The "I" in FOCI: When Foreign Influence Becomes Cyber Risk
Foreign Ownership, Control, or Influence (FOCI) risk is often discussed as an ownership problem. Who owns the supplier? Who sits on the board? Is there a parent company tied to a foreign government? Does that relationship trigger CFIUS, export controls, sanctions, or a facility clearance review? These questions matter, but they do not capture the full risk picture. For C-SCRM program stakeholders, the most important word in FOCI is not ownership or control — it is influence.