Cybersecurity Threats to Manufacturing in 2023

The Top Cybersecurity Threats to Manufacturing in 2023

By the end of 2021, the manufacturing industry was one of the most targeted by cybercriminals. This trend has continued into 2022 with 51% of manufacturers reporting that they had experienced a cyber related attack. The most common types of attacks they reported were phishing. This attack type was reported by 73% of respondents. These phishing attacks were executed on unsuspecting remote workers who were granted remote access to the manufacturing facility’s network. This widens the attack surface opportunity and that is the root cause of most of these attacks.

Cybersecurity threats to manufacturing in 2023 are expected to rise. To diminish this risk, manufacturers must have a thorough plan in place to spot and mitigate these cyberthreats. Working with a managed service provider like Tekscape will help protect your manufacturing business from cyberthreats. As an accomplished managed service provider for manufacturing, we offer cybersecurity, cloud technology, and collaboration services. Going with a managed service provider for your manufacturing company in 2023 can provide several benefits including reduced labor costs, increased operational efficiency, easy implementation of new technology, and access to 24/7 technical support.

We wish you a healthy and prosperous holiday and new year. Please read on to learn more about the cybersecurity threats to manufacturing in 2023.

Malware Infections

The manufacturing industry has turned to cloud data to achieve “smart factory” status. Although cloud services in manufacturing have certainly improved the industry, it has also opened doors for malware to easily infiltrate the system. Once that door is open even more serious attacks can occur. To avoid malware attacks to your manufacturing business in 2023, use the following three methods to mitigate and respond to threats.

Use security tools – Consult with a managed service provider on how to use their security tools to detect malicious files and applications. These tools consistently monitor your network and quickly make you aware of security breaches. They also do penetration testing which will make you aware of any cybersecurity flaws in your network.

Follow a zero-trust model – One of the mottos we tell our manufacturing clients when referencing the possibility of a cyberattack is that it is not a matter of if, but when. Despite having a thorough cybersecurity plan in place, you should always assume that there will be a breach. Breaches can be lessened by implementing multi factor authentication as a way to access the facility’s systems.

Segment your manufacturing facility’s networks – Ask your managed service provider about separating your network into smaller ones that are interconnected with each other. If there is a malware attack, it will help you reduce your damages by affecting only a small part of the network.

Cybersecurity Threats to Manufacturing in 2023
Cybersecurity Threats to Manufacturing in 2023

DDoS Attacks

A DDoS attack or distributed denial of service attack involves an attacker flooding your server with connection requests that are malicious. These requests are done by using a cluster of computers and the end result is an overload to the server and the denial of browsing to serious users. 

To avoid DDoS attacks, you will want to keep a backup internet connection with a separate group of IP addresses. These will be used if you experience a DDoS attack. You can also work with your MSP to closely monitor your traffic and filter it by having your managed service provider configure your firewall.

Data Breaches
This is one of the biggest threats to the manufacturing industry because of the sheer amount of data a facility may contain. The increased usage of personal devices has led to the steady increase of data breaches in the manufacturing industry. Password sharing has also contributed to it. 

If a manufacturing facility is host to a cloud environment and the data is stored there, there are definitely risks associated with it. A single vulnerability in a cloud environment can make the whole environment susceptible to attacks in the future. Here are some ways to prevent data breaches at your manufacturing facility.

• All data should be encrypted before it is stored in the cloud environment.
• Educate employees on the dangers of password sharing and make sure they change their passwords on a regular basis.
• Only give access to the people who really need it. Not everyone needs access to your cloud environment.

 

Tekscape assists with solutions for effective and safe digital technologies, the right plant and office infrastructure, which leads to process improvements and a new level of efficiency. Managed service providers for manufacturing provide continuous 24/7 technical support. Contact us today to learn more about our digital transformations for manufacturing.