Digital security in the staffing chain – How vulnerable is your organization?

Cybersecurity is no longer just a concern for IT departments. Especially in sectors where collaboration with external parties is the norm – such as the staffing industry – the greatest risk often lies in the chain. A single mistake by a supplier, subcontractor, or service provider can have major consequences for your organization.

For Ebro Diensten, which works daily with candidates, clients, systems, and data exchange, digital security in the chain has become a top priority. In this article, we explain what chain risks are, why they matter to staffing agencies, and how Ebro Diensten works toward a digital chain that is both secure and reliable.

What are chain risks?

A chain risk occurs when an organization is indirectly affected by a digital weakness in one of its partners. Examples include:

• a software provider with inadequate security

• a staffing agency storing client data in an insecure cloud

• a partner falling victim to phishing or ransomware

• a payroll provider leaking personal data

As soon as you share data, systems, or processes with others – such as in the hiring process – you are dependent on their digital resilience. This makes chain risks a serious point of concern.

Why is this relevant for the staffing industry?

The staffing sector is by definition chain-based. Agencies work with:

• candidates submitting personal data

• clients accessing systems and portals

• software suppliers for payroll, planning, and CRM

• external partners for back-office and registration tasks

This makes the industry vulnerable to data breaches, hacks, or system failures. At the same time, staffing agencies often have limited control over the security measures of their partners.

A single data breach at a partner can seriously damage trust in your brand.

Who is responsible for a data breach?

In many cases, responsibility is shared – think of processor agreements under the GDPR or contractual security arrangements. But in the public eye, with clients and the media, the visible party (the staffing agency or client) often takes the blame.

That’s why it’s essential to:

• actively screen partners for digital security

• contractually define responsibilities (e.g. data processing agreements)

• ensure internal processes are secure and up to date

How Ebro Diensten handles chain security

As a professional staffing agency, Ebro Diensten takes digital security seriously. With the sector becoming more digital and reliant on data exchange, secure systems and processes are essential.

Ebro focuses on:

• secure cloud platforms with ISO 27001-certified providers

• segmented user access for clients, candidates, and back-office staff

• regular updates and vulnerability scans

• processor agreements with all external service providers

• internal training on phishing awareness and password hygiene

Ebro also helps clients assess their own digital chain vulnerabilities, for example by advising on secure communication during scheduling and onboarding.

What can companies do themselves?

As a client or partner, you can also improve your chain security by:

• checking whether your staffing partners use certified platforms

• using secure portals for document and data exchange

• agreeing clearly on data ownership and responsibilities

• asking about security measures at your suppliers

• including digital chain security in your risk management plans

Digital security is no longer optional – it’s a prerequisite for business continuity.

What risks are seen in practice?

Examples of common chain vulnerabilities:

• data leaks through unsecured candidate forms on websites

• ransomware attacks at payroll providers, delaying salary payments

• phishing attacks via weak client logins

• unauthorized access to portals due to poor access management

In each case, not only is damage caused, but trust is also undermined – both from workers and clients.

Why this is urgent now

Cyberattacks are becoming more advanced. In the coming years, businesses will be more frequently affected through their partners. Meanwhile, legal requirements (like the NIS2 directive) and client expectations are becoming stricter.

For staffing agencies, this means: those who invest in digital security today are the ones who stay resilient tomorrow.

Securing the staffing chain together

Digital security is no longer just an IT topic. It’s a shared responsibility – across the chain. For Ebro Diensten, protecting trust is central: with clients, candidates, and partners.

Want to know how Ebro Diensten supports safe and transparent staffing collaboration? Or how to reduce your own chain risks? Contact us – we’re happy to help.

Together we build a secure and future-proof labor market.