COVID-19 ushered in the era of demand change, and manufacturers now must be resilient to create fit-for-purpose products while managing operations. A proactive approach to manufacturing resilience enables companies to adapt to unexpected events and remain competitive. Successful attacks on manufacturing plants result in costly downtime. These costs include ransom payments, loss of revenue, and damage to plant equipment or people.
Implement a Security Policy
Manufacturing has benefited from digitization, but the increase in connectivity and automation has also made it a prime target for cyberattacks. These attacks pose operational, financial, and even life-threatening risks, and the industry must make cyber resilience a top priority. Implementing a security policy is an essential first step toward fortifying manufacturing against cyberattacks. Manufacturers should consider leveraging cybersecurity for the manufacturing industry and adopting best practices, including least privileged access, patch management, and regular risk assessments. Moreover, manufacturers should extend their cybersecurity strategies to their extended supply chain by sharing security protocols and educating suppliers on protecting their systems. Another essential factor for strengthening cybersecurity is implementing a culture of continuous improvement. Manufacturers should continually improve their security capabilities, including enhancing governance and establishing an incident response plan. Finally, they should consider implementing a holistic approach to security by integrating OT with IT and establishing a secure operational technology (OT) network. The manufacturing industry must take the lead in embracing and cultivating cyber resilience to safeguard its digital assets, avoid service interruptions and revenue losses, and preserve its reputation. In doing so, the industry will better protect the safety and integrity of critical infrastructure, benefit society as a whole, and help drive continued innovation.
Invest in a Secure Network
Resilience is a crucial manufacturing strategy to manage risks and maintain supply chain continuity. While risk-mitigation techniques can be costly, the competitive advantage resulting from resilience may more than offset the cost. A secure network is the foundation of a resilient manufacturer. It prevents a hacker from exploiting vulnerabilities and gaining access to the organization’s virtual assets. In addition, it allows businesses to continue operating during a cyberattack by utilizing VLAN segmentation, which prevents the attacker from spreading the attack across different networks. With ever-increasing sophisticated attacks, hefty ransomware demands, and a security talent shortage, manufacturers need more automation to keep up. This is especially true in the case of network security, where a large volume of alerts must be translated into risk-based actions. This is why a robust, unified security and observability platform is essential.
Automate Network Monitoring
Manufacturing is increasingly becoming a target of cyberattacks. The industry has been the most affected by ransomware attacks for the second year. The loss of critical data can cause production halts, revenue losses, damage to brand reputation, and even supply chain disruptions. That’s why, for many manufacturing companies, establishing an effective strategy for cyber resilience is no longer an option; it’s a necessity. These initiatives are essential components of a cyber-resilient manufacturing ecosystem, from conducting risk assessments and employee training to developing robust backup and recovery plans, incident response strategies, and proactive patch management. However, a significant challenge manufacturers face when implementing these strategies is the need for more visibility into their factory networks. Traditional methods for monitoring OT infrastructure require engineers to be physically present at data centers, which can be challenging with the proliferation of intelligent factories that contain thousands of endpoints and IoT devices. The good news is that leveraging network automation solutions can help to solve this problem and create a resilient network, thereby protecting against cyberattacks.
Train Employees
Cybersecurity attacks have become more prevalent and severe as humans become more reliant on technology. These attacks may result in data loss, extortion demands, and other financial damages that can have far-reaching consequences for businesses. The best defense against these threats is a robust cybersecurity strategy emphasizing employee training. This includes educating employees about cyber security, company policies, and incident reporting. Training can be done through seminars, classes, or online courses to help reduce negligence that could result in a cyber breach. This training also includes educating employees on being more vigilant about protecting their devices, using secure passwords, and avoiding clicking links in suspicious emails. Streamlining assembly line production methods is a great way to boost productivity and maximize efficiency. Even small inefficiencies can add up to much wasted time over days, weeks, and months. This is why starting with a definable goal and then breaking down the process into manageable components is essential. A solid cybersecurity commitment helps protect valuable assets, build customer trust, and comply with regulations.
Additionally, it can increase customer loyalty and lead to long-term relationships. In addition, demonstrating a dedication to security can provide a competitive advantage. Organizations should consider investing in this critical business area as the demand for cybersecurity professionals continues to rise.