Cyber Security Services For Manufacturing Companies

Cyber Security Services For Manufacturing Companies
Table of contents

If your production stops, everything stops, orders, revenue, and customer confidence.

Manufacturing has become one of the most targeted sectors for cyber attacks. Attackers know that even a few hours of downtime on your lines can cost millions, and that many plants still run on legacy systems that weren’t built with security in mind.

We can help manufacturing companies protect plants, data, and supply chains with practical, industrial-grade cyber security services. On this page we’ll walk through the risks you’re facing, the services that actually make a difference on the factory floor, and how AGR Technology can partner with you to reduce risk without getting in the way of production.

Get in contact to see how we can help protect your factory:

Why Manufacturing Is A Prime Target For Cyber Attacks

Key IT Challenges in Manufacturing Environments

Unique Cyber Risks In Manufacturing Environments

Manufacturing environments are very different from a typical office network. You’re running:

  • Industrial control systems (ICS)
  • PLCs, HMIs, and SCADA
  • Legacy Windows and proprietary vendor software
  • Robotics, sensors, and IIoT devices

These systems were designed for reliability and uptime, not modern cyber threats. Many can’t be patched easily, and some have default credentials or outdated operating systems that are simple for attackers to exploit.

On top of that, plants now connect shop-floor systems to ERP, MES, cloud platforms, and remote vendors. That convergence of IT and OT opens powerful new capabilities, but also new attack paths.

Attackers target manufacturers because:

  • Downtime creates strong pressure to pay ransoms
  • Intellectual property (designs, formulas, processes) is valuable
  • Supply chain data is a rich source of leverage
  • Many sites still have flat networks and minimal monitoring

Business And Operational Impacts Of A Successful Attack

A cyber incident in a manufacturing plant isn’t just an IT issue. It can hit every part of the business:

  • Production downtime: Lines stop, orders slip, and OEE tanks.
  • Safety risks: Affected PLCs or HMIs can lead to unsafe states if not properly protected.
  • Quality issues: Compromised systems may change recipes or process parameters.
  • IP theft: Loss of designs, formulas, and trade secrets to competitors or criminal groups.
  • Regulatory and contractual exposure: Breach of customer data, safety obligations, or supplier SLAs.

We’ve seen manufacturers pushed into manual workarounds, paper-based processes, and emergency overtime to catch up after an attack. The direct incident cost is bad enough. The bigger hit often comes from delayed shipments, lost customers, and reputational damage.

That’s why cyber security services for manufacturing companies must be grounded in your reality, production schedules, safety requirements, and tight margins, not generic IT advice.

Core Cybersecurity Challenges Facing Manufacturing Companies

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Converged IT/OT Networks And Legacy Systems

Most plants and factories now have connected IT and OT networks. But:

  • OT environments often run unsupported operating systems
  • Vendor equipment may not be patchable on normal schedules
  • Flat network architectures allow lateral movement

We regularly see engineering workstations and business systems on the same segment as PLCs and HMIs. A simple phishing email can become a plant-wide outage.

Our role is to help you separate and protect these environments without disrupting critical processes.

Third-Party And Supply Chain Exposure

Your plant doesn’t operate alone. You rely on:

  • OEMs and system integrators with remote access
  • Logistics and warehousing partners
  • Cloud-based MES, ERP, and maintenance systems

Each connection is a potential entry point. Attackers increasingly compromise suppliers or remote access tools to get into plants quietly.

We focus on strengthening remote access controls, vendor management, and supply chain security so you’re not exposed by someone else’s weakness.

Ransomware, Downtime, And Safety Risks

Ransomware is still one of the biggest threats to manufacturing. It targets:

  • File servers and production data
  • Scheduling, planning, and warehouse systems
  • Sometimes OT networks themselves

When ransomware hits, you face decisions under pressure: restore, rebuild, or pay. And if OT systems are affected, safety becomes a real concern.

Our cyber security services for manufacturing companies are built to:

  • Reduce the chance of a successful ransomware attack
  • Limit its spread if it does get in
  • Get you back into safe, controlled operation quickly

Essential Cyber Security Services For Manufacturing Organizations

Security Risk Assessments And OT Vulnerability Reviews

A good program starts with a clear picture of risk.

