The manufacturing industry is increasingly seeing a convergence of operational technology (OT) with enterprise IT and cloud infrastructures in today’s digital landscape. With artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning being incorporated, the benefits of bringing together these environments that were once operating in silos are manyfold, and undeniably, have opened doors to many new opportunities for manufacturers.
As organizations turn to technology for efficiency and innovation, the need to safeguard their OT environments against cyber threats becomes increasingly paramount. Understanding the need to protect their digital ecosystem, key decision makers must start looking for cybersecurity solutions. Yet, with the myriad of tools and solutions in the marketplace, a survey conducted by Rockwell Automation last year revealed that one third of manufacturers globally face “technology paralysis” – the inability to decide between technology solutions.
To help manufacturers better understand the threat landscape and identify the tools they need, this article delves into the critical role of threat intelligence in managing OT risk exposure, covering some of the key factors that shape risk prioritization. Collaborating with threat intelligence experts Claroty and CrowdStrike, we break down the multifaceted approach to risk management in manufacturing, and how organizations can take proactive steps in the right direction to mitigate risks for more secure and resilient operations.
Micro-drivers influencing the production strategy
Before we select the tools needed to mitigate cybersecurity risk, we need to first understand the landscape in which manufacturers operate. In this post-pandemic world, a lot of reskilling is taking place, with mass customization becoming a norm. Speed has become the basis of competition as companies push out new products at a faster pace than ever before. We’re also faced with geo-political challenges that can impact production.
Against this backdrop, the annual State of Smart Manufacturing Report published by Rockwell Automation revealed that cybersecurity is now one of the top five external risks for organizations. It is therefore unsurprising that cybersecurity knowledge was stated as the top skill employers seek in 2024. On the bright side, it is also predicted to be the second most impacted by AI within the next three years, with quality taking the lead.
Cybersecurity solutions that meet every need
As technology and AI advance, so does the cybersecurity landscape. This is why businesses should work with industry experts to ensure they have the latest defenses in place. The NIST cybersecurity framework – an outline of best practices in cybersecurity – helps manufacturers decide on the key areas to focus on so they can choose the best solutions to invest in.
With a focus on protection and detection in particular, Rockwell Automation works with Claroty to provide a comprehensive threat detection solution. The goal is to gain visibility across the network and rapidly identify threats across the OT and industrial control systems (ICS) environment. Leveraging a passive networking technology, the threat detection solution monitors cybersecurity vulnerabilities at the deepest levels without disrupting the workflow. It is important to note that cybersecurity is not a one-off initiative. Long-term support is necessary, and together with Claroty, Rockwell Automation ensures that organizations are protected before, during, and after an event.
As more devices get connected across the OT network, protecting endpoints has become a crucial aspect of cybersecurity. From laptops, human machine interfaces (HMIs), switches to IoT devices, it can be challenging to ensure that every endpoint is secure at all times. Rockwell Automation taps on the expertise of CrowdStrike for endpoint protection services. As a recognized leader in endpoint protection solutions, CrowdStrike has an advanced cloud-native platform that combines multiple detection and prevention methods into an integrated approach, via a single lightweight agent. This ensures round-the-clock monitoring without any disruption to the day-to-day business operations.
