Blog

May 10,2019,Philippines—The globalization of the manufacturing industry, mostly pushed by the recent technological advancements, has helped the industry create more productive manufacturing strategies, and produce smarter, more innovative products. However, as the global manufacturing industry become more digital and data-driven especially with the increased integration of Internet of Things (IoT), automated processes involving the use of robots, and more other new technology, global manufacturing companies, especially their product design and development, and new product introduction teams, has also become more prone to cyber attacks.

With the amount of confidential information available as well as the competitive nature of the industry, it is not hard to see how global manufacturing providers rank as the third most targeted sector by cyber criminals after finance and government according to a report made by Make UK, formerly known as EEF or Engineering Employers’ Federation, titled Cyber Security for Manufacturing in 2018.

The good thing is, all cyber attacks can be prevented. Here are some tips on how to deal and avoid cyber attacks that you should keep in mind.

Educate employees about cybersecurity

Being aware is the first step to preventing a cyber attack. If you are conducting seminars to your employees about new manufacturing technologies, make sure to include a comprehensive course on cybersecurity as well! Educate them about the different kinds of online threats, how to identify it, and what they should do once they encounter them.

It would also be better to establish an organized process of reporting an unusual activity to the higher ups, so that cyber experts can take care of the problem instead of the workers.

Install antivirus software

Simultaneously, equip all computers with antivirus software and anti-spyware to protect it against viruses, spywares, and other malicious codes. Make sure that you buy a software from a trusted vendor that regularly provides updates and improvements to the software.

Secure company networks

A good antivirus software and anti-spyware can do most of the job of protecting the company computers and networks from cyber attacks, but, of course, it would be much better to avoid being vulnerable to attacks in the first place.

Aside from using a firewall for your Internet connection, you should also make sure that your Wi-Fi is secure and hidden. Having strong passwords for the Wi-Fi and even individual computers can also be beneficial for you. Furthermore, make sure to backup and encrypt all your sensitive information on servers or databases.

Restrict employee access

Restricting each employee’s access of sensitive information to what is only necessary to their assigned job can help strengthen your company’s security, and this is not because you do not trust your employees. By doing this, if an employee falls victim to a cyber attack, the scope and effects of the attack can be minimized.

You should also consider implementing a two-step authentication system before gaining access to sensitive information, especially with the increase of employees working from home or remotely.

Purchase cyber insurance

Certainly, it is possible that you still become a victim of cyber attacks even after doing necessary steps to avoid them. If all else fails, it is best to have a cyber insurance! It might not help you retrieve data or reverse effects of the cyber attack, but it can at least cover your losses and liabilities, especially if you deal with sensitive customer information like credit card information.

Corrupting data, stealing intellectual property, disabling networks, and more—the global manufacturing industry could face many kinds of cyber attacks. The reasons why cyber criminals do it also widely vary. However, if you know how to deal with a cyber attack, or better yet, know how to avoid experiencing one, you will not only be protecting your company’s profit, but also all of your employees’ hard work.

Do not let your company fall on the hands of cyber criminals! Avoid and learn how to deal with cyber attacks, and continue moving on to the future without any unnecessary obstacles.