Industry Insights
What manufacturing workers need to know about cybersecurity
By Mitti Team9 Apr 20267 min read
INDUSTRY INSIGHTS6 min read
You think your maintenance program is perfect, so why are you still losing money?
Understand the unique cybersecurity risks facing manufacturing workers and facilities
Learn best practices for protecting sensitive data and operational technology
Gain actionable steps to build a cyber-aware manufacturing workforce
Important notice
The information contained in this article is general in nature and you should consider whether the information is appropriate to your specific needs. Legal and other matters referred to in this article are based on our interpretation of laws existing at the time and should not be relied on in place of professional advice. We are not responsible for the content of any site owned by a third party that may be linked to this article. Mitti disclaims all liability (except for any liability which by law cannot be excluded) for any error, inaccuracy, or omission from the information contained in this article, any site linked to this article, and any loss or damage suffered by any person directly or indirectly through relying on this information.
When it comes to safeguarding cybersecurity, workers are a facility’s first line of defense. Mitti (by SafetyCulture) works with manufacturing teams day in and day out, and we know this is something every business is grappling with. If you know the biggest threats and how to deal with them, you can protect your workplace.
Hackers often focus on manufacturing because it’s fundamental to many other industries. Lately, they’ve been targeting workers to increase their chances of success. Here are the biggest cybersecurity risks manufacturers face.
Credential stuffing is a brute-force attack where hackers use stolen login details to get into a system they shouldn’t have authorized access to. One effective way to detect and block such attacks is by deploying a fraud management system tailored for real-time threat response. It was one of the most common cyber attacks in 2023 because of its subtle nature.
A good chunk of Mitti (by SafetyCulture)'s customers work with supply chains. Marley Spoon, for example, deals with producers to supply their fresh produce, which makes up the ingredients for their recipes, which are then distributed to their customers.
A supply chain cyber attack targets third-party vendors. Hackers go through them to gain access to a facility’s data, network, or systems. These vulnerabilities are often magnified when businesses rely on disconnected operational tools rather than systems that support end-to-end supply chain visibility. Computer manufacturer ASUS experienced this firsthand. Hackers stole their vendors’ authentication keys to remotely send malicious updates for five months – impacting at least one million people – before being caught.
If you’ve received an odd email or SMS with a shady-looking attachment, it was probably a phishing attempt – where someone sends a malicious link to download malware or steal information. To stay safe, only use verified security tools; for instance, opting for a reputable free VPN download from a trusted provider can help mask your IP address. "Be vigilant when receiving SMS messages or emails out of the blue," says Steven Rogers, Cybersecurity Group Engineering Manager at Mitti (by SafetyCulture). Additionally, consider enhancing your domain’s email security and add DMARC record to help prevent unauthorized use of your domain and reduce the risk of phishing attacks targeting your contacts. And if you’re working remotely or managing devices on the factory floor, now’s a great time to learn how to setup VPN on router to ensure secure, encrypted network traffic for all connected systems.
Once cybercriminals encrypt company data or lock its systems, they can demand millions of dollars to return access. Usually, they can get in using malicious links. In 2023, car manufacturer Nissan had to shut down operations in Australia and New Zealand for a month because of a ransomware attack. If you find yourself under a ransomware attack, "turn off your device and seek specialist guidance before the problem becomes bigger," Steve advises. To strengthen ransomware resilience and overall security, many organizations turn to Managed Detection and Response (MDR), which delivers 24/7 monitoring, proactive threat hunting, and rapid incident containment to reduce downtime and reinforce defenses.
Believe it or not, employees are a common cause of data breaches. Incorrectly updated factory floor equipment and malware-downloading misclicks are common, making it critical for organizations to continuously monitor and improve endpoint security effectiveness across all connected devices. Considering a single incident costs more than $4.24 million on average, you havegreat motivation to stay proactive.
Did you know? Mitti (by SafetyCulture) has helped manufacturing businesses around the world to reduce reporting time by 60%. Find out more about how we can help your manufacturing business.
Even though these cybersecurity risks can seem daunting, overcoming them is well within your control. If you stay aware and cautious, you can keep your workplace and people safe.
If you want to keep your workplace secure from credential stuffing, supply chain attacks, phishing, ransomware, and internal breaches, keep these tips in mind.
As tempting as it is to go with easy-to-remember ‘password1’, it’s best to rethink that strategy. Using a self hosted password manager can help create and store strong credentials, as many manufacturers have experienced cyber attacks due to weak login credentials. For example, software manufacturer SolarWinds was publicly embarrassed when a security professional discovered the password ‘solarwinds123’ allowed access to its server. The company later experienced a supply chain attack that impacted more than 18,000 clients.
For context, a 12-character password with one symbol, number,and uppercase letter would take a computer 34,000 years to hack. Even better – consider investing in secure password management tools for your business.
“It would be helpful for businesses to consider using a password manager to both generate and store their passwords,” Steven says. “They should aim to have unique passwords for all logins and avoid password reuse.” Additionally, you can opt for open-source password manager solutions such as Vaultwarden, hosting it on your own private servers for added security and privacy.
Fortunately, multi-factor authentication can protect you even if your login details get leaked or stolen. Upon signing in, it will ask you to confirm your activity via an app, phone number, or email. This way, you can keep hackers at bay even if they know your password. Best of all, it notifies you whenever there's a new sign-in attempt, so you're able to confirm or deny this action.
Did you know? The Mitti Platform enables you to set up your login via Single Sign On (SSO), which protects you from things like weak or leaked passwords.
You may have run cybersecurity training for your team already, but it’s best practice to do this regularly. Workers forget 50% of the training material after a few days.
Mitti Training has more than 1,000 mobile-led training courses. You’ll see much faster improvements if you enable reminders for your online sessions and make learning a routine. Not only is regular training essential, but having specific examples to reference can greatly enhance situational readiness. Check out these useful incident response examples for a more structured approach to potential security breaches.
During a ransomware attack, a backup is your best line of defense – especially considering manufacturing has the lowest chance of data recovery out of every industry. Having a well-planned ransomware backup strategy means you won’t be vulnerable to ransom – you’d simply wipe your devices, remove the malware, and start over.
Backups are essential because cybercriminals don’t always honor their promises. For example, a UK manufacturer paid a $3 million ransom only to experience a second ransomware attack from the same hackers a month later. If your company pays up, there’s no guarantee you won’t get hit again.
For manufacturers seeking comprehensive protection and streamlined operations, partnering with specialized providers of manufacturing IT services can be invaluable. These experts understand the sector's challenges — from securing networks on the factory floor to managing sensitive production data. Integrating robust IT support tailored for manufacturing environments can greatly reduce downtime, bolster cybersecurity measures, and keep facilities running smoothly despite evolving digital threats.
Check it out: The proof is in the production line. Read the success stories of our manufacturing customers who've used the Mitti Platform to improve their workplace operations.
Typically, only management can enforce security standards on third-party vendors. Still, your employees can do their part if they notice suspicious behavior or unsafe practices. Mitti (by SafetyCulture)’s Issues feature can be used to instantly report cybersecurity incidents using the QR code capabilities. Since it lets you attach pictures, videos, or your location, you can get your IT team up to date within minutes. Manufacturing companies can request security, privacy and/or compliance documentation from third parties to evaluate how secure they are as well.
If you keep the manufacturing industry’s biggest threats in mind whenever you deal with devices or software, you can protect your workplace. Following the best practices and helpful tips does a lot to safeguard against malware and data breaches.
