MANUFACTURING CYBERSECURITY RESEARCH
What 1,625 Security Findings Reveal About Manufacturing Cyber Risk
What original research reveals about where manufacturing cyber risk concentrates — and the six areas leaders should prioritize.
21
Assessments
7
Risk Categories
1,625
Identified Issues
6
Risk Stories
WHAT THE RESEARCH SHOWS
Manufacturing risk is interconnected.
Cybersecurity weaknesses rarely exist in isolation. In manufacturing, issues like identity gaps, outdated systems, remote connectivity, third-party access and incomplete recovery planning can compound in ways that increase operational exposure.
1
Identity
Shared accounts, inconsistent MFA, and excessive access.
2
Patching
Unsupported systems and persistent vulnerability exposure.
3
Encryption
Reduce the likelihood that security incidents interrupt plant operations.
4
Exposure
Vendor connectivity and remote maintenance without enough control.
5
Remote Access
Reduce exposure from outdated systems and delayed security updates.
6
Security Visibility
Understanding where your environment is mature and where to focus next.
WHAT THE RESEARCH SHOWS
Manufacturing risk is interconnected.
Cybersecurity weaknesses rarely exist in isolation. In manufacturing, issues like identity gaps, outdated systems, remote connectivity, third-party access and incomplete recovery planning can compound in ways that increase operational exposure.
1
Identity
Shared accounts, inconsistent MFA, and excessive access.
2
Patching
Unsupported systems and persistent vulnerability exposure.
3
Encryption
Reduce the likelihood that security incidents interrupt plant operations.
4
Exposure
Vendor connectivity and remote maintenance without enough control.
5
Remote Access
Reduce exposure from outdated systems and delayed security updates.
6
Security Visibility
Understanding where your environment is mature and where to focus next.
ABOUT THE RESEARCH
Built from real-world manufacturing assessments.
This original research originated from 1,625 anonymized risk findings identified through cybersecurity assessments across 21 unique manufacturing environments between 2023 and 2026.
SOURCE
Findings come from cybersecurity assessments performed by Accent Consulting across more than 20 real-world manufacturing organizations.
SCOPE
Assessments evaluated security conditions across 7 distinct categories, including: identity & access, patching, encryption and select exposure types.
ANALYSIS
Individual findings were aggregated and categorized to identify recurring patterns, concentrations of risk and issues shared across enviroments.
PRIVACY
Company-specific information was anonymized. This research focuses on aggregated patterns of risk and exposure, not specific manufacturers.
HOW TO USE THIS HUB
Turn the research into a practical next step.
Identify
Find the risk areas most relevant to your manufacturing environment.
Review
Read the related insights and explore common oversight patterns.
Explore
Use supporting resources to understand prevention and solution options.
Prioritize
Choose the actions that reduce the most meaningful risk for your team.
HOW TO USE THIS HUB
Turn the research into a practical next step.
Use this hub as your starting point. Begin with the risks that matter most to your manufacturing environment, then explore the related guidance, tools and resources to help you prioritize next steps.
Identify Risks
Find the risk areas most relevant to your environment.
Review Stories
Read the related risk advice and common patterns.
Explore Resources
Use supporting resources to understand your options.
Prioritize Action
Choose the actions that reduce the most meaningful risk.
THE RISK LANDSCAPE
What Are the Biggest Cybersecurity Challenges for Manufacturers?
Manufacturing environments often combine legacy infrastructure, hard-to-interrupt production processes, remote vendor dependencies and uneven visibility across systems. These conditions can make it harder to apply controls consistently, respond quickly and reduce preventable exposure.
The 6 Core Cyber Risk Stories
We break manufacturing cyber risk into six focused narratives. Each one highlights what we found, why it matters and the practical next steps you can take to reduce risk in your environment.
The Identity Crisis
Shared credentials and inconsistent access controls can make compromise easier. Review privileged access, passwords, MFA and account lifecycle controls regularly.
