Is Your Manufacturing Company Doing Enough to Prevent Cyber Attacks?

Manufacturing companies face a growing reality: cyber-attacks are no longer a question of “if” but “when.” According to recent cybersecurity research, ransomware attacks on manufacturers accounted for over half of all incidents recorded by industrial entities worldwide in the second quarter of 2025. For an industry that relies on continuous operations and just-in-time production, even a single day of downtime can cascade into significant financial losses and damaged customer relationships.

The good news? Manufacturers can take practical, proactive steps today to reduce risk to their operations and bottom line.

Start with Your People

Your employees are both your greatest vulnerability and potentially your strongest defense. Security awareness training is foundational. Studies show that effective training programs significantly reduce the number of successful phishing, social engineering and credential-based attacks. One employee clicking one malicious email can trigger a ransomware attack that locks critical systems and halts production lines.

Focus on regular, ongoing training rather than annual compliance exercises. Teach employees to recognize phishing emails, understand social engineering tactics, and report suspicious activity. When cybersecurity awareness becomes part of your culture, you transform your workforce into an active line of defense.

Implement Essential Technical Controls

Beyond training, prioritizing these practical measures can greatly enhance your overall cybersecurity preparedness:

Cyber Control	Why It Matters	Best Practice
Cybersecurity assessment	Finds vulnerabilities before criminals do	Review systems, OT equipment, software, and data risks
Secure backups	The #1 recovery tool during ransomware	Store backups in isolated / air-gapped environments
Backup testing	Backups are useless if they don’t restore correctly	Test regularly (not just “assume” they work)
Access controls	Limits damage if an account is compromised	Give employees access only to what they need
Patch & update systems	Unpatched systems are easy entry points	Prioritize OT and legacy system patching
Vendor risk management	Third parties can be hidden backdoors	Evaluate suppliers with network/system access

Think Like a Business Leader, Not Just an IT Department

Cybersecurity is not solely an IT function. It is a business decision that directly impacts revenue, customer trust, and competitive positioning. Companies with documented controls and clear risk management strategies present themselves as lower liabilities to insurers, lenders, and potential buyers.

By proactively investing in cybersecurity measures and building robust recovery plans, manufacturers can safeguard operations and reassure customers that they are prepared for evolving threats. The cost of prevention is always less than the cost of recovery.

Need help evaluating your cybersecurity posture? BMSS and Abacus Technologies can assess your vulnerabilities, develop response plans, and implement controls that protect your operations. Contact us to learn how we can help keep your manufacturing business secure and competitive.