As manufacturing unfortunately now finds itself as the most targeted sector in terms of distribution of cyber-attacks worldwide, if you are not confident in your cyber security provision, now is the time to act. With 24.8% of attacks focusing on the sector, knowing what data you have, where it is and how it is used is essential to ensuring your company is capable of withstanding a cyber incident.,

With the increasing use of technology and the rapid pace of digitalisation in the manufacturing process, coupled with the realistic need to potentially retain legacy systems running on out-of-date software that cannot be updated due to cost or operational restrictions, cyber security threats are unfortunately a very real concern. Add to this the potential complexity of retrofitting modern technology in order to obtain data and insight from systems that are out of date, then the risk of cyber-attack raises exponentially.

The good news is that implementing the basics and ensuring these are done correctly can quickly introduce effective cyber protection foundations to your business to reduce risk and enable secure growth.

As everyone is too aware from the constant tirade of cyber news covered in the media, the complexity and sophistication of cyber criminals is on the up but often it’s the lack of the basic principles of cyber security that are at fault.

Manufacturers of all sizes need to ensure that their systems and data are secure and protected but where do you start, or how do you verify that what you have in place is appropriate for the size and complexity of your organisation?

Building Cyber Foundations for Sustainable Resilience

This check list of questions is a great way to consider the cyber resilience of your organisation:

Do you know what data you have, where it is stored, who has access to it and how well your data and systems are protected?

These are the basic questions every organisation should ask itself when thinking about their cyber security. If you are unsure, a Cyber Audit would provide the answers.

Are your systems monitored 24/7?

Implementing a Managed Detection & Response (MDR) solution provides continuous monitoring and visibility into your network for powerful insights that can automatically display suspicious activity and store rolling data in the cloud.

Are you aware of and do you manage your system vulnerabilities?

Testing your infrastructure with real life replicated Penetration Testing and Vulnerability scanning is important so you can understand your weakest areas, the degree of risk they offer a threat actor and remediate accordingly. It’s important to understand the difference between a vulnerability scan and a manual Penetration test as often the terminology can be used in the same context.

Is your system patching carried out as a continuous process?

Using a Patch Management module to accelerate identification, deployment, installation and verification of revisions, provides organisations with confidence that their systems are up to date and closes off attack vectors that could be exploited by criminals.

Do you have a Governance structure across the business that includes policies and procedures around cyber?

Effective Governance wraps all your controls together, protecting your business, people and assets. It should also provide an action plan should you suffer an attack which is crucial to mitigating the risk and strengthening the resilience of the business. From Cyber Essentials to ISO27001, implementing the right policies and procedures appropriate to your business also demonstrates to your supply chain that you take security seriously.

Is your workforce provided with cyber security awareness training?

Targeting your people and gaining access through human error is still one of the biggest attack vectors for cyber criminals. Providing all levels employees with training around key areas in cyber security is something that all business should provide if they are to reduce the risk of attack.

Do your digitalisation strategies include cyber security?

In a world of rapid digitalisation, AI, robotics and Smart factories, ensuring that your digital strategy encompasses cyber security is vital. Throughout the digital evolution of a manufacturing company considering the potential risk of widening the threat landscape is not to be ignored.

Do you verify that your Supply Chain is secure?

Attacks through the supply chains of manufacturing companies particularly if they involve global reach are regular. It is important not only to ensure your own organisation cyber security is strong but also any companies in your supply chain that could cause a risk. Imposing minimum requirements such as Cyber Essentials or equivalent is already in place throughout the public sector and we would recommend this for all businesses.

The Risk

Cyber-attacks have operational, financial, reputational and strategic implications manufacturing companies of which can incur huge costs, a loss of competitive advantage, denial of access or damage to operational systems including production facilities. Significantly, it can also negatively impact a manufacturer's trading reputation, leading to a loss of customers or suppliers.

Embedding security at the core of your business can not only strengthen your resilience to attack but also improve agility and competitive advantage of an organisation.

If you would like to book a free cyber health check call or find out more please contact us or email info@purecyber.com