for weeks — especially if no one’s watching app activity closely.
When third-party apps mishandle data, your business is still responsible.
Vendors may store or share sensitive data in ways you never approved, such as:
Sending it to foreign data centers
Sharing it with partner companies
Storing it longer than allowed under GDPR, HIPAA, or CCPA laws
That can trigger serious fines and damage your reputation overnight.
For manufacturers, this risk can also affect vendor agreements and regulatory audits.
If an app fails, so can your workflow.
A crashed API could stop your order system, delay production tracking, or lock out your billing department. Even a brief outage can lead to lost revenue, downtime, and client frustration.
The more integrations you use, the more potential “points of failure” exist — so it’s crucial to monitor and plan for resilience.
Before installing any app, take five minutes to run this quick safety check:
Check Security Certifications — Look for ISO 27001, SOC 2, or NIST compliance. Ask for recent security audits or penetration-test results.
Confirm Encryption Standards — Ensure the vendor encrypts data at rest and in transit using TLS 1.3 or better.
Review Authentication Protocols — Prioritize OAuth2, OpenID Connect, or similar secure methods with limited permissions.
Evaluate Access Controls — Make sure the app follows the principle of least privilege — only giving access to what’s needed.
Ask About Monitoring and Threat Detection — Vendors should log and alert suspicious activity. You should, too.
Review Versioning and Support — Confirm that the API has version control, patching schedules, and long-term maintenance.
Check Rate Limits and Quotas — Prevent overload or abuse by confirming request limits are in place.
Include Right-to-Audit Clauses — Your contract should let you review security practices and require quick remediation.
Verify Data Location and Jurisdiction — Know exactly where your data lives and whether it meets compliance standards.
Plan for Downtime — Ask about failover systems, redundancy, and recovery time objectives (RTOs).
Adding new tools shouldn’t mean adding new threats. Treat third-party app vetting as a routine part of your IT management — just like patching, backups, or password resets.
At TotalCare IT, we help businesses across Idaho:
Vet new software before it connects to your systems
Monitor API activity for suspicious behavior
Manage compliance with HIPAA, CMMC, GDPR, and more
Securely integrate critical tools into your manufacturing and business workflows
Contact us today to schedule a Third-Party Risk Assessment.
We’ll help you lock down your integrations and ensure every app in your stack is working for you — not against you.