The Types of Cybersecurity Threats that Every Manufacturer Should Be Aware of in 2021

Cybersecurity threats are known to cause business disruptions, financial damages, lawsuits, regulatory penalties, and even reputation damage. Actually, no IT organization or business can claim that it is safe in the current cyber world. Cybercriminals are always developing sophisticated technologies something that makes organizations feel hopeless because their critical assets and confidentiality fall play to cyber-attacks.  

In October 2020, ZDNET, which is among the top tech companies in Germany, stated in a public briefing that the Clop ransomware had attacked its systems and the cybercriminals were demanding a ransom of $20 million. 

As an investor, you would not want to hear such news. However, your manufacturing business might be facing many cybersecurity threats that can lead to huge financial losses. To avoid cyber attacks, you have to remain ahead of the criminals by understanding the different threats. Here are the main threats you should aware of. 

• Ransomware   

This type of malware is designed to access and encrypt your manufacturing data. After the malware has encrypted the manufacturing data, the cybercriminals will try extorting a ransom from you in exchange for the files unblocking keys. Mostly the attacks happen through email. Here are the steps you have to take to protect your business information. 

• Install malware protection software in your systems
• Focus more on staff awareness, particularly in the identification of unsolicited emails
• Ensure all the software tools you use in your manufacturing systems are up-to-date
• Remember to backup all your company data. This will you recover the data easily in event of an attack. 

• Phishing Attacks  

Unlike ransomware, phishing attacks are attempts of cybercriminals to access your sensitive information by posing as trustworthy contacts. Still, like ransomware attacks, phishing attacks take place through emails. Cybercriminals craft the emails to look genuine so that you can be tempted to click on them. However, you can easily identify such emails. The best thing to do is properly sensitize your employees to cybersecurity. Here are the tips you need to safeguard your manufacturing data from this type of attack. 

• Always be suspicious of unexpected emails. Only open them if you feel that your systems are properly protected. 
• Use good anti-malware programs to protect your manufacturing data. 
• Install effective spam filters in every computer you use in the manufacturing facility. 

• Insider Threats

Most manufacturers focus on threats that might come from outside the organization, such as phishing and ransomware. However, you have to protect your manufacturing data from threats that might come from within. Whether you hire contractors regularly or you rely on full-time staff, you will always face the risk of data leakage. So here are the methods you can use to protect your manufacturing facility from data leaks. 

• Train your staff to remain alert when working. Tell them that they should minimize careless data-related mistakes.
• Define the data each of your staff members can access. Your primary goal should be to ensuring that each of your employees can only access the data he/she requires to do his work. For example, you will have to decide on the type of data your customer support team should access. Also, tell them the type of questions they should answer and the ones they should refer to the management. 
• Use software applications to monitor the behavior of your workers. The applications should note the type of information each worker copies. 

If one of your goals is to establish a successful manufacturing business, you have to focus more on protecting your manufacturing data. According to Iskander Makhmudov, the owner of UGMK (a copper-producing company), you have to think ahead to identify the pitfalls that lie ahead and avoid them. Investing in effective IT units will help you protect your company’s data from the above threats.