Manufacturing

NIST 800-171 is a cybersecurity framework mandated by the Department of Defense (DoD) for all contractors and subcontractors who process, store, or transmit Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) in non-federal systems. If your manufacturing company has contracts with the DoD or other federal agencies, or if you're a subcontractor in the defense supply chain, NIST 800-171 compliance is required. The framework includes 110 security controls across 14 families including access control, incident response, system integrity, and more. Non-compliance can result in loss of contracts, inability to bid on new opportunities, and potential False Claims Act liability. Even if you don't currently have federal contracts, implementing NIST 800-171 demonstrates strong security practices that benefit all manufacturers. We help manufacturers determine if NIST 800-171 applies to their operations and guide implementation of the 110 required controls with a focus on practical, cost-effective solutions.

Securing OT and industrial control systems requires a different approach than traditional IT security due to uptime requirements, legacy systems, and safety considerations. Best practices include: network segmentation to isolate OT networks from IT and the internet, implementing industrial firewalls and DMZs between zones, restricting remote access to OT systems with multi-factor authentication and VPNs, maintaining asset inventories of all PLCs, SCADA systems, HMIs, and industrial devices, deploying OT-specific monitoring and intrusion detection systems, establishing change control procedures for any OT system modifications, developing backup and recovery procedures that don't disrupt production, and coordinating with vendors on security patches (many OT systems cannot be patched without extensive testing). We conduct OT security assessments following frameworks like IEC 62443 and help manufacturers implement defense-in-depth strategies that protect production systems without impacting uptime or safety.

The Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) is a unified cybersecurity standard for DoD contractors that will replace the current self-attestation model. CMMC has three levels: Level 1 (17 practices) for Federal Contract Information (FCI), Level 2 (110 practices, aligned with NIST 800-171) for Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), and Level 3 (additional advanced practices) for the most sensitive programs. Unlike current requirements, CMMC requires third-party assessment and certification - you cannot self-certify. The DoD is phasing in CMMC requirements over several years, with final rule implementation expected in 2024-2025. If you have existing DoD contracts or want to bid on new opportunities, you'll need CMMC certification at the appropriate level. We help defense contractors prepare for CMMC by implementing the required security controls, conducting gap assessments, and coordinating with certified third-party assessors when you're ready for formal certification.

Protecting manufacturing IP requires multiple security layers focusing on data classification and access control: identify and classify your most valuable IP (designs, formulas, processes, customer lists, pricing), implement strict access controls so only employees who need specific IP can access it, encrypt sensitive files both at rest and in transit, deploy data loss prevention (DLP) tools to prevent unauthorized copying or transmission, monitor file access and detect unusual download patterns, secure email to prevent accidental or intentional IP leakage, implement network segmentation to separate design/engineering systems from other networks, establish secure collaboration methods for working with external partners or contract manufacturers, and conduct background checks on employees with access to sensitive IP. State-sponsored actors and competitors specifically target manufacturing companies for industrial espionage. We conduct IP protection assessments that identify where your most valuable data resides, who has access, and what security controls are in place, then implement comprehensive protection strategies.

A manufacturing incident response plan for ransomware must address both IT and OT impacts: immediate isolation procedures to prevent ransomware spread from IT to OT networks (and vice versa), communication protocols including notifying plant managers, executives, customers, and potentially law enforcement, manual operation procedures for continuing production if systems are down, prioritized recovery sequence identifying critical systems (payroll, customer orders, production scheduling, quality systems), backup validation processes to ensure backups aren't infected before restoration, decision framework for ransomware payment (consider production downtime costs vs. ransom amount, but payment doesn't guarantee recovery), vendor contact information for OT systems, ERP, and other critical applications, and business continuity procedures for fulfilling customer orders during extended outages. Manufacturing ransomware attacks can cost millions in lost production. We conduct tabletop exercises that simulate realistic ransomware scenarios specific to your manufacturing operations, testing your plan and identifying gaps before a real incident occurs.