The Patch Gap
Inconsistent patching can leave known vulnerabilities unnecessarily exposed. Prioritize critical assets, document exceptions and formalize review cycles consistently.
The Encryption Gap
Sensitive data is not always protected consistently across environments. Review data classification, encryption coverage and key management practices thoroughly.
The Open Door
Exposed services can create avoidable external entry points. Reduce unnecessary exposure, review firewall rules and strengthen network segmentation controls.
The Remote Risk
Poorly governed remote access can expand external attack paths. Audit vendor access, enforce MFA and apply least-privilege policies consistently across all connections.
The Cloud Trust Problem
Microsoft 365 weaknesses can create trusted access paths into sensitive business data and workflows. Review authentication, admin roles and high-risk accounts to strengthen cloud security.
WHAT GOOD LOOKS LIKE
Higher-Maturity Manufacturers Do Things Differently.
Higher-maturity manufacturers reduce risk by applying cybersecurity controls more consistently across systems, reviewing access more regularly, improving visibility into assets, vulnerabilities and strengthening recovery readiness.
WHAT GOOD LOOKS LIKE
Higher-Maturity Manufacturers Do Things Differently.
Higher-maturity manufacturers reduce risk by applying cybersecurity controls more consistently across systems, reviewing access more regularly, improving visibility into assets and vulnerabilities, and strengthening recovery readiness.
QUESTIONS LEADERS ARE ASKING
Common Manufacturing Cybersecurity Questions
What cybersecurity practices matter most for manufacturers?
Manufacturers should prioritize identity controls, patch management, remote access governance, encryption, asset visibility, network segmentation, and tested recovery capabilities. These controls address many of the recurring risks seen across real-world environments.
Why is ransomware a major concern in manufacturing?
Ransomware can interrupt production, impact operational continuity, delay fulfillment, and create recovery pressure across both IT and connected operational environments.
How should manufacturers prioritize cybersecurity investments?
Start with risks that most affect uptime, remote access, identity, and recovery readiness. Then use assessment data and environment-specific constraints to build a phased roadmap.
What makes manufacturing cybersecurity different from general IT security?
Because manufacturing leaders are usually trying to answer practical business questions, not just review technical issues. A question-based structure makes the content easier to navigate and helps connect risk findings to decision-making.
How can manufacturers improve cyber resilience?
Manufacturers improve resilience by reducing preventable exposure, standardizing controls, increasing visibility, and testing recovery processes regularly.
READY FOR THE NEXT STEP?
Turn these insights into an actionable roadmap.
Use the risk stories priorities — or work with a manufacturing cybersecurity specialist to evaluate your environment.
QUESTIONS LEADERS ARE ASKING
Common Manufacturing Cybersecurity Questions
What cybersecurity practices matter most for manufacturers?
Manufacturers should prioritize identity controls, patch management, remote access governance, encryption, asset visibility, network segmentation, and tested recovery capabilities. These controls address many of the recurring risks seen across real-world environments.
Why is ransomware a major concern in manufacturing?
Ransomware can interrupt production, impact operational continuity, delay fulfillment, and create recovery pressure across both IT and connected operational environments.
How should manufacturers prioritize cybersecurity investments?
Start with risks that most affect uptime, remote access, identity, and recovery readiness. Then use assessment data and environment-specific constraints to build a phased roadmap.
What makes manufacturing cybersecurity different from general IT security?
Because manufacturing leaders are usually trying to answer practical business questions, not just review technical issues. A question-based structure makes the content easier to navigate and helps connect risk findings to decision-making.
How can manufacturers improve cyber resilience?
Manufacturers improve resilience by reducing preventable exposure, standardizing controls, increasing visibility, and testing recovery processes regularly.
READY FOR THE NEXT STEP?
Turn these insights into an actionable roadmap.
Use the risk stories priorities — or work with a manufacturing cybersecurity specialist to evaluate your environment.