Production Downtime
Many manufacturers stop production deliberately when they detect an intrusion, because they cannot be sure the plant is safe. The financial impact of a halted line often dwarfs the ransom itself.
Industry And Production
Keep the lines running when attackers come calling.
Factories, plants and vehicle makers now depend on connected systems that were never designed with attackers in mind. When ransomware reaches production, every hour of downtime is felt across the supply chain.
TOP THREATS: MANUFACTURING & AUTOMOTIVESector focus
Production DowntimeMany manufacturers stop production deliberately when they detect an intrusion, because they cannot be sure the plant is safe.
RansomwareCriminal groups target manufacturers because downtime creates intense pressure to pay.
Smart Factory and IoT SecurityIndustrial controllers, robots and sensors often run old software and cannot be patched quickly.
Supply Chain RiskJust in time production depends on suppliers, logistics partners and software providers.
The threat picture
Why attackers target manufacturing & automotive
Manufacturers have connected machines, sensors and production planning to corporate networks and suppliers to work faster and smarter. The same connections give attackers a path from a phishing email to the plant floor, as recent incidents in the automotive sector have shown.
We help manufacturers secure the link between IT and operational technology, test plant systems without disrupting production, protect designs and know how, and plan recovery so lines can restart quickly.
Ransomware
Criminal groups target manufacturers because downtime creates intense pressure to pay. They often enter through remote access, unpatched edge devices or a supplier connection.
Smart Factory and IoT Security
Industrial controllers, robots and sensors often run old software and cannot be patched quickly. Weak segmentation lets an IT compromise spread straight into operational systems.
Supply Chain Risk
Just in time production depends on suppliers, logistics partners and software providers. An attack on any of them can stop your lines even if your own systems are untouched.
Intellectual Property
Designs, formulations and process know how are prized by competitors and state backed groups. Theft can go unnoticed for months if no one is watching for it.
Regulation and standards
The rules you work under
The obligations that shape security in manufacturing & automotive, and how we help you meet them with evidence rather than paperwork.
UN R155 and R156 (with ISO/SAE 21434)
Vehicle makers selling into the EU must run a certified cyber security management system and a managed software update process for new vehicles. ISO/SAE 21434 is the engineering standard widely used to show how cyber risk is handled across the vehicle lifecycle.
Official guidanceISA/IEC 62443
The international series of standards for securing industrial automation and control systems, covering zones and conduits, secure product development and the responsibilities of operators and suppliers.
Official guidanceEU Cyber Resilience Act
Manufacturers of connected products sold in the EU must report actively exploited vulnerabilities and severe incidents from 11 September 2026, with full security requirements following in December 2027.
Official guidanceNIS2 Directive
Brings many manufacturers of critical products, including vehicles, machinery and electronics, into scope as important entities in the EU, with risk management and incident reporting duties.
Official guidanceIllustrative scenario
Ransomware Heading for the Plant Floor
How a typical attack on manufacturing & automotive unfolds, step by step. Press play to watch it run.
- 1Way in
Attackers use stolen credentials on an unpatched remote access appliance used by a maintenance contractor.
- 2Spread
They move through the corporate network and find a flat connection to the engineering workstations that program the production line.
- 3Preparation
They disable backups and stage ransomware to launch over a weekend, when fewer people are watching.
- 4Where it breaks
Managed detection spots the unusual remote session and lateral movement, analysts isolate the affected hosts, and IT and OT segmentation keeps the plant out of reach.
Where Cybergen breaks the chain
Testing the IT and OT boundary in advance, monitoring around the clock and rehearsing recovery turn a potential shutdown into a contained IT incident.
Illustrative example, not a real incident.
How we help
Security that fits how you operate
Sector insights
Latest thinking for manufacturing & automotive
Why Ransomware is a Growing Threat in Manufacturing Plants
Ransomware in manufacturing is rising because downtime is so costly. Learn why plants are targeted, how the ransomware lifecycle works and how to cut risk.
Read article · 10 min
When Cyberattack Meets Industry: The JLR Case and What It Means for UK’s Auto Sector
The JLR cyber attack halted production and hit its supply chain hard. Learn what happened, why automotive cyber security matters and lessons for suppliers.
Read article · 4 min
Securing Smart Factories: Cyber Threats in IoT Environments
Smart factory cyber security: the hidden threats in industrial IoT and how to secure devices, protect operational technology and reduce risk with maintenance.
Read article · 4 minOther sectors
Explore more sectors
Can you test operational technology without stopping production?
Yes. OT testing is planned with your engineers, uses passive and carefully controlled techniques and avoids live safety systems, so production carries on.
Why do attackers target manufacturers?
Downtime is so expensive that manufacturers feel strong pressure to pay ransoms, and connected plants often contain older systems that are hard to patch.
What is the difference between IT and OT security?
IT security protects data and business systems, while OT security protects the physical processes they control. In OT, safety and availability come first, so testing and patching need a different approach.
Does the Cyber Resilience Act affect us?
If you make or import products with digital elements sold in the EU, it is likely to. Reporting duties apply from September 2026, with full requirements from December 2027.
Get in touch
Talk to us about manufacturing & automotive
Tell us about your organisation, the regulations you work under and what is worrying you most.
Prefer to talk? Call +44 (0) 1865 950 828
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