National security: What should governments do now to secure the next generation of technology supply chains?

In the context of accelerating digitalisation, technology supply chains have emerged as a critical vulnerability within the broader national security architecture. Heightened geopolitical instability and ongoing acts of aggression are compelling both governments and private-sector actors to fundamentally reassess their approaches to counterparty due diligence. The focus has shifted beyond mere financial reliability to a more comprehensive evaluation of whether counterparties may be linked to entities that support terrorism or are subject to international sanctions.

A key contemporary challenge lies in the existence of “opaque” or non-transparent affiliations. Conventional audit mechanisms are increasingly inadequate for addressing scenarios in which hostile actors leverage complex, multi-layered ownership structures and intermediaries operating across third-country jurisdictions to circumvent regulatory and sanctions frameworks.

Why is the identification of connections critical?

To safeguard next-generation technological supply chains, governments and enterprises must prioritise the detection of concealed affiliations. A clear understanding of ultimate beneficial ownership (UBO) structures, as well as inter-company relationships, enables organisations to:

Real threats: the case of transit through third countries

Risks in this domain are not hypothetical – they represent an ongoing operational reality. A recent cross-border investigation by Trap Aggressor exposed a scheme to supply high-precision machinery manufactured in Poland to the Russian Federation via intermediaries based in Turkey. In accordance with international classification standards, such equipment is categorised as High Priority Items due to its substantial dual-use potential, particularly in the context of weapons manufacturing. This case exemplifies how dual-use technologies can be diverted to an aggressor through deficiencies in supply chain oversight. Similar vulnerabilities may arise in any jurisdiction where due diligence processes are confined to direct counterparties.

Technological solutions for complex challenges

Addressing such schemes effectively requires advanced tools capable of mapping complex networks to a depth beyond immediate contractual relationships. One such solution is the automated connection-mapping functionality in the YC World platform, which enables rapid extraction and analysis of counterparty data and their associated networks. In addition, an AI-powered extraction module transforms structured and unstructured open-source data into visual network representations.

This functionality converts fragmented, unstructured data into coherent risk maps, enabling compliance professionals and government bodies to promptly identify hidden affiliations. The automation of this analytical process is, in practice, indispensable for keeping pace with the speed and sophistication of emerging sanctions evasion mechanisms.

What actions should governments undertake without delay?

The resilience of future security frameworks depends on the ability to penetrate opaque corporate structures. Only through the coordinated efforts of accountable governments, supported by robust analytical tools, can the global technology and defence sectors be effectively safeguarded against the adverse influence of hostile actors.

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Meet the team

Jill Broom

Head of Cyber Resilience, techUK

Jill leads the techUK Cyber Resilience programme, having originally joined techUK in October 2020 as a Programme Manager for the Cyber and Central Government programmes. She is responsible for managing techUK's work across the cyber security ecosystem, bringing industry together with key stakeholders across the public and private sectors. Jill also provides the industry secretariat for the Cyber Growth Partnership, the industry and government conduit for supporting the growth of the sector. A key focus of her work is to strengthen the public–private partnership across cyber to support further development of UK cyber security and resilience policy.

Before joining techUK, Jill worked as a Senior Caseworker for an MP, advocating for local communities, businesses and individuals, so she is particularly committed to techUK’s vision of harnessing the power of technology to improve people’s lives. Jill is also an experienced editorial professional and has delivered copyediting and writing services for public-body and SME clients as well as publishers.

Email:: [email protected]
Website:: www.techuk.org/
LinkedIn:: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jill-broom-19aa824

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Annie Collings

Senior Programme Manager, Cyber Resilience, techUK

Annie is the Programme Manager for Cyber Resilience at techUK. She first joined as the Programme Manager for Cyber Security and Central Government in September 2023.

In her role, Annie supports the Cyber Security SME Forum, engaging regularly with key government and industry stakeholders to advance the growth and development of SMEs in the cyber sector. Annie also coordinates events, engages with policy makers and represents techUK at a number of cyber security events.

Before joining techUK, Annie was an Account Manager at a specialist healthcare agency, where she provided public affairs support to a wide range of medical technology clients. She also gained experience as an intern in both an MP’s constituency office and with the Association of Independent Professionals and the Self-Employed. Annie holds a degree in International Relations from Nottingham Trent University.

Email:: [email protected]
Twitter:: anniecollings24
LinkedIn:: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annie-collings-270150158/

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Olivia Staples

Junior Programme Manager - Cyber Resilience, techUK

Olivia Staples joined techUK in May 2025 as a Junior Programme Manager in the Cyber Resilience team.

She supports the programs mission to promote cyber resilience by engaging key commercial and government stakeholders to shape the cyber resilience policy towards increased security and industry growth. Olivia assists in member engagement, event facilitation and communications support.

Before joining techUK, Olivia gained experience in research, advocacy, and strategic communications across several international organisations. At the Munich Security Conference, she supported stakeholder engagement and contributed to strategic communications. She also worked closely with local and national government stakeholders in Spain and Italy, where she was involved in policy monitoring and advocacy for both public and private sector clients.

Olivia holds an MSc in Political Science (Comparative Politics and Conflict Studies) from the London School of Economics (LSE) and a BA in Spanish and Latin American Studies from University College London (UCL).

Outside of tech, Olivia enjoys volunteering with local charities and learning Norwegian.

Email:: [email protected]

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National security: What should governments do now to secure the next generation of technology supply chains?

Nataliia Chornohub

Transparency as the foundation of national security

Why is the identification of connections critical?

Real threats: the case of transit through third countries

Technological solutions for complex challenges

What actions should governments undertake without delay?

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