As business owners, our idea of investing back into our company is through hiring reputable employees, expanding our marketing campaigns, and reaching out to new clients. But in our modern era of computing, failure to emphasize our user data creates a red flag moving into the future. Pertinent details such as sales transactions, client information, credit card numbers, database specifics, architecture, and infrastructure needs to be protected from malicious attacks at all costs. If you’re on the fence about developing a manufacturers cyber security training program in your organization, here are the facts you need to know.
Companies Lose Billions of Dollars Annually Due to Compromised Security
When we sit down and examine our annual budget, manufacturers cyber security seems to be an idea that we push to the back of our minds. While topics such as employee retention, client acquisition, and outsourcing are critical for future success, the thought of protecting our systems seems to be an afterthought.
New data is being released that shows hackers can cause billions of dollars worth of damage in the blink of an eye. Even more alarming is that many manufacturers fail to realize that their servers, databases, and files have become compromised. Hearing these statistics strikes fear in the hearts of budding business owners, and many of them turn to cyber insurance to cover their losses, but this misses the point. Manufacturers are particularly vulnerable to cyber attacks, leading to plenty of unnecessary costs if there’s a lack of practical and well-managed security measurements already in place.
The way that we, as aspiring professionals, fight back against those threats is by instilling a ‘security first’ mindset in our employees. Giving adequate manufacturers cyber security training to the individuals that make our business run is paramount for reducing the risk of upcoming attacks.
People Are the Weakest Link
When we flip on a movie or television show with a scene where a hacker is infiltrating a company, we’re shown images of terminals, complicated commands, network maps, and vulnerable ports that act as vectors for a would-be criminal to utilize. In a real-world scenario, most attacks begin with communicating with low-level staff inside an organization. The attacker may appear friendly and interested in doing business, but they’re often probing for specific details that will allow them free access to your technologies.
A person-to-person attack is commonly referred to as social engineering. An outside party will probe employees for pertinent data such as passwords, the email address their boss uses, client information, network configurations, and so on. With adequate employee cyber security training, your staff can screen for these types of inquiries and stop an attacker in their tracks.
Moreover, it allows the staff to realize that almost anything can be used as a vector point for a cyber security threat. Devices such as smartphones, iPads, laptops, server rooms, and personal profiles on social media websites are areas that interest hackers. Between 2018 and 2019, over 440 instances of cyber attacks have been reported to the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada (OPC). With numbers this staggering, it has never been a better time to implement a security framework into your business budget.
Should You Take Cyber Attacks Seriously?
For business owners that want to protect their clients’ information moving into the future, cyber security training is a logical choice to make. Rather than assessing your threat-protecting model as a return on investment (ROI), think of it as a safety mechanism that will protect you from losing millions of dollars from outside threats.
Not only will manufacturers cyber security training allow you to rest easy at night knowing your business is protected, but it will also show potential clients that you value their privacy. In a world where all of our information can be accessed with a simple Google search, dare to be brave and stand up against attackers.
Why Does Your Manufacturing Business Need Cyber Security?
Cyber security is essential to a business, especially manufacturing businesses. Without proper security, hackers and cyber criminals can infiltrate and disrupt your entire operation. There are several reasons why you might need manufacturers cyber security and cyber security training:
- Protecting your Confidential Information: Manufacturers cyber security is key to protecting confidential information. That way, you can protect information like customer data, intellectual property, and trade secrets from hackers.
- Maintaining Business Operations: Manufacturing businesses heavily rely on computer systems and networks that manage their inventory, supply chain, and production processes. Cyber attacks can break down these systems and cost you downtime, revenue and even reputation.
- Meeting Compliance Requirements: There may be industry standards and regulations for your region and business that require proper cyber security measures, which can lead to fines and legal consequences if not followed.
- Building Customer Trust: Customers prefer and trust manufacturers that take their privacy and security seriously. A great cyber security infrastructure not only protects you, but your customer.
Investing in manufacturers cyber security training helps protect your business from potential threats, builds customer trust, and ensures your business will run smoothly and efficiently. Protect your business from ransomware and cyber attacks by building a cyber security infrastructure that’s designed for your business.
Sabre IT and Manufacturers Cyber Security
Sabre IT Solutions has been providing IT services to industrial and commercial businesses since 1998. Our sister company Sabre Limited are expert in manufacturing ERP systems and as such we understand supply chain like few other IT businesses. If you want to learn more about our manufacturers cyber security and training, or just find out more about what we can offer, give us a call at 226-336-6259 or contact us at itsales@sabrelimited.com today to learn more.
Curious to know more about ransomware and how it can affect your company? Check our blog post on ransomware attacks here.
