Secure Your Luxury Logistics: A Counterintelligence Approach

In the high-stakes world of luxury logistics, protecting sensitive data is just as critical as securing physical cargo. Andrea Succi, Group CISO at Ferrari Group, emphasizes that a multi-layered defense strategy is essential for safeguarding everything from client identities to shipping routes. He argues that awareness, collaboration, and resilience form the bedrock of client trust and operational consistency in this demanding sector.

For high-value transport operations, the intelligence surrounding a shipment, such as routes, timing, insurance specifics, and client details, can be more valuable than the goods being moved. Succi explains that from a risk management standpoint, multiple layers must be defended: the “persona” layer covering digital identities, the physical layer, and the geographical layer. The real challenge lies in managing how these layers intersect, since attackers often target one or more simultaneously to achieve their objectives.

Succi identifies two key dimensions to this challenge. First, securing clients’ digital information is paramount, because a data breach can inflict greater reputational harm than the monetary loss of a shipment. Second, protecting physical locations and organizational processes is vital, since leaked intelligence about addresses or schedules can lead to targeted theft or fraud. Fundamental defenses include multi-factor authentication (MFA), endpoint protection, timely patching, and ongoing employee training.

When asked about his top priority, Succi points to training. Many threats arrive through social engineering, such as fraudulent calls or emails requesting delivery changes, and a robust security culture is essential for detecting and stopping these attempts.

The concept of a “counterintelligence mindset” resonates strongly with Succi’s approach. He notes that his team maintains daily intelligence feeds focused on both luxury logistics-specific and broader cyber threats, and they regularly analyze attacks targeting the industry. Recognizing that adversaries are constantly probing for weaknesses helps them anticipate and disrupt attacks early. When technical defenses hold, attackers often shift to social engineering, making awareness indispensable. Succi stresses that technology alone is insufficient; human error remains the leading cause of incidents, which is why they invest heavily in awareness and fostering “positive skepticism”, trust, but verify.

Information sharing among industry peers has proven invaluable. For example, through peer networks, Succi’s team learned about deepfake CEO fraud tactics before they were deployed against them, allowing for proactive defense. This leads to a security posture where questions like “Who might be targeting us?” and “How could they be observing a shipment?” become integral to planning.

This mindset is applied across all domains of the NIST Cybersecurity Framework, Govern, Identify, Protect, Detect, Respond, and Recover, which serves as a guiding star for defense strategy and priorities, continuously refined based on real-world developments.

Balancing stringent security controls with the white-glove client experience is not a contradiction, according to Succi. He views them as two sides of the same coin: a secure, smooth, and discreet delivery is the essence of luxury service. Clients expect rigorous security standards and have a low risk tolerance, so the goal is to embed security so seamlessly that clients feel assured without inconvenience. Transparent communication about security measures strengthens trust, reinforcing that security should enhance luxury, not complicate it. Discretion, confidentiality, and responsiveness remain core principles, supported by direct relationships with client contacts who understand both premium service and security expectations.

The “last mile” of logistics, where systems, vendors, and personnel intersect, is a common target for cyberattacks. Succi acknowledges that supply chains are often the weakest link, as attackers may target suppliers when direct breaches fail. The key is to deeply understand the supplier ecosystem and identify where the greatest risks lie. Not all vendors pose the same threat; a stationery supplier is different from a systems integrator working on core infrastructure. Focusing resources on high-impact, high-vulnerability areas involves several practical steps: using integrated metrics for vendor selection (including cybersecurity, ESG, financial stability, and privacy), running a continuous vendor risk management program, and enforcing contractual obligations for suppliers to adopt security controls like MFA, XDR, and endpoint protection.

Building a resilient ecosystem takes time and collaboration. Succi finds that conversations with suppliers about improving their defenses often yield more value than audits alone. Ultimately, resilience depends on integration, transparency, and shared accountability across the entire chain, from clients to vendors.

Operational disruptions, even minor ones, can have significant reputational consequences. Building resilience involves both governance and technical measures. From a governance perspective, incident management must be integrated with business continuity, crisis communication, and clear escalation paths. However, these plans must be more than documents, they need to be rehearsed regularly. Simulations build “muscle memory,” enabling teams to make fast, effective decisions under pressure, while injected variables help develop adaptability since no incident unfolds exactly as planned.

On the technical side, resilience means designing systems with redundancy, failover capabilities, and early detection mechanisms. Spotting weak signals, whether from monitoring systems or personnel, is crucial for swift, intelligent response. Ultimately, resilience is a mindset: the ability to absorb disruption, adapt quickly, and continue operations without compromising the hard-earned trust of clients.

(Source: HelpNet Security)