From Reactive to Resilient: A New Approach to Cybersecurity in Manufacturing

This article appeared in the October 2026 issue of MiMfg Magazine. Read the full issue and find past issues online.

In manufacturing, cybersecurity is no longer just IT’s concern. A successful cyberattack can halt production, disrupt your supply chain, expose intellectual property and damage your customer relationships.

Cybercriminals know that downtime is particularly dangerous to manufacturers, which makes plants big and small a frequent and high-value target. IBM’s X-Force Threat Intelligence 2026 reports that manufacturing remains the most targeted industry for cyberattacks, accounting for 27.7 percent of all observed security incidents. Equally as frightening: For a manufacturer, the average cost of a breach is $5.50 million, according to IBM’s Cost of a Data Breach Report, 2026.

Unfortunately, many manufacturers still approach cybersecurity like a game of whack-a-mole, addressing vulnerabilities only after they’re discovered. In today’s threat environment, that approach is no longer sufficient.

A far more effective approach: Continuous Threat Exposure Management (CTEM), a framework that helps organizations identify, evaluate and prioritize cyber risks before they lead to operational disruptions. Rather than focusing solely on technical vulnerabilities, CTEM connects three critical elements: current threat intelligence, known vulnerabilities and potential business impact.

For manufacturers, this triple-layered perspective is especially valuable. After all, not all assets carry the same level of risk. A compromised employee workstation may be inconvenient, but an attack affecting production systems, ERP software, engineering drawings, customer specifications, CNC equipment or plant-floor automation can have far more significant consequences.

The first step in CTEM is understanding what needs protection. Start by developing a clear inventory of critical systems, sensitive data and third-party connections. This includes your intellectual property, customer information, network-connected equipment, production systems, and cloud-based applications.

From there, you can prioritize efforts based on business impact. Remember: the goal is not to fix every vulnerability at once but to focus resources on the exposures most likely to disrupt operations, affect customers or create financial losses.

CTEM: Five Actions You Can Take Now

1. Assess critical assets. Identify the systems, data and operational technologies that are essential to production and business continuity.
2. Strengthen supplier oversight. Because many cyber incidents originate through third parties, evaluate vendors’ security practices and limit their access to only the information and systems they need.
3. Apply updates consistently. Establish a documented process for patching software, firmware and connected equipment to reduce exposure to known vulnerabilities.
4. Test your defenses. Consider regular cybersecurity assessments, penetration testing or red-team exercises to identify weaknesses before attackers do.
5. Align with proven frameworks. Frameworks such as NIST Cybersecurity Framework and CIS Controls can help guide you in creating a structured, risk-based approach to managing cyber threats.

Given the financial, operational, and reputational costs of a breach, cybersecurity must be managed with the same discipline manufacturers apply to quality, safety, and preventive maintenance. The organizations that thrive will be those that continuously evaluate risks, prioritize resources, and strengthen controls before an incident occurs.

The question is no longer whether cyber threats exist. The real question is whether your organization is prepared to identify and address exposures before they disrupt operations.

About the Author

As a leader in Rehmann’s Technology Solutions Group, Jessica provides cybersecurity, IT consulting and risk management services to clients across a variety of industries. She may be reached at jessica.dore@rehmann.com.

Rehmann is an MMA Premium Associate Member and has been an MMA member company since July 2006. Visit online: rehmann.com.