Technological advances are constant, and an ever-evolving technology connected market means that manufacturers are confronted with new and looming threats to their businesses in the area of cybersecurity. While this can seem overwhelming, the first line of defense is knowing what to look for. Following are the Top 8 Cybersecurity Threats Manufacturers are currently facing:

1.     Identity Theft

There is a new form of “identity theft” that goes beyond someone stealing your credit and is prevalent in the manufacturing sector. This type of identity theft occurs when a hacker breaches manufacturing company’s customer database through malware and obtains access to customer data. Once access to this data has been obtained, personal information is left unprotected and open to theft.

2.     Ransomware

Ransomware attacks have increasingly become a great concern for businesses over the last few years. Ransomware has persisted and been extremely effective because an attacker can achieve devastating effects with relative ease. Ransomware kits are inexpensive and are readily available on the dark web.

 This continues to be a major concern for manufacturers since the effects of a single ransomware attack can be exceedingly damaging for small and midsize businesses. This leads to massive costs associated with downtime and recovery.

3.     IoT Devices

The vast majority of IoT devices are relatively new. This means that there is a certain vulnerability for cybercriminals to target these technologies.  Because of the constant innovations in IoT, it is extremely difficult to maintain effective cybersecurity strategies as they are constantly changing.

4.     Cloud-Based Threats

With digital transformation taking center stage for many manufacturers, it is important to be aware of the risks associated with cloud-based software. Transition to the cloud can potentially expose businesses to a massive security challenges and threats. Several of the common cloud service issues that increase cybersecurity risks are as follows:

·      misconfigurations in cloud storage

·      vulnerabilities in cloud apps

·      improper and incomplete data deletion

·      diminished visibility and control

5.     Compromised Web Pages

A compromised web page can have many adverse consequences, but the first and largest concern is damage to the reputation of the manufacturer. Webpage compromises happen when hackers take control of a website and either fill them with misleading or false content intending to fool customers; or simply render them completely inoperable. Another potential hazard of a compromised website is that the hacker could embed programs within the website that will automatically install dangerous files on visitors’ computers without them knowing.

6.     Phishing

Phishing is where cybercriminals write emails intending to trick its receipts into revealing sensitive information, such as passwords or other personal details. These emails may look “official” because they will be written on branded letterheads or have “official” signatures to help persuade recipients of their legitimacy. Phishing emails generally target wider audiences and usually start with generic greetings such as “Dear Valued Customer.”

7.     Spear Phishing

Spear Phishing is a highly targeted type of phishing that targets one person or department at a time. It is referred to as “spear phishing” because of the targeted and customized messages for the intended recipient.

Many Spear Phishing attempts appear to come from a company leader or boss, using “official” letterheads and signatures. These attempts may request that the recipient gives details about the company’s industrial control systems (ICS) or even ask for passwords. To avoid this, businesses should invest in identity and access management solutions, which will cut down the success rates of spear phishing emails.

 8.     Spam

Each of our mailboxes are inundated with annoying and seemingly useless junk mail. We hit delete and never even attempt to read them. They are annoying and useless, but could they have a more detrimental aspect for manufacturers?  The answer is a resounding “YES”, as they can substantially reduce productivity. Is there anything that can be done to avoid receiving those pesky spam emails? There are mail service software solutions that can scan messages for spam characteristics and malware before they arrive in your employee’s inboxes. However, this solution is not 100% foolproof as there will always need to be an element of human judgement as a computer cannot always differentiate between a spam message and a genuine message from a customer or supplier. Unfortunately, spam mail is persistent and will continue to be a challenging issue, but there are ways to greatly reduce the influx of annoying spam emails.

With the rise in technology prevalence, it goes without saying that a matching rise in cybersecurity threats is inevitable. The best way to fight back against these eight most common cybersecurity threats and any other threats that may occur, is to implement a formal cybersecurity practice within your company and educate your employees. The simple act of being aware of cybersecurity threats and what form they may take can greatly reduce the possibility of those threats doing any sort of harm.

Being ready to manage a cyberattack or data breach is an extension of staying competitive and is a reality of being in business today. Contracting the services of a reputable Managed Security Service Provider (MSSP) has many benefits and can be your first line of defense against cyberattacks. With a team of professionals like Godlan’s MSSP services team continually monitoring your network, you are not just waiting around for a problem to develop. You are addressing it before it has a chance to develop.

 For more information on Godlan’s Managed Security Services or Managed IT Services, visit www.godlan.com or call us at 586.464.4400 today!