Cyber Security Guidance for the Manufacturing Sector
The Cyber Resilience Centre are committed to supporting the manufacturing sector in the North West by offering a range of affordable cyber security services and guidance.
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The Cyber Resilience Centre supports the 15,000 manufacturers based across the North West in Cheshire, Cumbria, Liverpool, Manchester & more!
Did you know the UK Parliament says the manufacturing sector accounts for 9.2% of UK economic output?
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According to Make UK, around half of manufacturers have been victims of cybercrime in the last 12 months.
What cyber threats does the
Manufacturing Sector face?
Industrial Control System (ICS) Attacks
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ICSs are used to control and monitor industrial processes. Cybercriminals can target these systems to disrupt production or cause physical damage to equipment and machinery.
Intellectual Property Theft​
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Manufacturers often hold valuable IP such as designs, patents and trade secrets, which hackers for economic espionage can target.
Ransomware
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Ransomware attacks can lock manufacturers out of their computer systems and shut down production lines - with attackers demanding payment before restoring access. This can disrupt supply chains, cause financial losses and bring negative PR to your business.
Legacy System Vulnerabilities​
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Many manufacturing systems rely on legacy hardware and software that may not be updated with the latest security patches. As a result, these systems can be vulnerable to cyber attacks, especially if they are connected to the internet.
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Hackers often target the manufacturing industry's supply chain to gain access to systems and data. This can be done by compromising suppliers' systems or by intercepting communications.
Insider Threats​
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Disgruntled employees or contractors can threaten the manufacturing industry by stealing intellectual property or sabotaging systems.
Risk Scenario
Emily: Process Control Specialist
Emily works in a manufacturing plant and can access sensitive production data and industrial control systems. She often uses the plant's network to connect to these systems and frequently uses her laptop and mobile devices, which may not be secure or up-to-date with the latest security updates and patches.
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Emily sometimes forgets to log out of her devices and leaves them unattended in public places, which increases the risk of unauthorised access to the plant's data and systems.
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In addition, Emily uses weak passwords and sometimes reuses them across different accounts. She also does not use two-factor authentication, which could significantly reduce the risk of unauthorised access to the plant's network and systems.
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When working on the go, Emily always connects to the nearest public Wi-Fi network. Unfortunately, these can be easily compromised by cybercriminals. This puts the plant's data and systems at risk of interception and theft.
How can the Cyber Resilience Centre help you stay secure?
We can provide a range of affordable, professional cyber security services that help your manufacturing business assess, build and manage your cyber security capabilities, build confidence in your staff, understand your vulnerabilities and secure your business.
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You can also explore our Premium Membership, which includes a bespoke security awareness training program, allowing your business to train several cyber security champions and thoroughly assess your cyber risk.
Security Awareness Training​
Manufacturers regularly store, manage, and oversee valuable data from their suppliers and clients. You’re entrusted with sensitive business data; all your staff must know the latest cyber-related risks and cyber-attacks.
Secure your Digital Footprint​
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We can perform a comprehensive review of publicly available information about your business. This can help you learn what is being said about your company, what account details or passwords have been leaked or if there are any negative news stories or social media posts.
You must test your IT system configuration with a vulnerability assessment; this assessment uses the same techniques used by hackers to ensure your company is not wide open to a cyber attack.
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We have designed a Cyber Health Check to provide a summary of their cyber risks through a self-assessment questionnaire and police-certified recommendations report and action plan.
Do you have a Cyber Incident Response Plan?
We have created a Cyber Incident Response Pack, which contains documents to help support your organisation's plan for its response to a cyber incident.
These documents are designed to complement any existing plans or assist you in creating one.
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The Incident Response Pack includes:
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Incident Guide Introduction
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Prepare Your Business Checklist
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Emergency Contact List Template
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Incident Response Communications
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Legal Implications of a Cyber Incident
