The Risk of Overlooking Vehicle and Vendor Management

Entry control must extend beyond the lobby to include all parts of a facility

Security leaders know that every unsecured entry point invites risk. Loading docks, delivery areas and vendor access points are some of a facility’s most exploited weak spots. In a recent report by Security Scorecard, 29% of breaches stemmed from unauthorized third-party entry. This fact alone highlights a critical vulnerability in how facilities are secured and managed.

Without proper verification, unauthorized vehicles and vendors can bypass security, putting people, assets and reputation at risk. One unverified vendor, delivery or contractor can be all it takes to disrupt an entire facility’s operations.

Security breaches do not always happen through the lobby. That is why organizations must evaluate all points of entry. A common misconception is that visitor management systems cover vendors and vehicles. Most often, they do not. This can result in security blind spots, compliance risks and operational inefficiencies.

Avoidable Risks

The effects of manual vendor and vehicle management are felt at every level of an organization. From security to the bottom line to an organization’s reputation, the impact of allowing entry points to be unsecured cannot be understated.

Fraud and liability risks stand out as the most prominent and pressing concerns. An unauthorized visitor with bad intentions can engage in a number of fraudulent activities, ranging from product theft to unauthorized reselling of goods. The financial impacts of any of these actions could cause enough damage on their own. In addition, though, depending on who is involved, an organization could also face lawsuits, legal fees and insurance claims.

A security breach can quickly turn an organization’s reputation from good to bad. According to the “World Security Report,” nearly 25% of publicly traded companies experienced stock price declines following security incidents. Businesses also reported suffering more than $1 trillion in losses as a result of breaches in 2022 alone.

Customers expect businesses to protect their data and assets. A breach that stems from a poorly managed vendor or vehicle access point can cause significant harm to a company’s image, destroy customer trust and ultimately lead to loss of business. Today, when news travels instantly, a single breach can be devastating.

In addition to the legal and financial risks, unauthorized vendors and vehicles can negatively affect a business’s day-to-day operations. Unscheduled deliveries, inefficient vehicle check-ins and unverified vendors create costly delays, disrupt workflows, and lead to expensive overtime. When vehicles arrive off-schedule, it upsets everything. Delayed shipments, rushed offloading and warehouse bottlenecks can lead to inefficiencies and even the loss of critical assets.

When trucks cannot get into loading bays quickly, they end up idling on roads or crowding parking lots, resulting in traffic jams and frustration. In big cities like New York City, where new congestion fines are being enforced, trucks lining up for entry can block traffic and rack up thousands of dollars in fees.

Staying Ahead

The risks associated with unsecured vendor and vehicle access points are too great to ignore. Every entry without proper verification is a potential gateway for security breaches and operational disruptions.

For organizations still using outdated methods to manage vehicle and vendor access, it is time to reassess. A quick look at organizations that manage dozens, even hundreds, of vendors and vehicles each day shows why the manual systems of the past are no longer effective. They leave too much room for error and offer too many opportunities for bad actors to wreak havoc.

With automation tools, teams can pre-screen vendors and vehicles, schedule deliveries ahead of time, and assign specific time slots for arrivals. This ensures a coordinated process with minimal delays. Real-time credential verification, driver’s license scanning, and digital check-ins also streamline operations, boost security, and facilitate easier entry. The data collected can be analyzed to improve supply chain productivity, optimize resource allocation, and reduce congestion.

As technology advances, so do the methods used by those looking to exploit vulnerabilities. That is why businesses need to invest in scalable solutions that can grow and be adapted to their needs. The right solution not only mitigates the risk of breaches, it streamlines operations, reduces delays and keeps everything on track.