Chicago is historically and currently one of the most important manufacturing and industrial hubs in the United States. From automotive and metal fabrication to food production, machinery, pharmaceuticals, logistics, and advanced manufacturing, Chicagoland is fertile ground for thousands of businesses to take root. By the same token the growth and development of their production technology is a core tenant of any quarterly successes.
However, as manufacturing becomes more modernized and connected, it is also becoming more exposed to security vulnerabilities. Modern factories no longer operate as isolated environments. Production equipment, industrial control systems, cloud applications, employee workstations, warehouse systems, cameras, remote-access tools, and corporate networks are convenient and increase efficiency, but these servers are at times susceptible to bad faith actors that aim to exploit data and resources.
For Chicago manufacturers, technology is a crucial part of the production environment, but Infinity Technologies is centrally concerned with ensuring that your tech is secure to keep production running.
Why Manufacturers Are Attractive Targets
Cybersecurity and data protection are paramount concerns for manufacturers because a successful infiltration has catastrophic consequences far beyond stolen files. If an attacker disrupts a manufacturing company’s network, outcomes could include:
- Production shutdowns
- Delayed shipments
- Inaccessible inventory systems
- Disabled workstations
- Disrupted communications
- Compromised production equipment
- Loss of customer data
- Supply-chain interruptions
- Expensive recovery efforts
- Damage to customer relationships
For a Chicago manufacturer, even a relatively short technology outage might be a significant financial problem. This leverage makes manufacturers attractive cybersecurity targets because attackers can weaponize these costly production disruptions for potential profit. The Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) identifies the Critical Manufacturing Sector as facing risks including ransomware, malware, vulnerable industrial control systems, increasing connectivity, IoT exposure, and other cyber threats especially because of its role in national infrastructure and its interdependencies with other crucial sectors of the economy. The agency also notes that increasing integration between information technology and physical operations can increase the potential consequences of an attack. Nevertheless, modernization and by extension a strong IT partner is necessary to meet consumer demands.
Ransomware Stops Production — Not Just Computers
Ransomware is often associated with encrypted files and locked computers. For manufacturers, the consequences can be much bigger because a compromised employee account or workstation can potentially move through connected systems and interfere with applications, servers, shared files, communications, and other critical infrastructure. If systems supporting production become unavailable, employees may be unable to access the information they need to operate.
This is why ransomware protection for manufacturers needs to go beyond antivirus software. Organizations need layered security, strong identity controls, network segmentation, endpoint protection, monitoring, tested backups, and a documented incident-response strategy. Infinity Technologies takes the charge for Chicagoland businesses to develop and regularly test these safety provisions. Warehouses can rest easy knowing there are safeguards and a response team designed to prevent and neutralize cyber-attacks before major disruption.
Legacy Equipment Creates a Difficult Security Challenge
Manufacturing environments often utilize equipment that cannot simply be replaced because a newer computer or software version has been released. Yet creates a difficult cybersecurity challenge. A machine may be essential to production but run an older operating system never designed for today’s threat environment; while replacing the equipment may be expensive or operationally disruptive, really ignoring the vulnerability may be even more expensive.
The solution is not necessarily to replace every older machine. Instead, manufacturers must understand what is connected to the network, identify which systems are most vulnerable, isolate critical equipment when appropriate, control access, monitor network activity, and develop a realistic technology lifecycle strategy. Infinity Technologies offers holistic consultation to identify the risks within in your network and use creative problem solving to create cost effective plans that bridge those gaps in the security plan.
Remote Access Can Become a Door Into the Factory
Remote access is incredibly valuable for manufacturers. Everyone needs it; IT teams, Equipment manufacturers, Maintenance providers, Employees and vendors all require controlled access to the facilities. Yet every remote connection represents another potential entry point coupled with poorly secured remote-access building routes, shared credentials, excessive permissions, outdated VPN infrastructure, and unsecured third-party connections create calamitous risk. These are the mistakes that make expensive equipment disappear in the night, destructive data leaks, and ruinous consequences for client confidence.
Manufacturers should evaluate:
- Who has remote access?
- What systems can they access?
- Is multi-factor authentication required?
- Are vendor accounts monitored?
- Are inactive accounts removed?
- Is remote access limited to specific systems?
