Industrial organisations have never been more connected. Production systems exchange data with ERP platforms, suppliers access machinery remotely, and AI increasingly relies on operational data to optimise manufacturing processes. These innovations unlock tremendous opportunities, but they also introduce new cybersecurity risks.
As part of our contribution to Agoria's Practical Guide for Cyber Security in Operational Technology (OT), one question kept coming back: What are the biggest cybersecurity risks manufacturers should focus on today?
The answer may surprise you. Contrary to popular belief, most successful attacks against Operational Technology (OT) don't begin on the production floor. They begin with weaknesses elsewhere in the organisation.
In our previous article, Why OT Cybersecurity Is No Longer Just an IT Problem, we explored why securing Operational Technology has become a strategic business priority. This time, we look at the five cybersecurity risks we believe every manufacturer should understand, and why most of them originate long before attackers ever reach the production floor.
Risk #1: Most OT Attacks Start in IT, Not in OT
When organisations think about protecting Operational Technology, they often focus exclusively on production systems.
Ironically, that's rarely where attackers begin. Most cyberattacks first compromise a traditional IT system through phishing, stolen credentials or an unpatched vulnerability. Once inside the corporate network, attackers look for opportunities to move laterally towards production systems.
As manufacturers increasingly connect ERP platforms, MES systems, cloud services and Industrial IoT devices to their operational environments, the boundary between IT and OT continues to fade. Without proper segmentation and visibility, what starts as an IT incident can quickly become a production incident.
That's why securing Operational Technology begins long before attackers ever reach the factory floor.
Risk #2: Remote Access Has Become One of the Biggest Entry Points
Few manufacturers operate entirely on their own. Machine builders, software vendors, maintenance partners and system integrators frequently require remote access to support industrial equipment.
These connections are often essential for business continuity. They can also become attractive targets for attackers.
If organisations cannot clearly answer questions such as:
- Who currently has access?
- Which systems can they reach?
- When was that access last used?
- Is multi-factor authentication enforced?
they may have significantly more exposure than they realise.
Remote access should be governed with the same level of control as physical access to a production facility.
Risk #3: Your Suppliers Can Become Your Biggest Cybersecurity Vulnerability
Manufacturers don't operate in isolation. Their cybersecurity posture increasingly depends on the security practices of software vendors, automation partners, maintenance companies and equipment suppliers.
Recent years have shown that attackers often prefer compromising suppliers rather than attacking their ultimate target directly. Once a trusted supplier is compromised, attackers may inherit legitimate access into multiple customer environments.
Supply chain security is therefore no longer simply a procurement issue, but has become an essential component of cyber resilience. This is also one of the reasons why regulations such as NIS2 place increasing emphasis on supplier risk management.
Risk #4: Legacy Industrial Systems Require a Different Security Approach
Unlike office computers, industrial equipment often remains operational for decades. Replacing a production line simply because a system no longer receives security updates is rarely realistic.
As a result, many operational environments continue running legacy software and hardware that cannot easily be patched or modernised. That doesn't necessarily mean they cannot be secured.
Instead, organisations need compensating controls such as:
- network segmentation;
- restricted communication paths;
- continuous monitoring;
- strong identity management;
- carefully managed remote access.
OT cybersecurity is rarely about applying traditional IT practices. It is about adapting security to operational reality.
Risk #5: Technology Alone Cannot Compensate for Weak Governance
Many organisations immediately think about firewalls, monitoring platforms or endpoint protection when discussing OT cybersecurity. Technology certainly matters, but technology alone rarely prevents incidents.
Effective OT security also depends on:
- clear ownership;
- collaboration between IT and OT teams;
- employee awareness;
- executive support;
- incident response planning.
Cyber resilience ultimately depends on people making the right decisions before, during and after an incident. That's precisely why OT cybersecurity has become a business issue rather than simply a technical one.
The Bottom Line
The biggest OT cybersecurity risks facing manufacturers today rarely originate from a single vulnerable machine or production line. More often, they arise from the growing interconnectedness of modern industrial environments, where IT, OT, suppliers and cloud services increasingly rely on one another.
Understanding these risks is the first step. Reducing them requires a structured approach that balances operational continuity, security and regulatory compliance.
In the final article of this series, we'll explore how NIS2, the Cyber Resilience Act (CRA) and the EU Machinery Regulation fit together, and why treating them as one integrated strategy is far more effective than tackling each regulation separately.
How Easi Supports Your OT Security Strategy
At Easi, we help organizations secure their IT/OT ecosystem. Our approach includes:
- OT security assessments
- Network segmentation strategies
- Secure remote access implementation
- Continuous monitoring and response
👉 Discover more about our approach on IT security and OT security
👉 Contact us for tailored guidance
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Gerrit Neyrinck |
Easi x Agoria: Practical Guide for Cyber Security in Operational Technology
Looking for a concise executive overview of OT cybersecurity, current European regulations and practical guidance for industrial organisations?
The Agoria whitepaper brings together the key concepts, risks and frameworks every manufacturing leader should understand.
> Download it here <
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