Cybersecurity Considerations for MES Software in Large Industrial Networks
MES is essential to managing and operating any manufacturing business.
It’s the key software that centralizes the overall manufacturing process, from sourcing raw materials to producing manufactured goods.
In fact, it also integrates with larger planning systems, such as enterprise resource planning, helping to refine operations and manufacture products for the shop floor. However, manufacturing companies often avoid protecting the heart of their operation – the MES software solution.
MES software requires a robust industrial cybersecurity solution to maintain the overall platform’s security and prevent unnecessary operational hurdles. With the right cybersecurity solution, it’s easier to prevent any operational hurdles from hampering the overall business.
Cybersecurity for Manufacturing Execution Systems
Large industry networks that manufacture products at large scale must incorporate cybersecurity solutions to stay ahead of the market demand.
One cybersecurity solution can do so much for a manufacturing company. It can help with everything from building a multi-faceted approach, focusing on network segmentation, having strong access control, and data encryption.
In fact, it helps prevent frequent disruptions of the supply chain network. Here are some reasons why it’s essential to have industrial cybersecurity for manufacturing companies:
1. Network Segmentation and Traffic Control
Network breaches can stop operations, cause breaches of data, and also disrupt the manufacturing cycle. The butterfly effect of the same can affect a business’s supply chain in more ways than imaginable.
However, an industrial cybersecurity solution can help divide an overall business network into smaller and isolated segments that limit the overall impact of a potential breach. This can prevent lateral movements of security threats.
You can implement firewalls and other security measures to control your overall network traffic and block unauthorized access.
Manufacturing companies can start by using VPNs to secure their communication between the network segments without compromising the whole network.
2. Strong Authentication and Access Control
Industrial cybersecurity solutions are all about securing multi-level manufacturing processes while keeping workflow at an optimum level.
With OT Security (Operational Technology Security), manufacturing companies can implement MFA (multi-factor authentication) to ensure that users only have the information and functions that they need to perform their duties.
In addition, a strong cybersecurity protocol for MES software solutions can help remove unauthorized accesses that can compromise the system.
3. Data Encryption
MES solutions require a robust encryption algorithm, such as AES, to secure data both at rest and in transit.
Manufacturing businesses can consider implementing different encryption for the sensitive customer data they collect about their customers.
4. Continuous Monitoring and Threat Detection
Manufacturing companies, regardless of their size, need a Critical Infrastructure Security system that monitors internal processes. A strong industrial cybersecurity solution can help the MES monitor threats and detect them before they can affect and compromise operations.
Manufacturing companies nowadays are focusing on implementing robust security information and event management solutions for collecting and analyzing security logs from different sources.
In addition, it’s easier to detect threats within the network traffic using IDS/IPS and block potential threats.
5. Supply Chain Security
An MES will always need strong supply chain security. Manufacturing companies never want their supply chain disrupted due to any unnecessary threats.
Business owners must conduct thorough research and security assessments of all the vendors and suppliers with access to MES systems.
Manufacturing companies that use MES systems would need to conduct thorough research of all the vendors and suppliers who have access to the MES system. With an industrial cybersecurity solution, it’ll be easier to implement supply chain security.
6. Incident Response Planning
Another thoughtful consideration for manufacturing companies would be the use of SCADA Security (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition).
The SCADA system monitors the industrial process in real time. On the other hand, the MES optimizes the production process for a manufacturing company. When both are aligned, it’s easier to improve operations and stay ahead of any operational hurdles affecting manufacturing.
In fact, a strong alliance between both these systems can help build an incident response plan that outlines the detection, containing, and recovery processes from any security incident.
7. Employee Education and Awareness
Industrial cybersecurity is a must for manufacturing businesses that use an MES solution. However, the integration and implementation part of the whole process decides how effective the overall process is.
Manufacturing businesses must make cybersecurity training mandatory for those who use MES directly or interact with its data.
It’s necessary to build training modules and regular learning opportunities so that the users within the manufacturing chain can understand cyberattacks. They must be able to trace phishing scams, malware threats, and social engineering techniques.
8. Regular Security Assessments and Audits
Even with training and proper implementation of industrial cybersecurity, the MES can still be under threat. It would require regular security audits and assessments of the MES to check previous incidents of malware and threats.
Manufacturers can start by conducting regular vulnerability checks of the MES. It would help to use penetration tests or mock security breach tests to identify weaknesses in the network infrastructure.
Manufacturing companies can also target MES security by regular audit programs. It would help to build a habit for weekly or quarterly audit processes to ensure security controls. This will help ensure that all procedures are followed and maintained for maintaining a secure system.
9. Compliance with Industry Standards
Large industry networks always need to stay compliant with proper industry standards that separate them from the competition.
In this case, industrial cybersecurity standards such as ISA/IEC 62443 for industrial automation can help.
Manufacturing companies can also consider implementing a formal ISMS (information security management system) to ensure that the security is integrated into the organization’s processes.
Keeping MES Safe!
Industrial cybersecurity for Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) is essential as it’s the core safety protocol for safeguarding the overall production process. The overall process of implementation, however, requires a strong understanding of access controls, segmenting networks, and ensuring regular updates of software.
It’s easier to stay ahead of potential network breaches by establishing an efficient threat detection program that improves the overall security of the MES and the manufacturing process.
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