Manufacturing Cybersecurity Threats to Look Out for
And how to protect against them.
By: Drew Dinan | PCR Business Systems
At PCR Business Systems, we are fortunate for the opportunity to assist local manufacturing companies with one of the most important components of their operations—their technology. Whether through implementing new software to maximize efficiency and get a leg up on the competition, or working to shore up their manufacturing cybersecurity controls to prevent a cyber-attack, when one of our partners succeeds, we succeed.
One of the downsides to working in the manufacturing cybersecurity industry, however, is when a local business comes to us after they’ve been attacked. Usually, this occurs because their current IT provider did not have the proper manufacturing cybersecurity controls in place, or they failed to have a cybersecurity pen test performed and were unaware of the vulnerabilities in their security.
Often, these businesses did not have a working backup and disaster recovery plan in place either. They come to us to help them pick up the pieces and we see first-hand the devastation that a cyber-attack leaves in its wake. Please don’t become another statistic. Preventing a manufacturing cybersecurity breach or cyber-attack is a lot less costly and time consuming than recovering from one.
Here are the top 3 manufacturing cybersecurity threats Northeast Ohio businesses need to look out for (and what you can do today to protect against them).
Manufacturing Cybersecurity Threat 1: Attacks Against Connected Devices
As the number of connected IoT (internet of things) sensors and devices grow, the more manufacturing cybersecurity vulnerabilities are created. Connected devices, if not secured properly, can create entry points into your network or operations that hackers can exploit.
A famous example of this was when a casino was hacked through their internet connected fish tank thermometer! Cybercriminals exploited a vulnerability in the thermostat to gain access to the casino’s network, where they were able to access private information about the high rollers that frequented the gaming facility.
As soon as an IoT device is installed, it’s a target for a manufacturing cybersecurity attack.
What you can do to avoid manufacturing cybersecurity threats:
- Keep all devices up to date with the latest patches
- Only connect necessary devices to the network
- Get a FREE Cybersecurity Penetration Test
- Install a firewall for all connected devices
- Only install devices from reputable companies that are patchable
- Have an end-of-life plan for devices and sensors that are out of date
- Educate your staff on manufacturing cybersecurity best practices
Manufacturing Cybersecurity Threat 2: Ransomware Attacks
Nowadays, everyone is familiar with ransomware attacks, or when malicious software locks your files and a cybercriminal demands payment to get them back. Yet, many Northeast Ohio manufacturing executives still underestimate the threats to their businesses. According to Norton, one of the leading antivirus providers, ransomware attacks are up 85% since 2022, with a staggering 4,000 attacks occurring every day. They also estimate that half of businesses reported losses from a ransomware attack in 2021, costing over $400 million.
These statistics are probably nothing new for you to read. But the importance of having a proactive manufacturing cybersecurity plan in place cannot be understated. You work countless hours to make your business profitable and to make a living. Hackers work just as hard to take that from you.
Don’t ignore the risk of ransomware attacks. Make sure you manufacturing cybersecurity is up to date, and that your staff knows what to look out for regarding suspicious emails and cyberthreats to your business.
What you can do to avoid manufacturing cybersecurity threats:
- Don’t click suspicious emails
- Contact senders before clicking if you have any doubts about the authenticity of an email
- Educate yourself and your staff on common ransomware scams to look out for
- Keep your IT systems up to date with the latest patches
- Don’t work with managed IT providers that are not SOC 2 Certified. Hackers are increasingly targeting IT service providers and vendors who do not have the proper security controls in place
Manufacturing Cybersecurity Threat 3: Phishing Scams
Like ransomware, you are also probably familiar with phishing scams in which cybercriminals try and get you to click a link, download an attachment, or divulge personal information by getting you to think a call or email is authentic.
Many people assume that phishing attacks are not a risk because they think they know what to look out for. Unfortunately, even those who are educated in common phishing scams often let their guards down and become victims themselves. How often do we glance at our business emails while walking down the sidewalk or even when stopped at a red light? It’s easy to not properly inspect an email when we see a contact or organization that we are familiar with.
But that’s what hackers are shooting for. They wait for you to make a mistake. A common tactic is for hackers to monitor your email interactions and then pose as a co-worker or company that you have been communicating with— eventually asking you to transfer money or divulge private information. This happened to a local construction company a few years ago when a hacker posed as a seller in a deal for heavy machinery. The construction company was seconds away from wiring $15,000 to the cybercriminal’s account when they discovered the transaction was a scam.
What you can do to avoid manufacturing cybersecurity threats:
- Always use multi-factor authentication
- Never give out credentials online or over the phone
- Always confirm the validity of emails before clicking a link, downloading, or sending personal information or money
- Educate remote staff on phishing scams to look out for and manufacturing cybersecurity best practices
- Protect, secure, and logout of all devices whether at work or at home (including not letting kids have access to your work computer or phone)
These are just three of the manufacturing cybersecurity threats that business owners and staff need to look out for. Hackers are constantly finding new ways to target manufacturing firms, including attacks against artificial intelligence, supply chains, social engineering, and more.
The most important thing is to stay vigilant and make sure your manufacturing cybersecurity controls are up to date. A good way to ensure there are no vulnerabilities in your network is with the FREE cybersecurity pen test we are offering Northeast Ohio manufacturers.
The pen test is the most accurate way to discover (and have time to fix) any vulnerabilities in your systems and processes before a hacker can exploit them. Learn more.