We conduct tailored security risk assessments for manufacturing plants that cover both IT and OT:

  • Asset inventory of servers, workstations, PLCs, HMIs, SCADA, and IIoT
  • Network mapping and data flow diagrams
  • Vulnerability identification on critical systems
  • Review of remote access, vendor connectivity, and wireless

You get a prioritised, plain-language roadmap focused on what matters most: protecting production and safety.

Next step: Talk to us about a plant-wide cyber risk assessment to see where you stand.

Network Architecture, Segmentation, And Zero-Trust Design

Strong network design is one of the best defences.

We help manufacturers:

  • Segment IT and OT networks with proper zones and conduits
  • Introduce DMZs between corporate and plant environments
  • Apply zero-trust principles to limit lateral movement
  • Harden remote access with VPN, MFA, and strict access rules

The goal is simple: an attacker shouldn’t be able to move from a single compromised device to your entire plant.

Endpoint, Server, And Industrial Device Protection

Traditional antivirus alone isn’t enough.

We deploy and manage protection suited to industrial environments:

  • Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) for servers and workstations
  • Application allowlisting for critical hosts
  • Hardening of engineering workstations and jump servers
  • Secure configuration baselines for HMIs and OT servers where possible

We tailor controls to the reality that some devices can’t be rebooted or patched on demand.

Continuous Monitoring, SIEM, And Managed Detection And Response (MDR)

Attacks often go unnoticed for weeks, or until something breaks.

Our monitoring and MDR services give you:

  • Centralised log collection (SIEM) across IT and OT
  • Correlation of events for early threat detection
  • 24/7 eyes on your environment
  • Clear, actionable alerts instead of noise

We act as your extended security team, escalating only what you need to act on.

Incident Response Planning, Playbooks, And Forensics

In a crisis, guesswork is expensive.

We help you prepare with:

  • Incident response plans tailored to manufacturing scenarios
  • Playbooks for ransomware, OT compromise, and data breaches
  • Roles and responsibilities for IT, OT, safety, and leadership
  • Forensic investigation support when incidents occur

You’ll know who does what, in what order, and how to contain and recover safely.

Backup, Disaster Recovery, And Business Continuity Services

Reliable backups are your safety net.

We design and support backup and recovery strategies that consider:

  • Critical OT systems and configurations (e.g., PLC logic, HMI projects)
  • RPO/RTO aligned to production requirements
  • Offline and immutable backup options to resist ransomware
  • Disaster recovery testing and documented run books

The aim is straightforward: if the worst happens, you can restore systems and resume production with confidence.

Identity And Access Management For Plants And Remote Access

Who has access to what, and how tightly is that controlled?

We carry out identity and access management (IAM) that works for manufacturing:

  • Role-based access for engineers, operators, and vendors
  • Centralised authentication where practical
  • Multi-factor authentication for remote and privileged access
  • Just-in-time access for high-risk activities

This reduces the chances of compromised credentials leading to a whole-of-plant incident.

Employee Security Awareness And Role-Based Training

People are still the most common way attackers get in.

We deliver targeted training for:

  • Office staff (phishing, social engineering, data handling)
  • Engineers and OT personnel (secure remote access, USB use, change control)
  • Leaders and supervisors (incident response and escalation)

Training is practical, short, and focused on real situations your teams face.

Compliance, Governance, And Policy Development For Manufacturers

Many manufacturers now must demonstrate compliance to customers, insurers, or regulators.

We help build the governance foundation:

  • Cyber security policies and standards suited to your plants
  • Alignment with frameworks like ISO 27001, NIST CSF, or sector guidelines
  • Vendor and third-party security requirements
  • Documentation to support audits and customer security reviews

This not only reduces risk but also supports tenders and long-term contracts.

Ready to strengthen your security foundation? Reach out to AGR Technology to discuss a tailored security program for your manufacturing sites.

