Look at almost any industry and it’s hard to see how it functioned without technology. New developments spell better productivity, reduced waste and happier staff.
They also open doors to new security threats.
This is particularly prominent in manufacturing, where IoT is set to become a $40 billion industry by 2020. Add this to physical security and staff, and you’ve got a triad of threats.
“When it comes to manufacturing, there are so many points of entry,” says Nick Holden, MD of NexusProtect.
“Vulnerabilities can present themselves at any point in the manufacturing journey, from digital production right down to physical security in the warehouse.”
A People-first Approach
NexusProtect provides holistic health checks of companies, looking at things like:
- staff training
- compliance
- physical security
- digital vulnerabilities
- operational delivery
- strategic direction
For Nick, people can be the vulnerability, or they can be the solution.
“We work across all the functional teams to identify vulnerabilities across the whole business. Human error is by far the biggest concern, for example, directors and managers who haven’t had refresher training.”
A huge concern in manufacturing is data. 14% of critical assets leaked on the Dark Web were linked to manufacturing, including designs, blueprints and financial information.
By providing human-centric training on data protection and compliance, manufacturers can prevent threats at the source.
Stay One Step Ahead of Cyber
Cyber security impacts all three areas of manufacturing, from biometric entry for physical security to personal data hacks.
“Modern manufacturing is predominantly computer-based, and production is business critical, so if you’re not training smart, you can’t deliver digitally which affects production and eventually your bottom lines”
Nick Holden, NexusProtect
Industry 4.0 is making waves within manufacturing. Artificial intelligence and advanced analytics have helped manufacturers to reduce waste and deliver in real-time.
“However, reliance on technologies is only half the story. Your staff are the other key element which needs just as much investment,” says Nick.
“Once a hacker has gained access to the cloud, he or she can instantly find data on all departments of a company. Our audits identify strategic and operational flaws to stop this from happening.”
Optimise Physical Security
Again, physical security naturally flows into personnel and cyber threats. Manufacturers need to examine both their internal and external stakeholders to identify critical risks.
“Something as simple as a disgruntled ex-employee could ruin your company’s reputation or allow asset damage or theft so it is important to continually review staff access”
Nick Holden, NexusProtect
Likewise, safeguarding stock (pre and post-production) is essential to avoid financial losses. A health check can reveal potential points of entry for thieves as well as vulnerabilities that staff can utilise for their own benefit.
“Using our 360° approach, we can save manufacturers thousands in financial and reputational loss. We’ll analyse strategies and operations to identify knowledge gaps, reduce waste and conduct risk assessments.
Manufacturers are vulnerable,” concludes Nick. “An holistic approach to safeguarding really is the only way forward.”
Discover how to safeguard your business from vulnerabilities, by contacting NexusProtect on 08454 631 072 or visiting nexus-protect.com.
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