Client: Chicagoland Chemical Manufacturer
Industry: Manufacturing & Industrial
Size: Approximately 150 employees
Locations: Chicagoland / Northwest Indiana
Services: Managed IT, Cybersecurity, Network Infrastructure, Backup & Disaster Recovery, Endpoint Management, Physical Security
The Challenge
Manufacturing organizations face a unique combination of IT, cybersecurity, and operational risks. A compromised workstation quickly spirals into a business-wide problem, while a network outage can interrupt production, and create significant operational costs. This Chicagoland manufacturer consulted with Infinity Technologies because the company IT personnel were in a period of transition but still needed a more proactive approach to managing its technology environment. Furthermore, a strong partner to improve cybersecurity operations in the face of ransomware.
The primary challenges included inconsistent security practices, aging infrastructure, increasing cybersecurity requirements, backup and recovery concerns, and limited internal IT resources.
The organization also needed its technology environment to support the realities of a manufacturing operation, where network connectivity, production systems, employee workstations, communications, physical security, and business applications all need to operate together.
| Area | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| IT management | Reactive / fragmented | Proactive managed IT |
| Endpoint management | Limited visibility | Centralized endpoint management |
| Cybersecurity | Multiple areas requiring improvement | Layered security strategy |
| Network infrastructure | Aging / complex | Structured and proactively managed |
| Backup | Required improvement | Managed backup and recovery strategy |
| Physical security | Separate consideration | Integrated with broader technology infrastructure |
| Video surveillance | Standalone security consideration | Network-connected Hanwha Vision solution |
| Access control | Separate facility system | Brivo Access Control Integration + CCTV |
| IT support | Fragmented IT team still trying to hire more staff | Remote + onsite Infinity support, training, and collaborating with existing IT team |
| Technology planning | Reactive | Ongoing strategic roadmap |
Our Approach
1. Technology & Cybersecurity Assessment
Infinity Technologies began with an assessment of the manufacturer’s technology environment, reviewing endpoints, servers, network infrastructure, user accounts, Microsoft 365, security controls, backup processes, and connected systems. We noticed that the server still hosted user accounts for employees terminated over 4 years ago. Furthermore, Infinity Technologies tracked down all of the relevant files owned by “ghost” users to transfer ownership to a centralized company account.
The objective of our holistic technology assessment is to identify vulnerabilities and establish a prioritized technology roadmap rather than making isolated technology upgrades. Infinity Technologies’ cybersecurity approach incorporates endpoint protection, email security, threat monitoring, vulnerability management, firewall management into a singular vendor.
2. Strengthening Endpoint & Identity Security
A major priority was creating stronger protection around the devices and accounts employees rely on every day. Infinity incorporated managed endpoint security and proactive monitoring into the environment, including technologies such as NinjaOne for endpoint and infrastructure management and Huntress ITDR as part of its security-focused managed IT offering.
Microsoft 365 security and administration were also incorporated into the broader IT strategy, helping protect employee accounts, email, collaboration, and cloud-based business information. Infinity Technologies prefers Microsoft suites due to the centralized Identity management. We also employed Dropsuite and NinjaOne backup capabilities for protecting Microsoft 365 data, workstations, and servers from bad actors.
3. Network Infrastructure & Segmentation
During our initial consultation, Infinity evaluated the organization’s network architecture with consideration for production systems, office workstations, servers, wireless connectivity, security systems, and other connected equipment. This step is especially crucial for Chicago manufacturers and warehouses because their facilities are often comprised of concrete, metal, and other heavy materials that benefit network delays and interruptions. The network itself is only as reliable as the infrastructure supporting it. Unfortunately, this manufacture used general contractors to install their structured cabling system so the network often lost signal and couldn’t support the other security installations within the technology ecosystem. For manufacturing and warehouse environments, Infinity works with structured cabling products from established manufacturers including Belden, Superior Essex, and Corning.
After completing the assessment, Infinity Technologies redesigned, documented, and properly installed a better cabling system comprised of fiber-optic and copper cabling segments to optimize all aspects of the physical infrastructure. Our consultative approach informs our design based on the facility’s layout, bandwidth requirements, distances, environmental conditions, and future expansion plans. Infinity’s network design services specifically address manufacturing and warehousing environments, including networks supporting production equipment, inventory systems, and operational technology.
4. Commercial Video Surveillance
Before our partnership security was treated as another component of the manufacturer’s facility rather than integral part of the business network. Infinity Technologies partners with Hanwha Vision for commercial IP cameras, CCTV, network video surveillance. Hanwha Vision offers remote video monitoring and quality intelligent video analytics that can monitor dangerous temperature levels, identify objects from far distances, and highlight new people not known to the system. Hanwha’s systems can be integrated into the same broader network infrastructure supporting the organization’s IT environment like access control.
Infinity Technologies during the onsite assessment highlighted key vantage points and installed cameras in these key locations this
- Production floors
- Entrances and exits
- Loading docks
- Warehouses
- Equipment areas
- Parking areas
- Restricted areas
- Perimeters
For the parking areas, this manufacturer bought 4 mobile security trailers to provide extra coverage in the parking lot and nearby storage facility.
6. Access Control Integration
Infinity also offers access control infrastructure using Brivo access control solutions. The client indicated that controlled access to offices, server rooms, production areas, equipment rooms were a priority. Infinity Technologies also had to customize this access profiles based on a certain schedule. One advantage of incorporating access control into the broader technology ecosystem is the ability to connect physical access with video surveillance. Infinity Technologies was able to create 24/7 activity monitoring all entrances, exits, and loading docks to the warehouse facility.
7. Backup & Disaster Recovery
Recent thunderstorms revealed the network vulnerabilities that pushed this organization to reach out to Infinity Technologies. We incorporated backup and recovery technologies designed to protect business data and critical systems. The recovery strategy considered the systems most important to the organization, including servers, workstations, Microsoft 365, business applications, databases, file storage, network infrastructure, and manufacturing-related systems.
8. Ongoing Managed IT & Cybersecurity
After the initial improvements, Infinity continued supporting the manufacturer through proactive managed IT services. Based locally in Mokena, Illinois, we are readily available for onsite and remote IT support and consulting. We continue to teach the client IT team to maintain this standard developed through out network design. This created a more centralized technology-management model rather than requiring the manufacturer to coordinate multiple vendors for separate portions of its IT environment. Infinity’s managed IT offering is designed to combine these capabilities into a single technology-management strategy.
The Results
The engagement gave the manufacturer a stronger technology foundation while improving the organization’s ability to manage cybersecurity, infrastructure, physical security, and business continuity.
Chicago Manufacturing IT services
Manufacturing IT cannot be managed like a typical office environment. Production schedules, specialized equipment, legacy systems, operational technology, warehouse systems, physical security, and business-critical applications all have to be considered before significant technology changes are made.
Infinity Technologies approached the environment as a complete technology ecosystem.
Is Your Manufacturing Business Protected?
Whether your organization has an internal IT department that needs additional resources or needs a complete outsourced technology partner, Infinity Technologies can help assess your environment, identify vulnerabilities, improve infrastructure, and develop a technology strategy built around your operation.
Protect your technology. Protect your production. Keep your business moving.
Contact Infinity Technologies to discuss a technology and cybersecurity assessment.