Cyberattacks on manufacturers are no longer hypothetical—they're the new normal. From ransomware shutting down production lines to remote access breaches stealing intellectual property, threat actors are increasingly targeting operational technology (OT) environments.
Why? Because manufacturers are vulnerable, valuable, and often under protected.
If you're in manufacturing and still treating cybersecurity like a back-office IT concern, it's time to rethink your priorities. Here's what's driving the surge in attacks on manufacturers—and how CyberWatch from Affiliated is helping industrial clients detect and shut down threats before they disrupt operations.
Why Manufacturers Are Being Targeted
Manufacturing networks are a blend of old and new technologies. Many industrial control systems (ICS) were built decades ago with zero consideration for modern threats and cybersecurity protocols. Meanwhile, digital transformation initiatives are rapidly connecting those legacy systems to IT networks, cloud platforms, and external vendors.
That combination creates a perfect storm:
- Unpatched legacy systems with known vulnerabilities
- Lack of network segmentation between IT and OT environments
- No real-time monitoring of industrial devices and controllers
- Limited visibility into vendor and third-party access
To threat actors, manufacturers are high-value, low-defense targets. Especially in sectors like automotive, aerospace, chemical, and food production, downtime means millions in losses—and that's leverage.
What Makes OT Security So Challenging?
Unlike traditional IT environments, OT systems prioritize uptime, safety, and physical process integrity. That means applying patches, running scans, or rebooting systems isn't always feasible.
Manufacturers face unique challenges:
- Downtime aversion: Patching systems can interrupt production
- Limited vendor support: Many ICS vendors don't allow third-party changes
- Protocol diversity: Dozens of proprietary communication protocols make monitoring difficult
- Long hardware life cycles: Devices may be 15+ years old with no updates available
These challenges make traditional cybersecurity approaches insufficient. You need an OT-specific security strategy.
CyberWatch: Proactive Threat Detection for Manufacturing Networks
Affiliated's CyberWatch service is designed to give manufacturers what they're missing: visibility and control over industrial network threats without disrupting operations.
CyberWatch is not just a sensor. It's a proactive, managed solution tailored to OT realities. It includes:
1. OT Network Risk Assessment
We identify vulnerable systems, misconfigurations, and blind spots in your ICS, Supervisory Control and Data Aquisition (SCADA), and Industrial internet of Things (IIoT) environment.
2. Real-Time Threat Detection
We deploy non-invasive monitoring tools that watch for:
- Unauthorized access attempts
- Abnormal device behavior
- Protocol misuse or changes
- Known malware and exploits targeting OT
3. Proactive Threat Hunting
Our security analysts actively look for suspicious activity, leveraging threat intelligence focused on industrial sectors.
4. Segmentation and Access Review
We map your network to identify points of IT/OT crossover and recommend segmentation strategies to minimize exposure.
5. Compliance and Reporting
Need to meet CMMC, NIST 800-171, or DFARS requirements? CyberWatch helps document your security controls and response capabilities.
Common Attacks on Manufacturers
Knowing what you're up against is half the battle. Here are some of the most common attacks we're seeing in the manufacturing space:
- Ransomware: Locks down control systems, halts production, and demands payment to restore operations.
- Spear phishing: Compromises credentials to gain access to control environments.
- Supply chain compromise: Malicious actors exploit vendor access to plant networks.
- Data exfiltration: Loses intellectual property and sensitive production data through theft using remote access tools.
- Malware-laced firmware updates: Pushes fake updates to embedded systems.
These threats don't just affect data—they endanger physical assets, employee safety, and business continuity.
Why Proactive Security Matters
In cybersecurity, reactive is too late. Manufacturers can no longer wait until something breaks to investigate. CyberWatch helps you:
- Detect intrusions before they escalate
- Limit blast radius by segmenting critical assets
- Prove due diligence for customers and insurers
- Avoid costly downtime and reputational damage
In short, it gives you control back.
Fight Back with Affiliated
Manufacturing cybersecurity doesn't have to be overwhelming. With CyberWatch, you get:
- Expert-led assessments tailored to industrial networks
- 24/7 monitoring of critical systems
- Clear, prioritized recommendations
- A dedicated partner who understands OT and IT integration
Click Here or give us a call at 614-889-6555 to Book a FREE Consult
