Cybersecurity and manufacturing

Integrating cybersecurity and manufacturing processes

The manufacturing sector is an attractive target for cybercriminals. In 2021, 50 percent of U.S. manufacturing companies reported having succumbed to a data breach within the past year, and in 2022, the U.S. industrial sector saw 605 successful ransomware attacks.

The threats to cybersecurity in manufacturing companies are the result of several key factors. With manufacturers relying heavily on supply chains, cybercriminals find it easy to target a company by first breaching the defenses of a vendor or supplier. The rise of the industrial Internet of Things and smart manufacturing networks has dramatically expanded the attack surface, exposing industrial control systems and operational technology to potential attacks. Additionally, many manufacturers still rely on legacy systems that were not designed for the challenges to cybersecurity in manufacturing in the 21st century.

When you’re seeking solutions to protect your business, your facility, and your manufacturing processes with smart security services, Spectrum Enterprise can help. We offer an array of security solutions and managed services that identify, mitigate and stop attacks before they happen, keeping your operations running and your intellectual property secure.
 

Threats to cybersecurity in manufacturing

When managing cybersecurity and edge computing security, your IT teams must defend against several key threats.

• Ransomware. In a ransomware attack, threat actors encrypt files within an IT environment to prevent users from accessing business-critical data, demanding a ransom in exchange for decryption keys. In an industry with intense pressure around production targets, ransomware attacks can be highly effective.
• Supply chain attacks. These attacks take advantage of the fact that, while your own security posture may be strong, the security controls of your vendors and suppliers may not be effective. By infiltrating the network of a third-party provider, attackers can then surreptitiously launch subsequent attacks on your systems.
• IoT attacks. While the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) is revolutionizing the manufacturing sector, it’s also creating lots of new potential entry points for attackers. Many IoT devices do not have adequate security features to protect against intrusion, and attackers may use these devices to access other IT assets, manipulate processes, cause delays or disrupt business.
• ICS attacks. Attackers frequently target the automated industrial control systems (ICS) that run manufacturing operations. By gaining access to your ICS systems, threat actors can disrupt processes, compromise product quality, damage equipment or cause security incidents.
• Phishing. With legacy equipment, patchwork security solutions, and large workforces with uneven security training, the manufacturing industry is especially vulnerable to phishing attacks. These attacks use deceptive email messages or websites to trick employees into revealing sensitive data like login credentials that attackers can use to access accounts or IT environments.
• Intellectual property theft. The theft of intellectual property can result in significant loss of revenue and business opportunity. This type of attack may be carried out by malicious insiders as well as external threat actors seeking to steal trade secrets after gaining unauthorized access to a network.

Spectrum Enterprise solutions for cybersecurity and manufacturing

At Spectrum Enterprise, we offer comprehensive solutions that can keep your manufacturing organization connected, efficient and secure. Our customized technology solutions create a foundation for innovation to help you drive operational improvements and keep your systems, people and data secure.

Our network services and cloud-based security products are designed to scale with your business, fending off threats to cybersecurity and manufacturing processes.

• Secure Access with Cisco Duo protects your organization from unauthorized access to sensitive systems, regulatory violations and data loss that can disrupt business. Multi-factor authentication (MFA), Zero Trust network access (ZTNA) and identity management capabilities enable your IT team to set access policies by user and device, no matter where they are connecting from.
• Cloud Security with Cisco+ Secure Connect provides a centralized, streamlined platform to simplify IT operations while strengthening defenses against threats to cybersecurity and manufacturing environments. Cloud-based firewalls and ZTNA technology helps enforce security measures and device postures. Secure connectivity eliminates the need to backhaul remote and branch traffic through the corporate LAN for security inspection. A cloud access security broker (CASB) gives users secure, direct access to the cloud applications they need.
• DDoS Protection. Our DDoS Protection service shields manufacturing systems and applications from volumetric DDoS attacks. This solution automatically detects and granularly blocks attacking traffic to mitigate the impact of DDoS threats and ensure business continuity for employees and customers.
• Network security. Our Managed Network Edge and Enterprise Network Edge solutions provide integrated network security solutions to protect your users, data and network infrastructure. These comprehensive network-based solutions can be customized for your needs to protect against internal and external threats at your network perimeter and within your LAN.
• Secure remote access. Our custom remote access services enable secure and seamless remote access to your corporate resources no matter where your users are working. 

An all-in-one solution for cybersecurity and manufacturing productivity

Along with solutions for cybersecurity in manufacturing environments, we offer an all-in-one solution to efficiently and securely connect your network to the production floor. Our Managed Workplace Package with Smart Spaces makes it easy to deploy a robust and highly scalable network and manage multiple network components. With this smart factory and smart manufacturing solution, you can connect your machines, equipment and devices to your digital network, and integrate the network with physical workspaces to keep your facilities connected, productive and protected.

Whether you’re operating in the field of automotive, apparel, construction, cosmetics, or oil and gas, our Managed Workplace Package will help streamline your operations and enhance business communication. You choose the services that are right for your business – from advanced security and high-performance connectivity to WiFi, smart cameras and environmental sensors.
 

Why customers choose Spectrum Enterprise

At Spectrum Enterprise, we help organizations realize their boldest ambitions. The largest businesses and communication service providers in the nation rely on us to be an exceptional partner and deliver the latest technology. After analyzing the unique technology needs of each customer, our teams of experts design plans that meet objectives with efficient, reliable and scalable solutions that promote growth.

The foundation of all our offerings is a wholly owned fiber network that is engineered for growth. Offering a broad portfolio of solutions for connectivity, networking, managed services, security, TV, voice and collaboration, we help customers evolve and scale to achieve and maintain competitiveness.

Customers choose Spectrum Enterprise for our deep expertise and our dedicated team members who bring a tireless work ethic, unmatched commitment and hands-on local support to every engagement.
 

FAQs

What is the role of cybersecurity in manufacturing?

Manufacturing companies are particularly vulnerable to cybersecurity threats, since operational technology (OT) is part of legacy systems that are typically not adequately protected from IT threats. Additionally, the use of Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) networks has vastly expanded the attack surface for manufacturers, offering threat actors many more points of entry. Solutions for cybersecurity in manufacturing environments can help by providing multiple layers of protections to stop attacks like ransomware, phishing, data breaches and theft of intellectual property.
 

What is IIoT?

The Internet of Things (IoT) is a network of sensors, machines and devices that collect and share vast amounts of data, enabling users to make more effective business or IT decisions. Industrial IoT (IIoT) networks use IoT technology in an industrial setting to monitor, analyze and control industrial operations. IIoT networks help to boost efficiency, increase safety, improve processes and enhance quality. IIoT is a crucial part of business network modernization for companies in the manufacturing sector.