Top three tips for cybersecurity in Manufacturing 

Tips for cybersecurity in Manufacturing 

Cybersecurity in the manufacturing industry is becoming increasingly critical as companies rely more on technology and interconnected systems to drive efficiency, productivity and innovation.  

The industry has seen a surge in cyber-attacks and data breaches, which have resulted in significant financial losses and reputational damage. With the integration of information technology (IT) and operational technology (OT) systems, the risks are even higher, making it crucial for manufacturers to adopt the right security measures to protect their systems. 

As a result, manufacturers must take proactive steps to ensure the protection of their intellectual property, production processes, and sensitive data.  

In this blog, we will walk through our top three tips for protecting these valuable assets in the manufacturing industry. 

The ramifications of ransomware in manufacturing

Ransomware attacks are a growing threat to the manufacturing industry, causing significant harm to companies, their operations, and customers. According to a recent report, the manufacturing industry was the third-most targeted sector for ransomware attacks in 2022. 

The ramifications of a ransomware attack can be far-reaching, and the impact of such an attack on the manufacturing industry can be especially devastating. 

There are several ways these attacks affect manufacturers, including:  

  1. Production disruptions and financial loss: Manufacturing companies rely on their operational technology (OT) systems to manage production processes and keep their facilities running smoothly. A ransomware attack on these systems can cause production disruptions and significant financial losses. This could be because the production lines stop working, the company cannot access essential data or the attacker demands payment, which would impact the bottom line. 
  1. IP theft and damage to brand reputation: In addition to production disruptions, a ransomware attack can also result in the theft of the manufacturer’s intellectual property (IP). This could include confidential business information, trade secrets, or other proprietary information. The theft of IP can have serious long-term consequences for the company, including damage to its reputation, decreased competitiveness, and lost business opportunities. 
  1. Compliance violations: Many manufacturing companies must comply with regulations, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), that dictate how they manage and protect customer data. A ransomware attack that results in the theft of customer data can lead to compliance violations and legal liabilities. This can result in fines and other penalties, as well as harm to the company’s reputation and credibility. 
  1. Dependence on third-party contractors: The manufacturing industry often relies on third-party contractors to provide critical services, such as IT and cybersecurity support. If a third-party contractor’s systems are infected with ransomware, the attacker may be able to access the manufacturing company’s network and compromise its systems. This dependence on third-party contractors highlights the importance of cybersecurity risk management and the need for companies to take proactive steps to secure their networks and systems. 

To mitigate the risk of a ransomware attack, manufacturers must prioritize cybersecurity and take a proactive approach to protect their networks and systems. 

Top tips for cybersecurity in manufacturing 

  • Conduct Regular Risk Assessments and Vulnerability Scanning 

The first tip for improving cybersecurity in the manufacturing industry is to conduct regular risk assessments and vulnerability scanning. This will help to identify any potential weaknesses in your systems and networks and provide you with the information needed to implement the right security measures. By conducting regular assessments, you can stay ahead of the latest threats and make sure that your systems are protected against them. 

Difenda provides a comprehensive risk assessment and vulnerability scanning solution that can help manufacturers to identify and mitigate potential security risks. The solution uses advanced technologies and threat intelligence to conduct thorough assessments, providing you with a detailed report of your current security posture. 

Discover how a detailed OT assessment can help identify and solve gaps in your network with the sample OT Environment Assessment Report.

  • Implement Strong Access Control and Authentication Measures 

Access control and authentication are essential for maintaining the security of your systems and networks. By implementing strong access control measures, you can ensure that only authorized individuals have access to sensitive information and intellectual property. This can help to prevent data breaches and cyber attacks from occurring. 

Difenda provides a comprehensive access control and authentication solution that can help manufacturers to secure their systems and networks. The solution uses multi-factor authentication and user-behavior analytics to detect and prevent unauthorized access, ensuring that your systems are protected at all times. 

  • Implement Continuous Monitoring and Threat Detection 

Finally, it is crucial to implement continuous monitoring and threat detection in your manufacturing environment. This will help to identify any potential security threats and provide you with the information needed to take immediate action. By implementing continuous monitoring, you can ensure that your systems and networks are protected against the latest threats, even when they change or evolve. 

Difenda provides a comprehensive continuous monitoring and threat detection solution that can help manufacturers to stay ahead of the latest threats. The solution uses advanced technologies and threat intelligence to detect and prevent potential security incidents, providing you with the information you need to take immediate action. 

Learn more about MXDR for OT service components in the service brief here.

Proactive Preparation

Although no one can determine exactly when a cybersecurity attack will happen, we know it will happen repeatedly without the proper security precautions in place. 55% of manufacturing and production organizations were hit by ransomware in 202 The trajectory of events is on the rise and now is the time to tighten up OT cybersecurity in manufacturing.  

Cloud-based, highly modular, and automated cybersecurity architecture makes it much more practical for manufacturers to control the uncontrollable.  

When dealing with extremely sensitive information, like IP data, the situation is critical.  

With Difenda, manufacturers can proactively protect their networks and systems, reducing the risk of a ransomware attack and minimizing the impact of any attack that does occur. Additionally, Difenda’s MXDR for OT services are designed to help manufacturers comply with regulations and best practices, reducing their risk of compliance violations and legal liabilities. 

By following these top three tips and utilizing Difenda’s solutions, manufacturers can improve their cybersecurity posture and protect their sensitive information and intellectual property from cyber attacks. 

Protect your organization from downtime and service interruptions. Download your copy of the MXDR for OT eBook to learn more about our 5-step process.

