NPM is not having a good year

Why This Matters to Your Business

Think of your website and business software like a restaurant kitchen. Just as you trust your suppliers to provide safe ingredients, your business relies on software components built by developers around the world. When these components get compromised, it's like discovering your trusted supplier has been delivering contaminated ingredients.

In 2025, cybercriminals successfully infiltrated some of the most widely-used software components, affecting millions of businesses globally. These attacks targeted:

• Customer-facing websites - Putting your customers' data at risk
• Internal business systems - Compromising your operations
• Payment processing - Threatening financial transactions
• Customer communication tools - Exposing sensitive conversations

The Business Impact: What These Attacks Mean for You

Financial Risks

• Data breach costs: Average cost of $4.45 million per incident
• Regulatory fines: GDPR fines can reach €20 million or 4% of annual revenue
• Business disruption: Downtime costs averaging $5,600 per minute
• Customer loss: 60% of small businesses close within 6 months of a cyber attack

Reputation Damage

• Customer trust: 85% of customers won't do business with a company that's had a data breach
• Media attention: Security incidents often make headlines
• Competitive disadvantage: Customers may switch to competitors

Operational Disruption

• System downtime: Websites and applications going offline
• Staff productivity: Time spent dealing with security issues
• Customer service: Increased support requests and complaints

Simple Steps to Protect Your Business (No Technical Knowledge Required)

1. Ask Your Development Team These Questions

If you work with developers or have a technical team, ask them:

• "Are we using outdated software components?"
• "Do we have a plan for regular security updates?"
• "Are we monitoring for security threats?"
• "Do we have backups in case something goes wrong?"

2. Implement Basic Security Practices

• Regular backups: Ensure your data is backed up daily
• Strong passwords: Use unique, complex passwords for all accounts
• Two-factor authentication: Enable this on all business accounts
• Staff training: Educate your team about phishing and security threats

3. Monitor Your Business Systems

• Website monitoring: Set up alerts for unusual activity
• Customer complaints: Watch for reports of suspicious behavior
• Performance issues: Slow websites can indicate security problems
• Unexpected downtime: Investigate any unexplained outages

4. Create a Response Plan

Prepare for the worst-case scenario:

• Emergency contacts: Have your technical team's numbers ready
• Communication plan: Know how to inform customers if needed
• Backup procedures: Understand how to restore your systems
• Legal requirements: Know your obligations for reporting breaches

Red Flags: Warning Signs Your Business May Be at Risk

Watch out for these indicators that your business systems might be compromised:

• Unusual website behavior: Pages loading slowly or appearing different
• Customer complaints: Reports of suspicious emails or website issues
• Unexpected charges: Unusual activity on business accounts
• System errors: Frequent crashes or error messages
• Staff reports: Employees noticing strange computer behavior

What to Do If You Suspect a Problem

Immediate Actions

1. Don't panic: Stay calm and follow your response plan
2. Contact your technical team: Reach out to your developers or IT support
3. Document everything: Keep records of what you've observed
4. Secure sensitive data: Change passwords if necessary

Communication Strategy

• Internal communication: Inform your team about the situation
• Customer communication: Be transparent if customer data is affected
• Legal compliance: Follow reporting requirements for your industry

Prevention: Building a Security-First Business Culture

Regular Security Reviews

Schedule monthly or quarterly reviews with your technical team to discuss:

• Recent security updates and patches
• New threats and how they might affect your business
• Backup and recovery procedures
• Staff training and awareness programs

Vendor Management

If you work with external developers or service providers:

• Ask about their security practices: How do they protect your data?
• Request regular updates: What security measures are they implementing?
• Review contracts: Ensure they're responsible for security breaches
• Have backup plans: Know how to switch providers if needed

Industry-Specific Considerations

E-commerce Businesses

• Payment security: Ensure PCI compliance for credit card processing
• Customer data: Protect personal information and purchase history
• Inventory systems: Secure your product and order management

Service-Based Businesses

• Client information: Protect confidential client data
• Communication tools: Secure email and messaging systems
• Project files: Ensure secure storage and sharing

Healthcare and Professional Services

• Regulatory compliance: Meet industry-specific security requirements
• Patient/client confidentiality: Protect sensitive information
• Document security: Secure important files and records

The Bottom Line: Why Action Matters Now

Cyber threats are not going away—they're becoming more sophisticated and frequent. The attacks in 2025 demonstrate that no business is too small or too large to be targeted. The question isn't whether your business will face a security threat, but when.

The good news is that taking proactive steps now can significantly reduce your risk and help you respond effectively if an incident occurs. The cost of prevention is always less than the cost of recovery.

Next Steps: How to Get Started

1. Schedule a security review: Meet with your technical team or service provider
2. Implement basic protections: Start with passwords, backups, and monitoring
3. Create a response plan: Prepare for potential security incidents
4. Regular reviews: Make security a regular part of your business operations

Resources and Support

If you need help implementing these security measures or want to ensure your business is properly protected, consider working with a trusted technology partner who understands both security and business operations.

https://github.blog/security/supply-chain-security/our-plan-for-a-more-secure-npm-supply-chain/