Security is crucial for today’s businesses. Criminals are constantly looking for new ways around businesses’ security measures with small and medium-sized companies being the most common targets. Though some sectors are seeing decreases in certain types of attacks, the manufacturing industry is actually seeing a significant increase in a variety of threats. With that being the case, it’s more essential than ever to protect your manufacturing business from every possible angle.
Physical Crimes
Reports show that physical crimes are on the rise in manufacturing companies. Thieves are drawn to these facilities because of the valuable machinery, materials, and finished products they have on site. In some extreme cases, disgruntled former employees or people hired by competitors vandalize and sabotage manufacturing companies. Materials are more frequently getting stolen on their way from suppliers to factories, and cases of products being stolen on their way to warehouses or stores are on the rise.
Because of those issues, manufacturing companies must pay close attention to their physical security. You should implement effective access control measures to ensure only authorized personnel are allowed entry into your facility. Use tracking systems for your merchandise. Be sure your suppliers use tracking systems for your materials.
An alarm system will alert you and law enforcement should anyone break into your facility. Security cameras can monitor your property, catch criminals in the act, and provide proof of crimes when they happen. They may even deter would-be thieves and vandals.
Cyberattacks
Of course, cyberattacks are surging as well. Some reports indicate that these crimes skyrocketed by at least 100 percent last year alone. They’re also growing more elaborate. Cybercriminals are using malware to infiltrate manufacturing businesses’ systems and steal or corrupt their data. They’re also using phishing and social engineering to gain access to targets’ sensitive information.
At the same time, with internet connectivity and automation becoming more common in manufacturing, attackers are hacking into manufacturers’ machinery. They’re even attacking companies’ websites to make them inaccessible to authorized users. Those are only few of the cyber threats you’re up against at this point.
Digital access control measures can help you defend against those dangers. Those can include secure passwords and multifactor authentication for logging into your systems and machinery. Data encryption, backing up your important data, and using firewalls and antivirus software are recommended. Be sure to follow through with all software updates to reduce vulnerabilities as well. Educating employees on the importance of not sharing their passwords and avoiding leaving their workstations unsecured is also essential.
Keeping Your Manufacturing Facility Secure
It’s no secret that the world is becoming a more dangerous place for consumers and businesses alike. Wrongdoers know that manufacturing facilities can be sources of numerous valuable assets, both physical and digital, so they’re increasingly targeting them. Implementing both physical security measures and cybersecurity safeguards will help protect your facility against as many of the potential threats as possible.
Keep in mind that criminals are going to more extreme lengths than ever before, though. Many threats come from within these days, and it’s becoming more common for attackers to team up with employees or members of companies’ supply chains to infiltrate on both the physical and virtual level. Working with a security specialist can help you more effectively protect your assets from all the possibilities.