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Sophos recently reported that 65 percent of manufacturing and production organizations were hit by ransomware last year, which, unlike other sectors, is an increase. Overall, these attacks have increased by 41 percent for manufacturing since 2020. Additionally, the cybersecurity firm found that 44 percent of computers used in manufacturing have been impacted by a ransomware attack, and over half of these intrusions can be directly linked to malicious emails and compromised credentials. 

These findings help illustrate what we’ve known for years – hackers would rather log in than break in. And stopping these types of attacks requires starting with your front line defenses – the workforce. 

Our guest for today’s episode will look to offer some solutions for transitioning employees from a weak link to a key cybersecurity asset. Watch/listen as Shawn Waldman, CEO and Founder of Secure Cyber, a leading provider of secure network design solutions, discusses:

• Why he would give the industrial sector a low D when grading their ability to effectively communicate security processes and protocols.
• How to address those employees that continue to click on every link in their emails.
• Why cybersecurity should be treated like a trade.
• Understanding the difference between security tools and IT services.
• Implementing accountability without being overly punitive and rewarding employees for positive cybersecurity actions.
• The concerns he has about 5G and quantum decryption.
• Avoiding the AI "easy button".

To catch up on past episodes, you can go to Manufacturing.net, IEN.com or MBTmag.com. You can also check Security Breach out wherever you get your podcasts, including Apple, Amazon and Overcast. And if you have a cybersecurity story or topic that you’d like to have us explore on Security Breach, you can reach me at jeff@ien.com.

To download our latest report on industrial cybersecurity, The Industrial Sector’s New Battlefield, click here.