Hackers continue to inflict more and more damage on enterprise companies’ networks, and manufacturing is seen as one of the world’s most exploitable industries. According to a 2019 IBM X-Force report, manufacturing ranked fifth among the top 10 most frequently targeted industry sectors.
Today’s condition monitoring sensors and other Wi-Fi-enabled devices possess connecting capabilities and more advanced cybersecurity. These new technologies can help bring legacy systems and processes into the modern era. Yet, infrastructure complications often prevent organizations from upgrading systems or linking aging assets to new and more secure ones.
Connectivity, siloed equipment, and closed environments are frequent problems. But the biggest roadblock is usually cost—specifically, the cost to:
However, your costs for updating or replacing legacy systems should be weighed carefully against the potential loss from a cyberattack.
Most experts agree that cybersecurity is an afterthought for many companies and viewed as an investment that offers little or no benefit to the bottom line. Changing an organization’s lax attitude toward cybersecurity is one of the most important hurdles to overcome.
Other quick and inexpensive ways to protect your organization:
Dismissing or blocking new technology from your enterprise is not an effective way to address cybersecurity concerns. Ultimately, your organization will lose out on the efficiency, cost savings, and connectivity it offers.
Security considerations should be top of mind when an organization decides to integrate any new devices into its infrastructure. You need to feel confident that the products are armed with the latest cybersecurity protection features.
Here are a few questions you should ask a supplier before implementing new technology such as Wi-Fi-enabled sensors.
As an added benefit, when a wireless device such as a remote condition monitoring sensor is mounted on an older asset, it enables the equipment to connect and integrate with more advanced and safer systems. Additionally, the sensors can be installed easily, and don’t require you to enlist expert help.
The shift from old, closed, and complex system infrastructures to new, connected, and open environments is quickly becoming a competitive necessity. Manufacturing stands to benefit greatly from IIoT-enabled technologies and the improved data integration and connectivity it provides.
As organizations make the transition to smart manufacturing through automation, AI, and machine learning, manufacturers must continue to strengthen their cybersecurity.
As technology becomes more sophisticated, so do cybercriminals. Among the various approaches listed here, a company-wide cybersecurity strategy is the key to protecting against cyberattacks.
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