Specialized OT And Industrial Control System (ICS) Security Services

Securing PLCs, HMIs, SCADA, And Other Control Systems

ICS security has its own rules. We understand that uptime and safety come first.

Our services include:

  • Security reviews of PLC, HMI, and SCADA configurations
  • Access control and account hygiene on OT systems
  • Change management for logic and project files
  • Safe patching approaches in coordination with operations and vendors

We work alongside your engineers so security supports, not disrupts, production.

Segregating And Hardening Production Networks

We help you:

  • Separate production, safety, and business networks appropriately
  • Introduce industrial firewalls and access control lists
  • Remove unnecessary services and open ports
  • Document and control data flows between zones

The result is a more resilient production environment that’s harder for attackers to move through.

Monitoring Industrial Protocols And Anomalous Behavior

Standard IT tools don’t always see what’s happening inside ICS networks.

We deploy OT-aware monitoring that can:

  • Understand industrial protocols like Modbus, Profinet, and EtherNet/IP
  • Detect unusual commands or traffic patterns
  • Identify unauthorised devices and changes

This gives you better visibility into your control systems without affecting real-time performance.

Safety, Reliability, And Cybersecurity Integration

Safety, reliability, and cyber security are increasingly linked.

We work with your safety and maintenance teams to:

  • Align cyber controls with process safety measures
  • Ensure security changes don’t undermine availability
  • Integrate cyber scenarios into safety and emergency planning

Our focus is to support safe, reliable operations while closing the gaps attackers look for.

How To Choose The Right Cyber Security Partner For Your Manufacturing Business

Evaluating Industry Experience And OT Expertise

Not every IT security provider understands plants.

When you assess partners, look for:

  • Proven experience with manufacturing and industrial clients
  • Familiarity with PLCs, SCADA, and plant-floor realities
  • Ability to work with engineering and maintenance teams, not just IT

At AGR Technology, our team has hands-on experience working with mixed IT/OT environments and understands that production windows and change-freeze periods are non-negotiable.

Service Models: In-House, Co-Managed, And Fully Managed

Cyber security for manufacturing companies often lands in one of three models:

  • In-house: You build and run everything internally
  • Co-managed: You keep control, we provide tools, expertise, and monitoring
  • Fully managed: We handle most of the day-to-day security operations

We typically recommend a co-managed approach, so your people stay in control of the plant while we provide depth, tooling, and 24/7 coverage.

Key Questions To Ask Potential Providers

When you speak with providers, ask:

  • How do you handle OT environments that can’t be patched or rebooted easily?
  • What’s your experience with ICS and industrial protocols?
  • Can you support multi-site or multi-plant operations?
  • How will you work with our existing IT and engineering teams?
  • What does your incident response support look like in practice?

The answers will tell you quickly whether they understand your world.

Cost, ROI, And Justifying Cybersecurity Investment

It’s natural to ask: what’s the return on this investment?

Cyber security in manufacturing reduces:

  • Unplanned downtime from cyber incidents
  • Risk of safety and environmental events linked to cyber issues
  • Exposure to ransomware and extortion
  • Loss of IP and sensitive data

It also supports:

  • Meeting customer and OEM security expectations
  • Winning and keeping high-value contracts
  • Lower cyber insurance risk profiles over time

We can help you build a practical business case that ties security initiatives back to production continuity and commercial outcomes.

Want to explore options? Contact us and we’ll walk through a right-sized approach for your budget and risk profile.

Practical Roadmap To Implement Cyber Security In A Manufacturing Plant

Assess Current Maturity And Prioritize High-Risk Areas

We usually start with three questions:

  1. What are your most critical production assets and processes?
  2. What could stop them quickly?
  3. What visibility do you have today?

From there, we run an assessment to map:

  • Crown-jewel assets (lines, systems, and data you can’t afford to lose)
  • Current controls and obvious gaps
  • OT-specific constraints and vendor dependencies

This gives us a clear starting point and helps you prioritise high-impact work.

