Project LIFELINE: Critical Supplier Compromise

MISSION REPORT: OPERATION LIFELINE

Target Entity: Automotive Component Manufacturer
Threat Vector: Third-Party Supply Chain Failure
Economic Risk: 500k EUR / Hour (OEM Penalty Clauses)

The Strategic Context

Modern manufacturing runs on "Just-in-Time" (JIT) logistics. Warehouses are empty; parts arrive exactly when needed. Our client relies on a digital link (EDI) with a major logistics partner to keep the factory fed.

When the logistics partner was hit by a massive ransomware attack, their systems went dark. They could not receive orders, track trucks, or deliver parts. Our client faced a "Line Stoppage" situation, which triggers massive contract penalties from automotive OEMs (BMW, VW, etc.).

The Intervention: Supply Chain Resilience

Intarmour does not just fix computers; we ensure business continuity. We treated this as a logistics war game.

Phase 1: The EDI Air-Gap We immediately severed the digital connection to the infected logistics provider to prevent the ransomware from climbing up the supply chain into our client's network.

Phase 2: The "Ghost" Portal We activated a pre-built contingency web portal ("The Lifeboat"). We extracted the pending orders from our client's ERP and published them to this secure portal. We then onboarded two backup logistics providers (pre-vetted during our initial risk assessment) to this portal, allowing them to fulfill the urgent deliveries.

Phase 3: Manual Override We deployed a team to the warehouse floor to implement a temporary barcode-scanning system that operated independently of the main network, ensuring that goods receipt could continue even while the main supplier was offline.

The Operational Outcome

• Continuity Achieved: The production line did not stop. The backup fleet delivered the critical raw materials just 4 hours before stock-out.
• Resilience Proven: The client was the only manufacturer in the region that met its delivery quotas that week. Competitors who relied solely on the infected logistics firm faced massive penalties.

Strategic Lesson: Your resilience is only as strong as your supplier's weakest server. Always have a digital backup plan.