- Are remote sessions logged?
- Can access be disabled quickly during an incident?
Remote access is not a permanent open door rather it should be treated as a controlled business capability.
Employees Remain a Major Attack Surface
Manufacturing cybersecurity isn’t only about machines. People remain a major part of the security equation. For example, an employee receiving a convincing phishing email could unintentionally provide attackers with credentials that allow them to enter the company’s network. A compromised Microsoft 365 account could provide access to sensitive information or simply enough, a reused password could expose multiple systems.
Infinity Technology will provide robust cybersecurity trainings to your staff, but these phishing schemes are advancing their sophistication now more than ever especially with the support of AI tools. Your most intelligent employee could unknowingly download malicious software. That is why employee cybersecurity awareness should work alongside technical controls. Manufacturers should consider regular security awareness training, phishing simulations, multi-factor authentication, password management, endpoint protection, and clearly defined procedures for reporting suspicious activity to work in tandem to protect assets.
Backups Are Only Valuable If They Work
Every manufacturer should have backups, although data recovery will not prevent attacks. Bad actors should not have access to the only copy of your most confidential and cardinal files. At the same time, backups and having a reliable recovery strategy are not the same thing. Infinity Technologies does not just download an app to generate backup drives but coordinates with your business to develop a unique data recovery response plan that outlines crucial steps to minimize damage and data exploitation.
A strong backup and disaster recovery strategy should consider:
- Critical production systems
- Servers
- Business applications
- Databases
- Key stakeholders
- Employee files
- Configuration data
- Cloud applications
- Network infrastructure
- Recovery priorities
- Recovery time objectives
- Recovery point objectives
Most importantly, backups should be regularly tested. If ransomware encrypts production data and the organization discovers that its backups are incomplete, inaccessible, or also compromised, the recovery process becomes significantly more difficult. Ultimately Infinity Technologies ensures manufacturers know what can be restored, how quickly it can be restored, and who is responsible for making that happen.
Cybersecurity Needs to Be Built Around the Manufacturing Environment
After 30 years serving diverse industries, we know at Infinity Technologies that there is no single cybersecurity product that can protect an entire manufacturing operation. Rather, an effective protection requires multiple layers working together that factors all the unique characteristics of the warehouse(s).
A manufacturer may need:
Network Security – Firewalls, segmentation, secure wireless networks, monitoring, and controlled access.
Endpoint Security – Protection and monitoring for computers, servers, laptops, and other connected devices.
Identity Security – Multi-factor authentication, strong passwords, privileged-access controls, and account management.
IT/OT Security – Visibility into connected production environments and appropriate separation between corporate and operational systems.
Remote Access Security – Controlled and monitored access for employees, vendors, equipment manufacturers, and service providers.
Backup & Disaster Recovery – Reliable backups and a tested plan for restoring critical systems.
Employee Security Awareness – Training that helps employees recognize phishing, social engineering, and other common attack methods.
24/7 Monitoring and Response -The ability to identify suspicious activity before it becomes a major operational event.
Chicago Manufacturers Should Plan Ahead Now
Manufacturers don’t need to wait for a cyberattack to determine whether their environment is vulnerable. A practical starting point is a cybersecurity and infrastructure assessment.
That assessment should identify:
- What devices and systems are connected to the network?
- Which systems are critical to production?
- Which systems are outdated or unsupported?
- Who has administrative access?
- Who has remote access?
- Are IT and OT environments appropriately segmented?
- Are backups protected from ransomware?
- How quickly could critical systems be restored?
- Are employees trained to recognize phishing?
- What happens if the primary network goes offline?
Ultimately, the answers can reveal weaknesses that aren’t always visible during normal operations. Infinity Technologies offers a free risk assessment and consultation to establish a starting point for a collaborative cybersecurity plan. Call or email us today to gain complete insight on the vulnerability of your business.
One Partner. Total Technology Management.
Infinity Technologies has helped Chicagoland manufacturers strengthen the technology infrastructure behind their operations for 30 years. From managed IT services and cybersecurity to network infrastructure, wireless connectivity, structured cabling, business communications, backup and disaster recovery, CCTV/camera surveillance, elite audio-visual set ups, phone systems, and more!
Protect your technology. Elevate your production. Grow your business.