Manufacturing organisations face diverse cyber threats, including ransomware, supply chain attacks, and ICS disruptions impacting production. Yet, many are unknowingly exposed to significant cyber risk through vulnerable systems, outdated software, and connected third-party suppliers. This becomes increasingly more relevant given the convergence of both IT and OT systems through Industry 4.0.
A cyber-attack on a manufacturing firm can have severe consequences, including significant financial losses due to production downtime, supply chain disruptions, and theft of sensitive data. Reputational damage and legal repercussions can also follow, potentially impacting future business opportunities and leading to regulatory fines.
A US-based automotive software provider suffered a ransomware attack in June 2024, costing car dealerships over $1 billion collectively. In addition, an American cleaning products manufacturer experienced a cyberattack that forced shutdowns of systems, causing delays in order processing and product outages. They anticipated a reduction in net sales of between $487 million and $593 million.
These attacks highlight the growing threat of ransomware, data breaches, and supply chain vulnerabilities being exploited proving how devastating such attacks can be. This is an industry agnostic problem and manufacturing is far from immune. With sometimes limited in-house IT resources and complex IT and OT environments; automation, manufacturing is increasingly viewed as soft targets by cybercriminals.
Attack Surface Identification & Management (ASM) is now able to give you the clarity and context needed to prioritise what matters most.
What’s your organisation’s “attack surface”?
Your attack surface includes every potential digital entry point into your IT and OT networks — websites, email accounts, Wi-Fi, cloud services, third-party software, passwords, and even forgotten devices. If it’s connected, it’s a target.
Too often, organisations think their IT estate is under control, only to discover hidden risks. In one recent case, an organisation believed it had 152 internet-facing devices — the real number was 493. That’s more than triple the exposure, including unknown servers, misconfigured software, and unsecured data stores.
For manufacturing, the risks are real:
- Ransomware (disrupting operations, encrypting sensitive files, and data theft)
- Supply Chain (by leveraging the interconnected nature of manufacturing ecosystem, attacks targeting weak points in your suppliers networks allowing them to infiltrate your systems)
- Reputational damage (stolen data appearing on darkweb forums fuelling extortion attempts)
- Exploitation of Vulnerabilities (attackers target out of date systems, insecure third-party organisations and gaps in operational technology (OT))
Manufacturing is uniquely vulnerable
Many organisations rely on a patchwork of legacy systems, cloud tools, and third-party providers. IT often falls to small internal teams or outsourced support. Meanwhile, increased convergence of IT and OT, larger third-party ecosystems, continue to grow the digital footprint.
Add to these common issues like:
- Use of cloud services
- Staff using weak passwords
- Unmonitored supplier connections
- Outdated software still in use
…and you have a growing list of vulnerabilities.
Why it matters — now more than ever
- Protect sensitive IP data
- Avoid operational disruption and downtime
- Minimise and manage your digital footprint and exposure
- Preserve the reputation of your brand
Call to action
ASM can help give your organisation a real-time view of its digital exposure — without needing expensive tools or in-house cyber experts. It adopts an “outside-in” approach, mimicking how hackers view your organisation and scan for weaknesses.
The process can quickly identify:
- Confidential data leakage
- Access Management Issues
- Misconfigured systems and default login credentials
- Outdated or unsupported software still in use
- Risks introduced by third-party suppliers
All findings can then be prioritised by severity, so you can act where it matters most — even with limited budget or time.
If you have limited time and resources, ASM can complement your existing security efforts as it is:
- Non-intrusive – No installation needed, all remote
- Fast – Initial assessments can be delivered in days
- Actionable – Clear recommendations
- Cost-effective – Focused on what matters, not a one-size-fits-all approach
Whether you’re embarking upon a large scale transformation; onboarding a new supplier; converging IT and OT technologies, as examples. ASM now provides the visibility you need to manage cyber risk with confidence.
Don’t wait for a breach
Cyber threats aren’t going away. But with ASM, you can move from reacting to proactively managing risk — protecting your business and reputation. Uncover what you don’t know — and secure it before someone else finds it first.
Carl Nightingale, Managing Director, Fennec Cyber Ltd
Extensive experience securing complex, high-stakes environments across mission-critical operations within UK Defence, spanning some of the UK’s most advanced and sensitive military platforms. His deep operational insight and strategic leadership have helped ensure cyber resilience at the very core of national security.
