And since it’s Cybersecurity Awareness month, we wanted to bring you something that can really help protect your business. Building that awareness in manufacturing environments is a key way to stay protected, and that’s exactly what we’re covering today.
With cyber-attacks predicted to cost $10.5 trillion by 2025, it’s little surprise that businesses everywhere are scrambling to make sure their defenses are in place and up to date.
Cybersecurity Awareness Month was originally started to help individuals and businesses protect themselves against the increasingly commonplace threats from the online attacks that we all face.
Great emphasis is put on the technology that protects you – but many security firms fail to tell you the most important thing you can do is create a culture of cybersecurity. How do you do that? Keep reading to find out.
The traditional barriers between conventional IT systems and production systems and the other equipment in the manufacturing environment have been torn down in recent years. A focus on cross-platform communication and interconnectivity has been at the forefront of the sector, to the point where we are now seeing true Industry 4.0. However, that has given birth to new threats.
More systems being connected simply means more entry points for hackers or people who want unauthorized access to your business systems. In Industry 4.0 there’s no such thing as ‘dumb’ technology, it’s all connected in some way which means every time you install a new piece of equipment in your manufacturing operation you’re creating a potential weakness in your security.
There’s no hard and fast rule because there is so much variation in equipment but every manufacturer in a connected environment must carry out thorough cybersecurity assessment on any hardware they want to bring into their operation.
Your people hold the keys to your systems. Sure, cybercriminals can target your business directly and use brute force to overcome the security you have in place, but it’s more likely they’ll target your people first. Humans are an easier target, not because they’re negligent, but usually because they want to do their job – and that’s most often how they get exploited by hackers.
Because of this, the most common forms of cyberattack will be social engineering ploys in the form of phishing. In its simplest form, this involves sending someone a link to click on which claims to be one thing but instead leads to the installation of ransomware or another form of malware. This being the most common form of attack means it needs to be at the forefront of everyone’s mind – including yours.
An effective awareness program starts at the top, just like any other organization-wide initiative. You might run the whole show, or you might be leading your businesses’ IT, either way, you need to demonstrate not just the importance of boosting cybersecurity awareness – but also the benefits. So how can you make cybersecurity relevant to each individual in the business?
Imagine you’re starting a cybersecurity training program and the first group you want to train is your HR team. They control a lot of very sensitive information so they’re a prime candidate to be first on the list. They’re a responsible group, probably more aware of data security than most because they often deal with private information on employees. They go to great lengths to support the staff in your business in every way possible, so show them that cybersecurity is just an extension of their existing mission.
Or, perhaps before training even starts, you need to convince finance that it is a worthwhile investment. Cybersecurity is an ongoing endeavor, but it doesn’t have to be a particularly costly one. Most importantly, it could save your company an average of $4.35 million every time you don’t get stung by an attack. – how could they argue with that?
Finally, and it’s a simple one, every piece of training should always include multiple reminders that it’s better to report something suspicious, and it comes to nothing than letting something bad sneak past your defenses. Many people won’t want to waste your time, but just remind them that if they don’t report it, and it does cause damage, that’s going to be a lot more costly than you spending two minutes to double-check a potential phishing email.
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As the primary responsibilities, I develop and productize new services, redesign existing ones, and implement them on various cloud platforms. I also conduct market research, develop strategies, and lead the roadmap for service offerings. Additionally, as the CISO, I ensure the organization’s security by establishing and maintaining processes, policies, and practices to mitigate risks and respond to incidents across various domains.
Cybersecurity awareness is important because most cyberattacks succeed by targeting people, not systems. Hackers use tactics like phishing emails and social engineering to trick employees into clicking dangerous links or sharing sensitive information. No matter how strong your firewalls and software are, one careless click can open the door to a data breach. With cyberattacks predicted to cost trillions globally, training your team to recognize and respond to threats is one of the most effective and affordable defenses any business can put in place.
Phishing is by far the most common attack that targets employees. In its simplest form, a hacker sends an email with a link that looks legitimate but actually leads to malware or ransomware being installed. These emails often create a sense of urgency, asking the recipient to act quickly. Because employees want to do their jobs and be helpful, they are easier targets than you might think. That is exactly why regular cybersecurity awareness training is so critical for every role in an organization.
Start by identifying which teams handle the most sensitive data. Your HR department, for example, deals with private employee information every day, making them a strong first candidate for training. Before rolling anything out, you may also need to get buy-in from finance by showing the business case. A single data breach costs an average of $4.35 million, so the investment in training is small compared to the potential loss. From there, build a simple, ongoing program that covers common threats and reporting procedures.
Cybersecurity training should not be a one-time event. Threats evolve constantly, and what employees learned six months ago may already be outdated. The most effective approach is to run short, regular training sessions throughout the year rather than one long annual session. Monthly micro-training modules, combined with simulated phishing tests, help keep awareness fresh. Regular reinforcement makes safe behavior feel natural and automatic, so employees are more likely to spot and report threats when they actually encounter them in their day-to-day work.
Good training should cover phishing and how to spot suspicious emails, social engineering tactics, password best practices, multi-factor authentication, safe use of company devices, data handling and classification, and how to report a security incident. For manufacturing environments or businesses with connected equipment, training should also include risks related to operational technology and hardware security. The key is to make the content relevant to each team’s daily responsibilities so it feels practical rather than abstract or overly technical.
Creating a cybersecurity culture starts with leadership. When executives and managers demonstrate secure habits like using multi-factor authentication and reporting phishing attempts, it sets the tone for the rest of the organization. Make cybersecurity part of everyone’s job description, not just the IT department’s responsibility. Encourage employees to report anything suspicious without fear of being judged for wasting someone’s time. Remind your team regularly that reporting a false alarm is always better than letting a real threat slip through your defenses unnoticed.
Employees are not weak because they are careless. They are targeted because they are human. Cybercriminals exploit natural behaviors like trust, urgency, and the desire to be helpful. A well-crafted phishing email that mimics a CEO’s writing style can trick even a careful employee into transferring funds or sharing credentials. Studies show that around 68% of cyberattacks involve some form of human error. That is why awareness training is so valuable. It turns employees from potential vulnerabilities into active defenders who know what to watch out for.
Manufacturing businesses face unique risks because they often rely on connected equipment, industrial control systems, and operational technology that can be vulnerable to cyberattacks. A breach in a manufacturing environment does not just compromise data. It can shut down production lines, disrupt supply chains, and cause major financial losses. Cybersecurity awareness training helps manufacturing employees understand these risks and recognize threats specific to their environment. It also ensures that workers handling connected systems know how to follow security protocols and report anything unusual immediately.
The strongest argument is financial. A single data breach costs businesses millions on average, while a solid cybersecurity awareness program is relatively inexpensive to run. Frame the training as a risk reduction investment, not just an IT expense. Show leadership how human error contributes to the majority of successful cyberattacks and explain that training directly reduces that risk. You can also point to compliance requirements in your industry that mandate employee awareness programs. When the numbers are clear, it becomes hard for any executive to argue against it.
Intwo offers cybersecurity training and awareness programs designed to educate your team on industry best practices, security protocols, and how to detect and respond to threats. Our approach goes beyond just training. Intwo provides comprehensive testing including penetration tests, vulnerability scans, and simulated attacks to identify weaknesses before hackers do. We also monitor the dark web for compromised credentials linked to your organization. By pairing employee awareness with advanced security tools and Microsoft’s cybersecurity platforms, Intwo helps businesses build a layered defense that protects them from every angle.
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