Blog > Automation > 3 Tips to Protect Your Industrial Facility from a Ransomware Attack

Critical Infrastructure and Industrial Manufacturing continue to be targets for cyberattacks. Of those attacks, ransomware continues to be the most popular among threat actors. This post identifies three ways you can protect your facility from an attack. First, let’s define what ransomware is:

What is Ransomware?

Ransomware is a type of malicious software designed to block access to computer systems and data until a ransom is paid. As the world increasingly becomes more digitized and connected, these attacks have become more common. Industrial manufacturers have become prime targets and if not prepared, the consequences are devastating. Depending on your industry, the fallout could reach far beyond operational and financial consequences, impacting not only your bottom line, but our local communities as well.

So how do you protect yourself? Here are three best practices:

1) Understand National Standards

Many of our customers operate with the highest degree of cyber maturity. They’re training their people, developing and improving their processes, and implementing technology that’s aligned with nationally recognized standards.
 

National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)

NIST standards are based on a framework of identify, protect, detect, respond, and repair. Some of their cybersecurity standards are based on federal statutes, executive orders, and policies which range from specific information that you can use immediately to long-term research.
 

IEC 62443

IEC 62443 is another security standard that defines requirements and processes for implementing and maintaining secure industrial automation control systems. Cybersecurity benchmarks are set for all industry sectors “including building automation, electric power generation and distribution, medical devices, transportation, and process industries such as chemicals and oil and gas.”
 

2) Secure Your Network Architectures with CPwE

According to Cisco, “roughly 46% of organizations will experience 5 – 16 hours of downtime from a major security breach.” To combat this, manufacturers are benefiting from certified network architectures that are designed for the highest level of reliability and security such as Converged Plantwide Ethernet (CPwE). CPwE allows you to design and implement the network infrastructure you need and is scalable, reliable, and secure. CPwE-validated networks incorporate the best of Rockwell Automation, Cisco Systems and Panduit, covering the logical and physical network continuum across IT and OT.