Smart manufacturing techniques have driven productivity and innovation, improved product quality and boosted efficiency. But connected systems also bring increased risks. Manufacturing cybersecurity issues such as aging systems and supply chain vulnerabilities open the door for malicious actors.
In fact, a recent report from IBM indicates that manufacturing took over as the most attacked industry in 2021. Manufacturing poses an attractive target for several reasons. For instance, difficult-to-patch systems leave vulnerabilities for attackers to exploit. Additionally, disruptions to the supply chain make manufacturers more likely to pay ransoms.
Manufacturing processes depend on intricate, specialized machinery. Critical pieces of many systems have been in place for years, implemented before the need for internet connectivity. Consequently, it can prove difficult to keep key pieces of machinery up to date, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation.
For instance, although Microsoft stopped supporting Windows XP eight years ago, an estimated seven percent of the world’s computers still run XP. With a host of known vulnerabilities, XP puts these computers and the networks they run on at risk of attack.
Still, updating old systems can be a complex process, often creating a ripple effect, so some organizations continue to delay. Unfortunately, according to IBM, unpatched software accounted for nearly half of attacks on manufacturing in 2021.
Supply chains have been causing headaches in recent years for several reasons. In terms of cybersecurity, an interconnected supply chain gives attackers multiple points of possible entry into the corporate network.
For example, even though the main target may implement good cybersecurity controls, weaker organizations in the supply chain can prove easier to breach. And when vendors perform maintenance to manufacturing systems via remote access, the process opens additional entry points. Hackers exploit this access to install malware and conduct espionage.
Additionally, hackers take advantage of the trust that organizations have for companies in their supply chain. With stolen credentials from a vendor, they can impersonate a trusted source and launch a successful spear-phishing campaign.
With so much at stake, manufacturing companies need to take a closer look at their cybersecurity programs. Start with a few critical cybersecurity best practices, such as the following:
The manufacturing cybersecurity experts at eMazzanti provide the essential tools and expertise necessary to secure manufacturing operations. Beginning with a security assessment to identify vulnerabilities, they will tailor a cybersecurity solution to your needs and budget.
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