The Urgent Reality of Cyber Threats and Manufacturing

Cyber threats are a constant and evolving danger for businesses of all sizes.

The manufacturing industry, particularly smaller manufacturers with valuable data and often limited defenses, is the number one target for cyberattacks across all sectors.

As CONNSTEP Cybersecurity Consultant Anna Mumford explains, attackers actively seek the weakest links to infiltrate an organization’s plans and systems.

They commonly exploit vulnerabilities through methods like malware, phishing emails, and unsecured passwords.

A critical, often unseen, risk is that cyber attackers may already be lurking within company systems, waiting for the opportune moment to strike.

This pervasive threat raises a crucial question for every business leader: Is your organization truly protected?

Mumford is shedding light on this critical threat. “Breaches target important information like your financial data, intellectual property, contractual information, or critical manufacturing assets,” she warns.

Having helped more than 100 manufacturers implement cybersecurity practices, she emphasizes that companies failing to proactively assess vulnerabilities and implement a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy are exposing themselves to significant risk.

This stark warning is powerfully illustrated by CBIA President & CEO Chris DiPentima, who shares a first-hand account of a cyberattack on Pegasus Manufacturing, an aerospace and defense components company he previously led.

“We thought we were…pretty well protected as far as cybersecurity attacks, and our IT infrastructure, and honestly, all of our compliance systems,” DiPentima recalls.

Despite believing their systems were secure, Pegasus suffered a breach where a hacker remained undetected for months, ultimately stealing a six-figure sum from the company’s bank account.

This was all initiated by a seemingly innocuous system update.

“When we found out that it happened, you know, I certainly took it personally as not only the leader of the organization, but as an integral part of the supply chain.”

DiPentima’s candid recount underscores the insidious nature of modern cyber threats and the devastating financial and operational consequences, even for organizations with perceived protections.

CONNSTEP stands ready to help manufacturers build resilient cyber defenses and stay ahead of bad actors.

They ensure manufacturers meet federal cybersecurity compliance standards for contract requirements, a crucial step for those in the DoD supply chain.

Learn more about CONNSTEP’s cybersecurity services.

Additionally, CBIA offers its members’ employees identity theft protection powered by Defend-id.

This service monitors their digital presence and provides fully managed recovery services if an employee’s identity is compromised.

This benefit helps protect employees from the time and frustration of identity theft, while also safeguarding company data from potential vulnerabilities on compromised devices.

The time to ensure your organization is thoroughly protected, using a holistic approach to cybersecurity, is now.

Don’t wait until it’s too late.