Expert Investigations

Cyber security is a serious problem in manufacturing. Almost half of Britain’s manufacturers have been a victim of cyber-crime over the last 12 months with over a quarter of respondents reporting a financial loss as the result of an attack. This is from a report published by Make UK.

The threat from loss of data and theft of intellectual property (IP) cannot be ignored. But when asked, 31% of manufacturers said they would be unable to give guarantees of cyber security. And 1 in 3 businesses has reportedly dropped cyber security as a high priority.

Why Is This A Particular Problem In The Manufacturing Industry?

Historically, manufacturing might not have been considered a particularly ‘digital’ industry. But many consider smart factories (a cyber-physical system that uses interconnected advanced technologies to analyse data, drive automated processes, and learn as it goes), to be the future of manufacturing.

With the push to Industry 4.0 – IT is now embedded in production operations throughout the industry. So what you get is increased digitisation in an industry that has not the tools or the experience in place to prevent exploitation. And that exploitation is most prevalent amongst a businesses own employees.

How To Improve Cyber Security In Manufacturing?

Prevention is always better than detection or disruption. And there are some clear, common sense tips for improving cyber security within your business:

Implement Comprehensive Training Programs

Regularly educate employees about cybersecurity best practices, including phishing awareness, password management, and data handling. Ensure they understand the potential risks of their actions and how to recognise suspicious activities.

Establish Clear Policies

Create and communicate a clear cybersecurity policy that outlines acceptable use of company resources, data protection protocols, and consequences for violations. Ensure employees understand their responsibilities in safeguarding sensitive information.

Limit Access and Use Role-Based Permissions

Grant employees access only to the data and systems necessary for their roles. Regularly review and update access permissions, especially during personnel changes.

Encourage a Culture of Reporting

Foster an environment where employees feel comfortable reporting suspicious activities or potential security threats without fear of retribution. Encourage open communication and provide easy reporting channels for security concerns.

Regularly Monitor and Audit

Conduct regular audits of your systems and user activities to detect any unusual behaviour. Utilise monitoring tools to track data access and usage patterns, allowing you to identify potential insider threats early.

By combining training, policy enforcement, and proactive monitoring, you can significantly reduce the risk of internal cyber security threats. But what about when the insider threat is already present within your business?

That’s When You Need An Expert

Computer forensics procedures discover a large portion of workplace dishonesty. A computer forensic investigator needs to understand how to gather digital evidence. As a result, many private investigators now have digital forensic experts on their teams to solve these digital issues. By carrying out data recovery on digital devices or through digital monitoring, a digital forensics expert can build an idea of what has happened, how it was done, and who it was done by. Here at Expert Investigations, we have a team of highly trained computer forensics investigators that can investigate misuse of company tech, data, or time.

Putting simple measures in place to disrupt and prevent employee dishonesty will put a company or organisation in a robust position. Contact us to start preventing and disrupting the dishonest employees in your organisation.