Cybersecurity has become a core business risk — not just an IT concern.
For Australian transport and logistics organisations, the stakes are even higher. Operators manage high-value cargo, time-critical freight, interconnected tracking systems, IoT-enabled fleets, subcontractor networks, and sensitive customer data moving across multiple platforms.
As cyberattacks on supply chains intensify globally, insurers, customers, regulators and commercial partners are demanding clearer accountability from leadership. By 2026, executive teams will be expected to provide demonstrable evidence of strong cyber governance and operational resilience, whether or not the organisation has a formal board in place.
Here are the six questions that every logistics leadership team must be ready to answer.
Ransomware is the top cyber threat facing transport operators because downtime directly impacts freight schedules, revenue, safety obligations, and customer trust.
Leadership will need to show:
That backups are secure, tested, and can be restored
How long the organisation can realistically operate without key systems
How quickly fleet and warehouse operations can resume after an attack
Whether manual fallback procedures exist for critical functions
In 2026, customers and insurers increasingly expect logistics providers to prove their ransomware readiness, not just claim it.
Modern logistics depends on a complex web of digital systems:
TMS, WMS, ERP
Telematics & GPS
Driver tablets and mobility platforms
Depot access control, CCTV and IoT devices
Customer integrations and APIs
Subcontractor and 3PL systems
Every connection introduces risk. Senior leaders must be able to answer:
Which external systems pose the highest risk?
Do we have visibility of vendor cyber standards?
Are API connections managed and monitored?
Are unsupported tools or “shadow systems” putting us at risk?
In 2026, digital supply chain visibility will be a major expectation from enterprise customers and regulators.
Fleet assets are now deeply connected:
Camera systems
Telematics
Refrigerated trailer controls
Load sensors
Predictive maintenance modules
Fuel management systems
This connectivity improves performance — but also expands the attack surface. Leaders will be expected to know:
Are devices patched and monitored?
Are default passwords and insecure configurations eliminated?
Could a cyber event disrupt routing, visibility, or safety systems?
Are OT networks isolated from corporate networks?
Cyberattacks targeting fleet systems can quickly become operational and safety incidents — a critical leadership responsibility.
In 2026, logistics operators face increasing scrutiny across:
Australian Privacy Act reforms
Critical Infrastructure obligations (depending on classification)
Chain of Responsibility (CoR) digital record-keeping expectations
Customer contractual security clauses
Cyber insurance questionnaires and audits
Leadership teams must confidently answer:
What regulations and standards apply to us?
Can we rapidly demonstrate compliance during audits or incidents?
Are cybersecurity policies documented and updated?
Are staff trained to handle incidents and data correctly?
Compliance is shifting from “best practice” to business necessity.
Many breaches go undetected for months in unprepared organisations — but in logistics, even a short outage can cause major disruption.
Executives need clarity on:
Whether the business has continuous monitoring tools
How quickly an incident would be detected
Whether an incident response plan exists — and has been tested
Whether key roles are trained and prepared
How communication would occur with customers, regulators, and partners
A cyber incident response plan is no longer optional.
Leadership teams will be judged on how rehearsed, not just how “ready,” they are.
The question is no longer about spending more — but spending strategically. Leaders will be expected to justify investment decisions around:
Upgrading legacy systems
Access controls and MFA
Backup hardening
Fleet and IoT security improvements
Endpoint detection and response
Staff awareness training
Vendor risk management
Meeting insurer or customer cyber requirements
Under-investment exposes the business. Over-investment in the wrong areas wastes resources. In 2026, smart cyber investment becomes a competitive differentiator.
Whether a logistics company has a formal board, an executive leadership team, or an owner-led structure, the expectations remain the same: Leadership must demonstrate strong cyber governance, situational awareness, and resilience.
Executives who can confidently answer the six questions above will:
Strengthen customer trust
Improve insurability
Reduce regulatory exposure
Protect operational continuity
Safeguard revenue and reputation