At PCR Business Systems, we are fortunate for the opportunity to assist local manufacturing companies with one of the most important components of their operations—their technology. Whether through implementing new software to maximize efficiency and get a leg up on the competition, or working to shore up their manufacturing cybersecurity controls to prevent a cyber-attack, when one of our partners succeeds, we succeed.
One of the downsides to working in the manufacturing cybersecurity industry, however, is when a local business comes to us after they’ve been attacked. Usually, this occurs because their current IT provider did not have the proper manufacturing cybersecurity controls in place, or they failed to have a cybersecurity pen test performed and were unaware of the vulnerabilities in their security.
Often, these businesses did not have a working backup and disaster recovery plan in place either. They come to us to help them pick up the pieces and we see first-hand the devastation that a cyber-attack leaves in its wake. Please don’t become another statistic. Preventing a manufacturing cybersecurity breach or cyber-attack is a lot less costly and time consuming than recovering from one.
Here are the top 3 manufacturing cybersecurity threats Northeast Ohio businesses need to look out for (and what you can do today to protect against them).
Manufacturing Cybersecurity Threat 1: Attacks Against Connected Devices
As the number of connected IoT (internet of things) sensors and devices grow, the more manufacturing cybersecurity vulnerabilities are created. Connected devices, if not secured properly, can create entry points into your network or operations that hackers can exploit.
A famous example of this was when a casino was hacked through their internet connected fish tank thermometer! Cybercriminals exploited a vulnerability in the thermostat to gain access to the casino’s network, where they were able to access private information about the high rollers that frequented the gaming facility.
As soon as an IoT device is installed, it’s a target for a manufacturing cybersecurity attack.
What you can do to avoid manufacturing cybersecurity threats:
- Keep all devices up to date with the latest patches
- Only connect necessary devices to the network
- Get a FREE Cybersecurity Penetration Test
- Install a firewall for all connected devices
- Only install devices from reputable companies that are patchable
- Have an end-of-life plan for devices and sensors that are out of date
- Educate your staff on manufacturing cybersecurity best practices
Manufacturing Cybersecurity Threat 2: Ransomware Attacks
Nowadays, everyone is familiar with ransomware attacks, or when malicious software locks your files and a cybercriminal demands payment to get them back. Yet, many Northeast Ohio manufacturing executives still underestimate the threats to their businesses. According to Norton, one of the leading antivirus providers, ransomware attacks are up 85% since 2022, with a staggering 4,000 attacks occurring every day. They also estimate that half of businesses reported losses from a ransomware attack in 2021, costing over $400 million.
These statistics are probably nothing new for you to read. But the importance of having a proactive manufacturing cybersecurity plan in place cannot be understated. You work countless hours to make your business profitable and to make a living. Hackers work just as hard to take that from you.
Don’t ignore the risk of ransomware attacks. Make sure you manufacturing cybersecurity is up to date, and that your staff knows what to look out for regarding suspicious emails and cyberthreats to your business.
What you can do to avoid manufacturing cybersecurity threats:
- Don’t click suspicious emails
- Contact senders before clicking if you have any doubts about the authenticity of an email
- Educate yourself and your staff on common ransomware scams to look out for
- Keep your IT systems up to date with the latest patches
- Don’t work with managed IT providers that are not SOC 2 Certified. Hackers are increasingly targeting IT service providers and vendors who do not have the proper security controls in place
Manufacturing Cybersecurity Threat 3: Phishing Scams
Like ransomware, you are also probably familiar with phishing scams in which cybercriminals try and get you to click a link, download an attachment, or divulge personal information by getting you to think a call or email is authentic.
Many people assume that phishing attacks are not a risk because they think they know what to look out for. Unfortunately, even those who are educated in common phishing scams often let their guards down and become victims themselves. How often do we glance at our business emails while walking down the sidewalk or even when stopped at a red light? It’s easy to not properly inspect an email when we see a contact or organization that we are familiar with.
But that’s what hackers are shooting for. They wait for you to make a mistake. A common tactic is for hackers to monitor your email interactions and then pose as a co-worker or company that you have been communicating with— eventually asking you to transfer money or divulge private information. This happened to a local construction company a few years ago when a hacker posed as a seller in a deal for heavy machinery. The construction company was seconds away from wiring $15,000 to the cybercriminal’s account when they discovered the transaction was a scam.
What you can do to avoid manufacturing cybersecurity threats:
- Always use multi-factor authentication
- Never give out credentials online or over the phone
- Always confirm the validity of emails before clicking a link, downloading, or sending personal information or money
- Educate remote staff on phishing scams to look out for and manufacturing cybersecurity best practices
- Protect, secure, and logout of all devices whether at work or at home (including not letting kids have access to your work computer or phone)
These are just three of the manufacturing cybersecurity threats that business owners and staff need to look out for. Hackers are constantly finding new ways to target manufacturing firms, including attacks against artificial intelligence, supply chains, social engineering, and more.
The most important thing is to stay vigilant and make sure your manufacturing cybersecurity controls are up to date. A good way to ensure there are no vulnerabilities in your network is with the FREE cybersecurity pen test we are offering Northeast Ohio manufacturers.
The pen test is the most accurate way to discover (and have time to fix) any vulnerabilities in your systems and processes before a hacker can exploit them. Learn more.
