Accent Consulting Shares Manufacturing Cybersecurity Rearch with Indiana Manufacturers Association

Published: November 12, 2026

On November 11, 2026, Accent Consulting joined the Indiana Manufacturers Association (IMA) for an educational webinar exploring the cybersecurity challenges manufacturers face and the everyday decisions that can leave businesses exposed.

The presentation, We Looked Inside 21 Manufacturers. Here’s What We Found, drew on original research conducted by Accent Consulting’s technical team, examining 1,625 cybersecurity findings across 21 manufacturing environments.

As an IMA member, Accent welcomed the opportunity to share that research with an organization dedicated to supporting Indiana’s manufacturing community. The conversation focused on more than identifying vulnerabilities. It explored how cybersecurity fits into the practical realities of manufacturing, where production schedules, specialized equipment and operational demands often complicate even straightforward technology decisions.

The recorded presentation examines three recurring areas of concern: identity and account security, patch management and external connectivity. It also explores how manufacturers can evaluate their own environments, prioritize meaningful risks and take practical steps toward improving their cybersecurity practices.

Turning Cybersecurity Research Into Practical Conversations

The findings themselves were substantial. More than half of the reported issues involved identity and access, every assessed manufacturer had some level of patch-related exposure and dozens of internet-facing remote desktop connections warranted closer examination.

But the presentation wasn’t intended to turn manufacturing executives into cybersecurity experts. The goal was to translate technical findings into useful business conversations. Manufacturing leaders often face decisions that don’t have simple answers. A critical machine may depend on outdated software. An equipment manufacturer may require remote access. An established process may rely on technology that was never designed with modern security expectations in mind.

Addressing those challenges requires more than a list of vulnerabilities. It requires IT, operations and leadership to understand which risks matter, what the business can reasonably do about them and who’s responsible for following through.

The webinar included a short self-assessment, five questions attendees could take back to their technology teams and an example of what manufacturers might accomplish during their first 30 days of focused improvement.

The feedback following the presentation reflected the importance of making cybersecurity advice practical.

"I thought today's presentation was excellent and on point. I appreciate what you had to share."

CISO, Indiana manufacturer

One manufacturing executive shared how the material would translate directly into conversations within their own organization:

"I will utilize the same questions from your presentation, asking my I.T. department for their answers."

President, Indiana manufacturer

That response speaks to one of the main objectives of the session. Cybersecurity doesn’t need to be a conversation that happens exclusively within the IT department. Business leaders have an important role in understanding operational consequences, asking meaningful questions and making sure decisions receive appropriate attention.

The IMA’s Director of Member Engagement and Events also highlighted the value of the practical takeaways:

"I especially liked the action items and convesation starters to take that back to facilities."

Director of Member Engagement and Events, Indiana Manufacturers Association

Continuing The Conbersation with Indiana Manufacturers

Accent Consulting has supported businesses with technology strategy, managed IT services and cybersecurity since 2002. Its manufacturing IT services reflect the understanding that protecting technology in a production environment requires a different approach than supporting a conventional office.

Participation in the IMA provides another opportunity to engage with the manufacturing community, understand the challenges facing Indiana businesses and contribute useful information drawn from real-world experience. Accent extends its appreciation to the Indiana Manufacturers Association for hosting the webinar and to the manufacturing professionals who participated in the discussion.

For those interested in exploring the findings beyond the recording, the Manufacturing Cybersecurity Research Hub includes six detailed risk reports and benchmarking data from the 21 assessed environments.

A separate article, What 1,625 Cybersecurity Findings Revealed About Manufacturing Risk, provides a deeper explanation of the research and the operational circumstances behind many of the findings.

The recorded webinar offers another way to explore that information, with a particular focus on the questions manufacturing leaders can bring back to their own teams.