By now, the risks of data theft, ransomware, and other online attacks are fairly well documented. And yet, not all industries have responded to this rising threat with the same vigilance and vigor. One industry that routinely ranks at the bottom of the list for cybersecurity awareness, in survey after survey, is manufacturing.
The reality is, data security is a major concern for any business, in any industry. There are plenty of reasons why companies in the manufacturing space should step up their cybersecurity efforts.
Changes in Manufacturing Consumer Sentiment
First and foremost, data privacy is an increasingly major concern for consumers everywhere. Everyday customers have become progressively privy to how their personal information is so often collected, stored, and used by big businesses, and they are zealous to ensure that whatever data they volunteer is properly safeguarded.
In light of these evolving consumer sentiments, more and more countries and regulators have unveiled legally binding privacy requirements, foremost among them the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
While America does not yet have comparable privacy guidelines, it’s only a matter of time before the safe handling of sensitive data becomes a significant compliance issue for manufacturers across the world.
Evolving Technology
At the risk of stating the obvious, technology is changing at a rapid pace… and as it does so, it’s transforming how different companies conduct business.
There are plenty of examples of this, even within the manufacturing sector. Consider ways in which artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning continue to impact product development. And then there’s cloud computing, which has revolutionized how different teams connect and collaborate.
The upshot of all of this is that more and more manufacturers are working largely in a digital environment, where the risk of mishandled information or other cybersecurity breaches is quite high.
Lack of Awareness
Something else that must be said: Many manufacturers struggle with a simple lack of awareness regarding precisely what types of information they’re collecting, where they’re collecting it from, and how they’re putting it to use.
This is especially true of manufacturers designing apps and software solutions. Often, such companies wind up collecting more user data than they truly need, including information that may be quite sensitive in nature.
Manufacturers may assume that data security is a minor issue, as they are not collecting sensitive information such as Social Security Numbers. But these days, the definition of sensitive information has expanded considerably, which means manufacturers may be gathering and harboring more than they might think.
Overcoming Insufficient Cybersecurity Provisions
It’s clear that manufacturing companies face a number of risks for major cybersecurity lapses. The question is, what can be done about it?
Raise Awareness
First and foremost, it’s important for manufacturers to come to a realization that they almost certainly have a lot of private customer data stored somewhere. It’s easy to assume that such information is of no value to anyone else… but if it’s valuable to you, and if it’s valuable to your customers, then it is by definition a target to cyber criminals.
Educate Employees
Gaining awareness is an important first step, but it doesn’t matter much if you don’t bring your employees up to speed.
It may be surprising to learn that an overwhelming majority of cybersecurity breaches happen due to simple employee error. This may mean responding to a malicious email, answering a sinister phone call, or opening an unverified attachment.
Providing employees with some basic cybersecurity training can go a long way toward reducing a manufacturing company’s exposure to risk.
Working with the Right Team
Needless to say, a good IT team can play a critical role in protecting a company from data compliance issues.
Many manufacturers outsource their IT needs to managed service companies, which provide regular support to promote business efficiency. Always make sure the company you use comprises robust cybersecurity provisions, including employee training, as part of their contract.
Also look into Privacy as a Service, or PaaS, models, which can provide a comprehensive and fully customized way to address your company’s specific information vulnerabilities.
Select World-Class Software
Naturally, it also helps to choose software solutions that have built-in security measures.
A good example of this is product roadmap management software, or PRM. Manufacturers may use PRM to help their team members retain alignment around a shared set of goals, a common timeline, and a single source of truth.
To accomplish these goals, PRM needs to make use of cloud functionality. When selecting their PRM software, then, manufacturers have to be mindful of the cloud security provisions they’re getting.
A good example is Gocious product roadmap management software. Gocious was made with cloud security in mind, and in recognition of the skepticism that many manufacturers, wary of IP theft, have long had toward the cloud. As such, Gocious comes with a complex system of cloud security protocols to set manufacturers (and their customers) at ease.
Making Information Security a Top Priority
The bottom line? Any business that handles private or personally identifiable information has a duty to uphold certain cybersecurity practices. That’s a responsibility to put the best interests of the customer first, but it’s also an obligation to protect the company’s financial fortunes from the ravenous effects of a cyberattack or information breach.
Manufacturing companies are very much included here, and yet, this is an industry in which data security is too often undervalued. Fortunately, there are several specific steps that any manufacturer can take to protect their sensitive data: Gaining awareness, educating their employees, engaging the right IT support, and beyond.
Crucially, selecting the right project management tools is a big part of the equation. To remain competitive, manufacturers can’t afford to skip out on cloud based PRM solutions, yet it’s essential to choose product roadmap management platforms with one eye toward data security. Here, Gocious stands as an industry leader.
Make sure information security is a key concern for your business, and that you’re using every tool at your disposal to keep hackers at bay.
