As global supply chains grow increasingly complex, organizations must prioritize data resilience and security to protect against evolving risks and disruptions
In conversations around supply chain resilience, attention often centers on logistics, infrastructure, or supplier diversification. But because supply chains now rely heavily on digital systems, resilience also means having clear visibility into those systems. This includes the ability to understand what’s happening across systems and the data flows that power supply chains, as well as the capacity to respond effectively when disruptions occur.
Unfortunately, many systems powering today’s supply chains lack transparency. They are built on outdated software, complex integrations, or third-party components that few within an organization fully understand. These opaque environments make it difficult to detect weaknesses or recover efficiently following disruptions. Without clarity on what systems are doing and how they interact, recovery becomes uncertain and risk increases. These challenges aren’t hypothetical. Recent findings show that only half of enterprises meet their recovery time objectives (RTOs) during real-world disruptions, despite widespread investment in backup and continuity strategies. Many organizations believe they’re prepared, only to discover otherwise in the middle of a crisis.
Visibility gaps are especially pronounced in organizations where information technology (IT) and operational technology (OT) remain siloed. A lack of communication and shared accountability between these teams can delay responses, complicate recovery efforts, and introduce blind spots. In this context, visibility is no longer a nice-to-have capability; it’s a fundamental element of business continuity.
“Ensuring systems are operational is no longer enough. True resilience requires a deeper understanding of how systems behave under stress and how their failure impacts the broader supply chain.”
Rick Vanover, Vice President of Product Strategy, Veeam Software
Visibility as the cornerstone of resilience
Ensuring systems are operational is no longer enough. True resilience requires a deeper understanding of how systems behave under stress and how their failure impacts the broader supply chain. Visibility plays a critical role here. It’s not just about detecting when something breaks, but also knowing what platforms and processes are in use, where third-party dependencies lie, and how different components interact in real time. Without that situational awareness, it’s nearly impossible to anticipate points of failure or plan for effective recovery.
Yet too often, organizations struggle with unexamined complexity. Layers of software, inherited infrastructure, and siloed vendor tools obscure what’s truly at risk. When an issue arises, teams may be forced to troubleshoot in the dark, wasting critical time.
A major contributor to these blind spots is the prevalence of “black box” systems — technology environments where inputs and outputs are visible, but the internal workings are not. Whether because of limited documentation, third-party control, or legacy design, these systems create uncertainty. In crisis situations, even identifying the root cause of an outage can be a challenge. If teams don’t understand how a system functions or how it connects to others, recovery efforts can quickly stall.
This becomes especially problematic in environments where IT and OT functions are disconnected. Manufacturing, logistics, and other supply chain-intensive industries often rely on operational systems that don’t easily communicate with newer digital platforms. Visibility gaps widen further when ownership of these systems is unclear or accountability is fragmented across departments. Without clear lines of responsibility and integrated system awareness, resilience remains out of reach.
Shifting the focus to recovery readiness
Modern resilience strategies must prioritize recovery as much as prevention. It’s essential to know not only how systems can fail, but also how long disruption can be tolerated and how quickly functionality can be restored. Recovery readiness means proactively mapping dependencies, regularly testing systems under real-world conditions, and preparing for a wide range of scenarios, including those where third-party providers may not respond promptly.
Backup solutions may restore data; however, without a full picture of system interdependence, recovery can stall. Resilience is about restoring function, not just files. That requires preparation grounded in visibility.
Data maturity and cross-functional insight
Enhancing visibility requires organizations to mature their approach to data and collaboration. This means moving from reactive problem-solving to proactive system awareness. By aligning IT and supply chain leaders around shared goals, teams can develop a more holistic understanding of system behavior and business risk.
Critical actions include:
- Mapping internal system dependencies
- Auditing third-party integrations
- Conducting recovery simulations
- Creating documentation and training for shared understanding
- Encouraging shared ownership of resilience outcomes
When teams speak the same language around system behavior and recovery needs, it’s easier to coordinate under pressure.
Start with what you control
The first step of supply chain resilience is to gain visibility into internal environments. Organizations should identify their most critical applications, catalog known dependencies, and document where gaps in understanding exist. From there, teams can test their ability to recover and measure the effectiveness of those efforts.
This internal groundwork establishes a foundation for broader improvements. It also reduces the risk posed by third-party tools or services that may fail or underperform in a crisis. While external vendors are an inevitable part of modern supply chains, they shouldn’t be a mystery. Organizations should strive for transparency and ensure vendor systems don’t become single points of failure.
Building resilience that lasts
Resilient supply chains don’t come from gut instinct — they come from a clear understanding of how things really work. The ability to see how systems operate, how they fail, and how they can recover is central to long-term continuity planning. By focusing on internal systems, enhancing cross-functional collaboration, and proactively testing recovery procedures, organizations can reduce uncertainty and strengthen their response to disruption. Resilience becomes less reactive, more repeatable, and ultimately more reliable.
Bio of Author
Rick’s passion for challenges led to his commitment to educate and communicate at all levels—engaging those new to availability technologies as well as those who are experts. As a blogger, podcaster and active member of the IT community, Rick builds relationships and spreads excitement about Veeam solutions. Before becoming the “go-to” guy for Veeam questions, Rick was in system administration and IT management. His community designations include Microsoft MVP, VMware vExpert and Cisco Champion.
