Companies must have strong cyber security to maintain customer relationships or risk losing customers altogether. New guidelines and regulations around cybersecurity in manufacturing are forcing job shops of all sizes to quickly adapt to updated cybersecurity protocols or be dropped from supplier lists.
Many industry articles are covering how metal finishers are being impacted and what can be done to ensure cybersecurity regulations are met.
NIST in Job Shop Manufacturing
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) suggested that U.S. manufacturers, including surface finishers, needed to make significant upgrades to their computer systems. For many metal finishing companies working with enterprise manufacturers, this meant unexpected costs. One metal finisher spent nearly $200,000 to meet the new security standards.
In one situation, an aerospace enterprise even threatened to remove an OEM service provider from their list of approved suppliers if they did not get certified for having highly secure computer systems. This was part of a new program called the Software Bill of Material (SBOM) Requirements for Critical Software by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, including:
- a formal record containing details and supply chain relationships of various software components
- useful for developers, vendors, and operators to ensure components are up to date, evaluate risk, and manage vulnerabilities
In 2019, military and government contractors asked suppliers to enhance their online security. The goal was to make sure that sensitive information and critical software used in finishing operations were well-protected.
The Threat of Outdated Systems
One reality of the job shop manufacturing industry is that many systems are extremely outdated. Outdated technologies, like using paper and legacy software in manufacturing, can be a big problem for cybersecurity. Old methods are less secure than modern digital systems, making it easier for cybercriminals to harm manufacturers.
One study found that 75% of manufacturing operations still rely on paper-based systems. This means a lot of sensitive information is at risk because paper systems don't have strong digital security. Additionally, human errors during manual data entry can create even more cybersecurity issues. As manufacturing adopts new technologies, it's important to update systems to safeguard against cyber threats and protect sensitive data.
Understanding Manufacturing Cyber Security Requirements
Improving IT systems isn't cheap or easy. This means spending a lot of time and money on things like better routers and hardware, backup systems, and even new servers. It was a bit like following the rules of quality systems such as AS9100 or NADCAP.
Many small shops don't fully understand these new requirements. Some thought they could just use cloud services to meet the standards, but that isn't nearly enough. Relying on industry experts in manufacturing cybersecurity would allow them to reach new levels of success and eliminating the risk of losing customers.
As tools become more affordable and security threats rise, it is more widely accepted to have strong online security. The extensive NIST security checklist includes over 100 security requirements. These requirements focused on things like:
- Limiting system access
- Controlling information flow
- Separating duties to reduce the risk of harmful activities
By understanding the requirements, installing new equipment, and creating new procedures for the company, manufacturers can officially meet the NIST standards. Again, this transformation isn't generally cheap or easy and can cost over $200,000.
Even with substantial investments, there's no guarantee of complete protection. All companies need to enhance their online security, no matter their size.
Steelhead Technologies Job Shop Software to Solve Cyber Security Requirements
Steelhead Technologies designed the manufacturing ERP to comply with the industry focus on cyber security and data integrity. We specifically made the software to track the entire process from quoting to shipping and everything in between.
4 Benefits of Outsourcing Software to the Experts
1. Expertise in Industry Regulations and Cyber: Relying on expert outsourcing guarantees enhanced cybersecurity measures. Professionals in the field specialize in supporting the latest security protocols, safeguarding sensitive data, and ensuring compliance with industry standards. This helps in preventing cyber threats and securing the manufacturing process.
2. Benchmarking Insights: Outsourcing to experts allows manufacturers to access best practices and industry benchmarks. This results in improved efficiency, reduced downtime, and increased overall productivity, contributing to bigger profits.
3. Latest Technological Advancements: Keeping up with ERP software means manufacturing processes stay competitive and efficient. This provides a competitive edge in the market.
4. Proves Cost-Effective: Instead of allocating internal resources for development and maintenance, manufacturers can rely on specialized services, reducing overall expenses while benefiting from cutting-edge technology and wisdom.
Steelhead Technologies Gov+ Service Package
To support the parameters defined by SBOMs, Steelhead Technologies offers the Gov+ service package. Gov+ helps companies comply with cybersecurity standards. This program offers a secure environment, encrypted data, and support to help meet the strict CUI/CMMC cybersecurity rules. Working with Steelhead is more affordable compared to other methods. Costs to update legacy systems can range between $200,000 and $400,000.
Manufacturing service providers need to pay attention to their online security to meet new standards and protect sensitive information. This is a warning to the industry – if you do not invest in good online security, you might lose important contracts and face security problems. As technology continues to improve, companies need to focus on strong online security to keep information safe, maintain trust with customers, and stay competitive in a digital world.