Quick Wins Versus Long-Term Strategic Initiatives

We separate the roadmap into:

  • Quick wins (weeks to a few months)
  • Hardening remote access
  • Enabling MFA for key accounts
  • Improving phishing protection
  • Basic segmentation between IT and OT
  • Strategic initiatives (months to years)
  • Full network redesign and zero-trust architecture
  • Integrated SIEM and MDR
  • Comprehensive backup, DR, and business continuity
  • Governance, policy, and training programs

This lets you make progress quickly while building towards a mature, sustainable security posture.

Building A Security Culture On The Shop Floor

Technology alone won’t solve the problem.

We help you:

  • Involve supervisors and team leaders early
  • Make security expectations clear and practical
  • Integrate checks into existing workflows (e.g., change control, maintenance)
  • Recognise and reinforce good security behaviour

When operators and engineers see that security supports stable production, not just “more rules,” adoption improves.

Continuous Improvement: Testing, Auditing, And Updating Controls

Threats, technologies, and your plant environment change over time.

We support continuous improvement through:

  • Regular testing of backups, incident response, and failover
  • Periodic audits of access, configuration, and network changes
  • Updating controls in line with new threats and business needs

Cyber security becomes part of how you run the plant, not a one-off project.

Ready to build a practical roadmap for your sites? We can help you prioritise and execute the steps that matter most.

Conclusion

Manufacturing companies sit at the centre of modern supply chains, and at the crosshairs of modern cyber threats.

The good news is that with the right partner, you can significantly reduce risk while keeping production running smoothly. From network segmentation and OT-aware monitoring to incident response and training, AGR Technology offers cyber security services for manufacturing companies that are grounded in real plant conditions.

If you’re looking to:

  • Understand your current cyber risk across IT and OT
  • Protect critical production systems and IP
  • Meet growing customer and regulatory expectations

we’re here to help.

Take the next step:

  • Schedule a cyber risk assessment for your plant
  • Or contact AGR Technology to discuss a tailored security program for your manufacturing business.

We’ll work with you to protect your plants, data, and supply chains, so you can focus on making and delivering what your customers rely on.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are cyber security services for manufacturing companies so important today?

Manufacturing plants are prime cyber targets because downtime is costly, many OT systems are legacy or unpatchable, and production networks are increasingly connected to ERP, MES, and cloud platforms. Effective cyber security services help prevent outages, safety incidents, IP theft, and supply chain disruption that can damage revenue and reputation.

What types of cyber security services for manufacturing companies does AGR Technology provide?

AGR Technology offers risk assessments, IT/OT network segmentation and zero-trust design, endpoint and industrial device protection, SIEM and MDR monitoring, incident response planning, backup and disaster recovery, identity and access management, staff training, compliance support, and specialized ICS security for PLCs, HMIs, SCADA, and production networks.

How do cyber security services protect industrial control systems like PLCs and SCADA?

Services focus on reviewing and hardening configurations, enforcing access control on OT systems, monitoring industrial protocols for anomalies, carefully managing changes to logic and project files, and coordinating safe patching with engineering and vendors. The goal is to improve security while keeping uptime and process safety as top priorities.

What is the best way to start implementing cyber security in a manufacturing plant?

Begin with a plant-wide assessment to identify critical production assets, current controls, and obvious gaps across IT and OT. Prioritize quick wins—such as tightening remote access, enabling MFA, and basic segmentation—while planning longer-term initiatives like zero-trust architecture, integrated monitoring, robust backups, and governance and training programs.

How much do cyber security services for manufacturing companies typically cost?

Costs vary based on plant size, number of sites, current maturity, and whether services are in-house, co-managed, or fully managed. Many manufacturers start with an assessment and a focused set of projects, then scale to 24/7 monitoring and OT-specific services. A good provider will align scope with risk, budgets, and production priorities.

Which cybersecurity standards or frameworks should manufacturers consider following?

Manufacturers commonly align with frameworks such as ISO 27001 and the NIST Cybersecurity Framework, and may reference sector guidelines like IEC 62443 for industrial control systems. These frameworks help structure governance, technical controls, vendor requirements, and continuous improvement, and provide evidence of due diligence for customers, insurers, and regulators.

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