You can’t outsource accountability

How resilient is your cyber security strategy?

In cyber security, accountability is one thing that can’t be outsourced. In the wake of headline grabbing cyber incidents at household names like Marks & Spencer, Jaguar Land Rover and Heathrow, the notion that risk and responsibility for risk can be packaged, boxed and sent away to a third party has been decisively debunked.

For CXOs and CTOs, it is a pivotal moment, the technology may be delegated, but the consequences of failure are always owned, never leased. We understand how heavy that responsibility can feel.

The promise and the peril

Outsourcing has opened doors for businesses to tap into new markets, scale up services and access cutting-edge innovation at a speed that would be impossible with just in-house resources. Through managed cloud services, third-party IT providers and complex supply chains, today’s business model is built on global connections and specialist partnerships.

As Europe’s largest independent IT integrator, we’ve spent decades building these frameworks, helping organisations strike that balance between scale and agility by bringing together top-tier partners, industry leaders and fresh digital capabilities.

But when disruption hits, the weaknesses in traditional models become painfully obvious. When a cyberattack takes down a supplier’s system, it’s not the outsourcer’s CEO making apologies on the front page or facing tough questions at parliamentary hearings – it’s the client’s board every time. When a tech partner’s failure shuts down airports or halts production lines, all the operational chaos and reputational damage flows upwards, straight to the organisation at the top, not the vendor in the background.

Resilience by design

Our evolution reflects this reality. From board-level governance down to detailed supplier relationship controls, we’ve built in the principle that ethical conduct, risk management and ultimate accountability sit with the brand whose reputation, assets and data are at stake. Our supplier code of conduct, rigorous audit trails and enterprise-wide risk registers weren’t just designed for compliance – they’re there to reinforce our culture of doing the right thing, both reputationally and commercially.

Board responsibility isn’t just a compliance exercise – it’s an active, evolving framework supported by independent oversight and continuous monitoring. Whether we’re managing climate, cyber, or operational risks, our business resilience model is built on a fundamental principle: risks can be mitigated but never fully transferred. We invest in thorough scenario planning and maintain clear escalation pathways so that when unexpected events occur, we can effectively contain their real-world impact.

Risk, governance and culture

Major incidents highlight the crisis that results from neglected third-party governance:

Marks & Spencer’s 2025 cyber incident:
A breach in a supplier’s system halted operations, but the public’s and regulators’ wrath landed with M&S, whose reputation was damaged and whose leadership was summoned to explain systemic vulnerabilities.

Jaguar Land Rover’s production outage:
A cyberattack in early September 2025 brought all UK production to a standstill, triggering widespread disruption across a network that supports over 104,000 jobs and burns through £50 million each week. The shutdown pushed major suppliers like Lear Corporation and Eberspächer into forced production halts, while smaller firms stared down bankruptcy threats. Parts suppliers around the world watched their order systems seize up, leaving dealerships unable to service existing vehicles. What started as a cyberattack on a partner company spiralled into supply chain chaos that cost tens of millions and put hundreds of jobs on the line – a stark reminder that when it comes to vendor risk, the buck stops with the board.

Heathrow’s IT collapse:
Triggered by an attack on a tech provider, the chaos left passengers stuck and thrust airlines into the harsh glare of media scrutiny – with zero tolerance for pointing fingers at outsourced partners.
When regulators and markets respond to incidents like these, they send the same clear message: real accountability can’t be passed down the chain. That’s why governance frameworks like our three lines of defense put the board squarely in the driver’s seat for all critical risks, making sure that assurance processes, audits and risk registers stay under our control and can stand up to outside scrutiny.

The contract myth

Business leaders often think that contracts, SLAs and indemnities will shield them from third-party incidents. In truth, these are buffers, not bunkers. Data privacy, regulatory compliance, environmental obligations and, above all, customer trust remain non-transferable assets and liabilities. The financial hit, operational chaos and reputational damage all land on your doorstep regardless of where the incident started or who caused it.

The accountability truth

Our approach makes it clear that accountability is a fundamental leadership responsibility, woven into everything from ESG and cyber resilience to every layer of tech innovation. Our risk management framework demands that every critical dependency gets mapped out and stress-tested, with dedicated enterprise risk officers keeping watch and the board staying on top of it all. Our stance is straightforward, it’s transparency and getting ahead of issues – not hiding behind contract fine print, that protects the brand and keeps stakeholders on side.

Trust, but verify everything

The smartest IT leaders get the value of trusted partners while keeping a firm grip on internal oversight. Partner ecosystems are essential for building capability and scale, but they can never be a substitute for solid governance. Our continued investment in digital skills, employee empowerment and transparent reporting creates an environment where innovation can flourish while leadership stays engaged and accountable.

Supply chain ethics, environmental sustainability and inclusion are hard wired into every contract, policy and partnership we make. We don’t just work within regulations – we work with purpose, making sure every stakeholder knows exactly what their role is and where their responsibility begins and ends.

The challenge for us all

For the modern executive, the mandate is clear. Outsourcing partners can and should expand your reach, bring in expertise and handle day-to-day bumps in the road. But in a connected world where one third-party weak spot can take down your entire operation, accountability always finds its way back to your door.

Build partnership, not dependence: Demand full transparency, joint crisis playbooks and aligned values from every third-party provider.

Own the risk register: Maintain direct oversight, scenario testing and escalation channels for all critical suppliers and platforms.

Lead with integrity: Make accountability visible from the boardroom to the front lines as the foundation of trust in times of calm and especially in times of crisis

In a decade shaped by digital acceleration and constant uncertainty, the takeaway for business and IT leaders is straightforward – you can’t outsource accountability. Our approach is to empower, enable and innovate for customers while never forgetting that the buck and the brand stop at the top. Resilience begins with understanding that while you can share tools, talent and technology, responsibility is yours alone and can’t be passed along. Only then can leaders steer through digital disruption with confidence and keep their reputation in one piece.

Why SCC?

Partnerships: Our long-standing Alliances with the world’s leading technology vendors allow us to bring our customer best-in-class solutions.
Expertise: Our team of experts are up to date with the latest technologies and industry-recognised training to ensure our customers receive the best possible service.
Experience: We’ve been trusted by our customers to deliver transformational projects across a wide range of technologies for nearly 50 years. As a highly certified & aligned Microsoft Solutions Partner, SCC are also on the Early Adoption Programs for both Copilot for Microsoft365 and Copilot for Microsoft Security.

Our Accreditation: