C-TPAT Cybersecurity

C-TPAT Compliance Starts With
Your IT Security.

CBP's updated Minimum Security Criteria now require a dedicated cybersecurity program. Ghosxt — run by a cleared DoD engineer — helps importers, carriers, and logistics companies meet and maintain those requirements without disrupting operations.

Importers Carriers Freight Forwarders 3PLs & Brokers
C-TPAT Cybersecurity Checklist
Risk Assessment Compliant
Access Controls & Authentication Compliant
Security Awareness Training Compliant
Incident Response Plan Needs Review
IT Infrastructure Documentation Gap Identified
Third-Party Vendor Security Gap Identified
Gaps found. Remediation needed before validation. Ghosxt fixes this →
What is C-TPAT?

The Program That
Secures U.S. Trade.

C-TPAT — Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism — is a voluntary CBP program that creates a partnership between U.S. Customs and the private sector to strengthen global supply chains against terrorism, smuggling, and now: cyber threats.

Members receive tangible trade benefits — reduced inspections, faster processing, trusted trader status — in exchange for meeting and maintaining CBP's Minimum Security Criteria. Cybersecurity is now a core section of those criteria.

CBP's Cybersecurity Section (2023+)
C-TPAT members must now demonstrate a formal cybersecurity program covering risk assessments, access controls, security training, incident response, and supply chain IT partner requirements.
C-TPAT Member Benefits
  • Fewer CBP Examinations Members experience significantly fewer physical cargo inspections, reducing delays and costs.
  • Front-of-Line Processing Priority processing at ports of entry and access to FAST lanes at U.S.-Canada and U.S.-Mexico borders.
  • Trusted Trader Status Mutual recognition with partner programs like AEO (EU), FAST (Canada/Mexico), and others globally.
  • Competitive Advantage Partners and clients increasingly require or prefer working with C-TPAT certified companies.
CBP Minimum Security Criteria

The Cybersecurity Requirements — And How We Cover Them

CBP's Minimum Security Criteria include six cybersecurity requirements. Ghosxt addresses every single one.

01

Risk Assessments

CBP Required

CBP requires members to conduct regular IT security risk assessments to identify vulnerabilities in systems used for supply chain operations.

How Ghosxt Covers It

We conduct a full network and systems vulnerability assessment, document findings in a format aligned with CBP validation requirements, and provide a remediation roadmap.

02

Access Controls

CBP Required

Systems must have controls limiting access to authorized users only. Multi-factor authentication, role-based access, and user account management are expected.

How Ghosxt Covers It

We implement and document MFA, Active Directory policies, privileged access management, and access reviews — then produce the evidence CBP validators look for.

03

Security Awareness Training

CBP Required

Employees with access to IT systems and supply chain data must receive regular cybersecurity awareness training, including how to identify and report suspicious activity.

How Ghosxt Covers It

We deliver role-based training covering phishing, social engineering, password hygiene, and incident reporting — with completion records you can show CBP.

04

Incident Response Plan

CBP Required

Members must maintain a documented incident response plan for cybersecurity breaches and provide evidence of its testing and maintenance.

How Ghosxt Covers It

We write, implement, and test your incident response plan — including tabletop exercises — and maintain it as part of ongoing managed services. Full documentation provided.

05

IT Infrastructure Security

CBP Required

Hardware and software used in supply chain operations must be patched, documented, and protected with appropriate security controls, including endpoint protection and network segmentation.

How Ghosxt Covers It

We deploy automated patch management, EDR endpoint protection, network segmentation, and produce a full asset inventory and architecture diagram for CBP records.

06

Third-Party / Vendor Security

CBP Required

C-TPAT members must assess and document the cybersecurity posture of IT vendors and partners with access to supply chain systems or data.

How Ghosxt Covers It

We build a vendor security review process, assess your current third-party relationships, and create the documentation trail CBP expects during validation.

Who We Serve

Built for Every C-TPAT Entity Type

C-TPAT covers a broad range of supply chain participants. We've built our service delivery around the specific IT environments and compliance needs of each.

Importers

U.S. importers using customs software, WMS platforms, or EDI systems. We harden your trading partner connectivity and document your supply chain IT posture.

Carriers

Trucking companies, rail carriers, and air cargo operators with telematics and dispatch systems. We secure driver-facing and office IT alike. For the full operational picture, see our trucking and logistics IT services.

Freight Forwarders

Forwarders managing multi-modal shipments and communicating with overseas agents. We assess your data sharing practices and lock them down.

3PLs & Warehouses

Third-party logistics providers and warehouse operators using WMS, RFID, and IoT devices. We bring your operational technology into compliance scope.

Customs Brokers

Licensed customs brokers handling sensitive importer data. We protect your client information with proper access controls and encryption practices.

Manufacturers

Manufacturing exporters and consolidators integrating with CBP systems. We handle the IT security documentation that validates your supply chain controls.

Our Process

From Gap to CBP Validation-Ready

We guide you through every step — from assessing where you stand today to maintaining compliance long after your CBP validation.

Our C-TPAT work is led by a DoD-cleared IT engineer who has built and validated security programs for government systems — so we understand what auditors and validators actually look for.

01

C-TPAT Cybersecurity Gap Assessment

We review your current IT environment against CBP's six cybersecurity criteria. You'll receive a clear gap analysis report with prioritized findings — no jargon, no fluff.

02

Remediation & Control Implementation

We fix the gaps. MFA, endpoint protection, patch management, network segmentation, incident response plans — implemented correctly the first time.

03

Documentation Package

We build the full security documentation portfolio CBP expects: policies, procedures, architecture diagrams, training records, and vendor assessments — all organized for easy review.

04

Validation Support

When CBP conducts your validation visit or review, we're available to walk through the technical findings with your team and answer validator questions.

05

Ongoing Managed Compliance

C-TPAT compliance isn't a one-time checkbox. We provide continuous monitoring, annual security reviews, and updates as CBP criteria evolve — so you're always ready for revalidation.

Don't Wait for a
Failed Validation.

Whether you're applying for C-TPAT membership, preparing for a validation visit, or recovering from a deficiency finding — Ghosxt gets your cybersecurity program where it needs to be.

Call (831) 204-0501 Book free assessment