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If you work in manufacturing, chances are your business relies on cloud technology in one way or another. Your company could be using the cloud to store product designs, supplier contracts, or production schedules. You might have also shifted to smart factories with connected machines and automated processes. Either way, one thing is certain: The more manufacturing moves to the cloud, the bigger the security risks get.
Cybercriminals know this. In addition to making everyday products, cybercriminals know that manufacturers handle intellectual property (IP), proprietary formulas, and trade secrets worth millions. And they’re attacking.
According to IBM, the average data breach in 2024 cost $4.88 million. Manufacturing is one of the most targeted industries. A data breach can lead to money loss, potential factory shutdowns, stolen innovations, and damaged supplier relationships.
This isn’t just a “nice to have” conversation. When it comes to cloud data protection, you won’t just be checking a few security boxes. You will ensure your business survives in a world where cyber threats are growing every day.At OTAVA, we help manufacturers take control of their cloud security. We have designed our S.E.C.U.R.E.™ Framework to do just that. We provide backup solutions, immutable storage, Disaster Recovery as a Service (DRaaS), and vulnerability scanning. In today’s world, it’s not if a cyberattack will happen—it’s when.
Manufacturers face various challenges when it comes to cloud security. Below are some of these risks.
As factories transition to Industry 4.0, they are facing high-tech, interconnected networks. Machines talk to each other, robots handle automation, and the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) is making operations more efficient. However, with all these connections, each device is potentially an entry point for hackers.
A hacker doesn’t need to break into your headquarters to steal data anymore. They can infiltrate a single machine on your production line and move from there. Hackers can now manipulate production settings.
For instance, a hacker can adjust the calibration of an aerospace component. Now, you have an entire batch of defective parts that could fail in the air.
And yet, many manufacturers still rely on outdated security methods. No one is saying you have to tear down your whole system. However, if your cloud security hasn’t been updated in years, you are leaving the front door unlocked in a bad neighborhood.
Manufacturers don’t operate in a vacuum. They share data with suppliers, vendors, and distributors. This means a weak link anywhere in the chain can compromise your entire network.
A supply chain attack happens when hackers infiltrate a third party to get access to your systems. Maybe your supplier’s cloud storage is vulnerable. Maybe they’re using weak passwords. These vulnerabilities allow attackers to slip through third-party security and land in your data. Many manufacturers don’t realize how much access they’re giving third-party partners until it’s too late.
This is not a small problem, as 16.7% of businesses report severe financial losses from supply chain attacks. According to the 2022 Interos Annual Global Supply Chain Report, the average supply chain disruption costs around $182 million annually.
Not all cyber threats come from the outside. In fact, one of the biggest risks is already inside your company.
Think about employees handling sensitive data every day. Some might be careless, accidentally exposing files by using unapproved file-sharing apps. Others might be disgruntled, stealing blueprints or trade secrets to sell to a competitor. And it’s not just full-time staff. Contractors and temporary workers often have more access than they should.
Negligence is the biggest insider threat in manufacturing. It’s usually not malicious, but negligence can manifest in someone doing any of the following:
These negligent mistakes open the door to hackers.
Unlike industries like finance or healthcare, manufacturing doesn’t have a single universal security standard. But that doesn’t mean companies can ignore compliance.
Depending on where you operate, you may need to follow the following standards:
If you ignore compliance, you are looking at lost contracts, fines, and damage to your reputation. If a major client requires NIST compliance and you can’t prove your security meets the standard, they might take their business elsewhere.
At OTAVA, we help manufacturers simplify compliance by offering cloud security solutions designed to meet these industry regulations.
All is not lost when it comes to security in the cloud. Below are some cloud data protection practices for manufacturers.
Most companies overestimate how secure their access controls are. The truth is that too many employees have access to too much data. Controlled access takes into account the following:
Encryption sounds complicated, but it’s basically putting a lock on your data. AES-256 encryption keeps stored data safe, even if hackers breach the system. SSL/TLS encryption secures data moving between cloud applications.
Would you leave the doors to your factory unlocked at night? Then, don’t leave your cloud data unprotected.
Most cyberattacks don’t happen all at once. Hackers often sneak in and wait weeks or months before striking.
AI-powered threat detection can spot unusual behavior before it turns into a disaster. Real-time monitoring helps detect unauthorized access so you can stop hackers before they cause real damage.
Downtime can be annoying and expensive. Every minute a factory isn’t running, money is pouring down the drain. According to Acronis, manufacturers lose $50 billion per year from downtime.
A cyberattack can shut down operations for 5 days or more unless you have a disaster recovery plan. With cloud-based recovery solutions, downtime drops to just 4–6 hours.
Our DRaaS solutions ensure you’re never left scrambling after an attack.
Hackers love outdated software. They know companies take forever to update systems, so they look for unpatched vulnerabilities. It is recommended that you run vulnerability scans regularly to catch security gaps.
Additionally, automate patch management to keep everything up to date. The less outdated software you have, the fewer doors hackers can walk through.
If a data breach happens, do you know exactly what to do?
At OTAVA, we provide managed security services to help manufacturers handle cyber threats before they become full-blown disasters.
If you’ve made it this far, you already know cloud security isn’t something you can ignore. Cyberattacks, supply chain risks, and compliance failures are real threats. But they don’t have to be. OTAVAs provide secure, scalable cloud solutions for manufacturers designed to keep your data safe—without slowing down operations. Take our security assessment today and find out where your biggest risks are.
