Cybersecurity Checklist for Manufacturing: 5 Key Points

Unplanned downtime is widely recognized as the biggest enemy of production. From the executive office to the supply chain to the manufacturing floor, all personnel are diligently striving to maintain operational continuity.

In cyberspace, a Thanos-like menace exists, poised to “snap” production if specific demands are not fulfilled. These attacks can manifest in several forms, including ransomware, backdoors, and spearphishing. IBM’s X-Force Threat Intelligence Index indicates that the industrial sector was the most targeted industry in 2023.

The threats to manufacturing are considerable. Besides incurring financial losses from delay and extortion, businesses jeopardize their reputation and risk being the subject of media scrutiny.

Most critically, infiltrating an Industrial Control System (ICS) may threaten worker safety by causing physical damage to machinery or processes that necessitate human intervention for repairs.

When contemplating the implementation of AI-driven machine health, which cybersecurity measures should be taken into account in manufacturing?

5 Key Points in Cybersecurity Checklist For Manufacturing

#1: To Integrate or Not to Integrate

Most machine health companies combine their solutions with pre-existing customer data sources to deliver value. The intricate IT infrastructure demands for integration with an ICS can take considerable time to navigate. Time equates to financial value.

Nevertheless, not all machine health solutions necessitate this connectivity. Certain systems are inherently secure and function independently of a manufacturer’s ICS. In isolated architecture, software components are encapsulated and function separately.

This technique offers dependability and scalability, which are crucial when integrating machine health across numerous machines and necessitating rapid ROI.

#2: Agreement with Stringent Standards

The International Organization for Standardization, commonly referred to as ISO, consists of global experts who establish standards for the protection of sensitive information.

Numerous advantages accompany conformity with ISO 27001 and ISO 9001 standards. In summary, when a solution complies with these requirements, clients can trust their vendor’s:

• Risk management.
• Resilience to cyberattacks/preparation for new threats.
• Consistency/reliability in processes and outputs.
• Operational excellence.
• Constant improvement of quality, efficiency, and effectiveness.

Likewise, data and privacy legislation have been implemented in other regions, particularly the European Union’s GDPR and California’s CCPA. Vendors that comply with these standards exhibit rigorous data management methods aimed at safeguarding client privacy.

#3: Encryption

Encryption is an essential best practice that safeguards sensitive information from unauthorized access. Alongside compliance with the aforementioned ISO criteria, encryption:

• Mitigates the risk of data breaches during data movement.
• Facilitates the detection of attempted breaches by identifying illegal alterations or tampering.

The most effective security globally is established upon fundamental security principles. Ensure that your machine health vendor encrypts data during transit and while at rest in storage devices.

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#4: Multi-Tenant Platform

Machine health solutions catering to various clients must ensure the security and confidentiality of each client’s data. A multi-tenant platform guarantees that a customer’s data is stored and processed within its own segregated environment.

Data segregation guarantees that each customer’s data is distinct and inaccessible to other consumers utilizing the platform. Additional segregation occurs based on data classification and may involve keeping specific data categories in distinct, encrypted databases with more stringent access constraints.

What is the outcome? Customer data of a sensitive nature is processed and kept in the cloud, safeguarded by its isolation and classification level, hence enhancing security against cyber threats.

#5: Penetration Testing

Simulations provide a secure method for evaluating various scenarios. Proactive vendors perform penetration testing, which replicates a genuine attack on their systems. This exercise reveals potential vulnerabilities when the hypothetical attacker attempts to exploit the system.

The outcomes of penetration testing identify vulnerabilities, evaluate the consequences of a prospective breach, and prioritize remediation to safeguard against actual security threats.

Cybersecurity: An Ongoing Practice

Managing cyber risk is an ongoing endeavor. Cybersecurity in manufacturing is a continual effort. Upon selecting a machine health vendor, both parties must remain perpetually alert in safeguarding data and systems.

Regrettably, irrespective of the brilliance of new technology, there will perpetually be malicious individuals seeking to abuse it for personal advantage. There is no justification for fearing AI-driven solutions for the manufacturing floor; yet, it serves as a reminder to cultivate discipline and pose inquiries that will enable you to stay ahead of cybercriminals.