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Ken Perkins

Biography coming soon.

Megan Miller

Megan Miller’s energy and passion for learning flow into all aspects of her work. As the Growth Manager, North America, she brings a background in sciences which she has transitioned to the tech sector in her role at Difenda.

With a Bachelors of Science in Geology, Megan is a lifelong learner who is voracious about learning anything she can get her hands on about cybersecurity. Her positive energy has built a sales strategy with a focus on expanding in the United States while nurturing the Canadian presence. She is responsible for recruiting and training the sales team. Together with the company’s leadership, she creates the sales process and the company’s product strategy in order to better serve the customer base. This ensures that our customers have a highly trained and highly motivated team to help them every step of the way, Megan has completed Microsoft SC-900 training and working towards mastering Microsoft.

Whether at work or play, Megan is fully committed. She took her love of hockey all the way to the semi-professional level as a competitive hockey player. Megan loves all things sports including water skiing, scuba diving, cycling, and snowboarding. She also enjoys time with family and reading about alternative energy, innovation, and cybersecurity.

Natasha Phanor

As the Microsoft Partner Manager at Difenda, Natasha Phanor is responsible for driving growth within our Microsoft Partnership. With six years in the industry, she offers a fresh, energetic approach, and the ability to focus on our customer’s needs throughout the entire process. Natasha has the innate ability to foresee customer needs and solve problems before they arise, which creates a smooth road for each customer she encounters.

As the recipient of the Outstanding Services Partner of the Year Award in 2018, it is clear that Natasha responds quickly to customer needs, creates a platform for understanding a customer’s business requirements, and walks them through the process to ensure their complete satisfaction.

In her spare time, Natasha is as energetic and passionate as she is on the job. A self-proclaimed foodie-extraordinaire, she enjoys dinner parties, traveling, downhill skiing, hiking, biking, and reading. Natasha has a Bachelor of Fine Arts, specializing in Dance, from Ryerson University.

Lisa Templeton

Lisa Templeton is the perfect combination of human empathy and technological prowess. In her role as People Services Manager, she takes care of our team members to support them in their daily work, as well as on their personal life paths. Happy employees make for happy customers, and Lisa excels in giving our employees the tools they need for success in order to become the best possible versions of themselves. Along with employee formation, she shines in the service delivery support domain to continuously improve the process. Her 24 years of experience in IT Operations and Service Management help her create quality and efficiency at Difenda.

Having attended the Information Systems Management certificate program at Ryerson University, and with various other certifications to her credit, Lisa is perceptive and innovative when it comes to information technology, but also sensitive to the needs of her human constituents. Responsible for achieving the first privately owned company HDI Support Center certification in Canada, she has also designed and implemented Service Management excellence programs and 24×7 IT Operations departments for multiple IT organizations, and has created corporate rewards and recognition programs to keep her employees engaged and motivated.

On the personal side, Lisa passionately supports the cause of breast cancer research, having lost her mother to the disease. She reads voraciously in her spare time, and enjoys the art of home renovation. The summer months also bring time on her boat and exploring new hiking trails.

Miranda McCurdy

Miranda McCurdy uses her myriad super powers in all aspects of her job and personal life. As the Marketing Director at Difenda, Miranda McCurdy brings over a decade of experience to the table, which includes expertise in all facets of operations, brand management, and content marketing, as well as a multitude of successful strategies for the ever-expanding digital world. She is an expert at simplifying the message the company is trying to send, filling in gaps in the information, and strengthening the content in order to create compelling narratives that strengthen the brand and developing programs that bring teams together.

With several Addy Awards issued by the American Advertising Federation Cleveland to her credit, and her never say die attitude, Miranda understands both the broader picture and the minute details that are needed to successfully market a product. With her abilities to harness both the talent needed to spread the message, as well as to create the message itself, she is an integral cog in the company’s ability to communicate with customers and other stakeholders.

When she is not building a brand, she shares her ability to fill the gaps in her community by volunteering with Habitat for Humanity, the Special Olympics, and the Charleston Food Bank. In her spare time, Miranda spends time with her family, enjoys fitness and health, paddle boarding, reading, and arts and crafts.

Juliana Zaremba

Connections are the name of the game for Juliana Zaremba. As Strategic Partnerships Director, she is responsible for Difenda’s channel partnerships and the development and ownership of the channel partner program. She is also responsible for the global Microsoft Partnership, including the creation of strategic plans with MSFT contacts that will facilitate the continued growth of the business and establish certification and training protocols in all security technologies. Her role is multifaceted, as she acquires partners, manages relationships with them, and develops strategies that will provide cutting edge security solutions to our customer base. Another integral aspect of her job is to facilitate growth.

With a Bachelor’s in Math from the University of Waterloo and 14 years of experience from her previous roles at Herjavec Group and CDW, her cutting edge focus and ability to develop long-lasting relationships and strategies provides world class security solutions to our customer base.

Juliana thrives on connections outside of work as well. She is a philanthropist and contributor with Women4Change based in Hamilton. This group of local women is passionate about supporting local causes, and she focuses her efforts around Women in STEM. She is also a member of Club Italia in Niagara Falls and supports their youth events throughout the year.

When not managing the Microsoft Global partnership, Juliana enjoys reading, often reading several books at once. Juliana enjoys exploring the Niagara Escarpment with her family, as well as sharing meals and experiences with her extended family. Juliana’s competitive nature has her always trying new things, like Whoop band challenges and Peloton.

Jeffry Jacob

Biography Coming Soon