An Executive Guide to Cyber Security in Manufacturing Secure Your Operation From the Production Floor to the Cloud

Contents

CONCLUSION 06

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY01

TRENDS IN MANUFACTURING IMPACTING CYBER SECURITY02

AI-driven automation

OT-IT convergence Smart factories

Ever expanding supply chains

WHAT MANUFACTURERS NEED TO STAY SECURE03

Unified, preventive protection of the complete IT and SaaS environment

Unified protection of each of the three main layers of the operation Fit-for-purpose production floor security

Securing every link in the supply chain

HOW CHECK POINT CAN HELP04

Comprehensive security for the complete IT and SaaS ecosystem

One platform that protects everything Industrial-grade security for the production floor

End-to-end security for the supply chain Extensive threat intelligence and researchchain

CUSTOMER STORIES05

Terex

Laterlite Motortech

Manufacturing is entering a hyper-connected, transformative era. IT-OT convergence, AI-driven automation, smart factories, and ever-expanding supply chains are driving unprecedented efficiency, productivity, and growth.

But with every new connection comes a new point of vulnerability. The attack surface is expanding fast, and cyberattacks are surging—compromising uptime, disrupting operations, and exposing organizations to serious financial and competitive risk.

This guide outlines the essential cyber security

strategies manufacturing leaders need to stop threats

before they stop production, and how Check Point

helps with complete, prevention-first, AI-powered

protection that secures every machine and every

connection, every second.

Executive Summary

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Trends in Manufacturing Impacting Cyber Security Manufacturing is evolving fast - from manual processes and siloed systems to hyperconnected factories powered by AI, automation, and real-time data.

This shift is unlocking new levels of speed, precision, and efficiency - but it’s also introducing new risks. Each connection between machines, systems, users, and suppliers creates a potential pathway for cyberattacks. And in environments where downtime is measured in millions, even a brief disruption can have far-reaching consequences.

Smarter factories mean faster production - but also greater exposure. As digital systems expand, attackers find new ways in. These four shifts are redefining cyber risk in manufacturing.

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OT-IT Convergence1.

Once kept safely offline, operational systems are now tightly integrated with IT networks to enable automation, analytics, and centralized control. But that integration also creates new pathways for threats. An attacker who breaches IT can now move laterally into the production floor - often undetected.

Security teams need a shared security strategy that spans both IT and OT - without compromising uptime or safety.

Today’s factories operate as digital ecosystems - machines, sensors, cloud platforms, and human users all exchanging data in real time. This accelerates production and precision, but it also breaks traditional security models. Attackers now have countless points to exploit, from misconfigured sensors to exposed APIs.

Security teams can no longer rely on perimeter defenses alone. It must extend to every system, sensor, and connection where data moves and decisions are made.

Smart Factories2.

OT systems, once isolated and inaccessible to external threats, are now exposed to cyber risks through IT networks.

The OPSWAT Academy

Among the top two challenges to executing smart manufacturing is cyber security.

Gartner

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AI-Driven Automation3.

AI is increasingly embedded in industrial systems to optimize workflows, predict failures, and drive autonomous decision-making. But with deeper access to operational data comes greater risk. Malicious manipulation ofAI models - or the systems they govern can lead to production errors, downtime, or unsafe conditions.

Security teams must ensure visibility and control over AI-powered automation, including how it’s trained, accessed, and deployed.

Manufacturing supply chains now stretch across continents, platforms, and third-party partners. Every integration -whether it’s a logistics system, software vendor, or remote maintenance provider - introduces potential vulnerabilities. A weak link anywhere can be the breach point everywhere.

Security teams must treat third-party access with the same scrutiny as internal systems. Every vendor login, remote session, or platform integration can become a point of exposure.

Ever Expanding Supply Chains4.

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These shifts have redefined how attackers reach manufacturers - and how fast they can cause damage. As operations grow more connected, the risks grow with them. And the data makes it clear:

The Bottom Line

#1 Target for Ransomware

Manufacturing was the most targeted sector for ransomware in 2024.

(Check Point Research, DLS data)

125% increase in costs

Breach costs are rising 125% annually driven by downtime, ransom payouts, and production loss.

WEF

Spike in Cyberattacks

Since 2023, cyberattacks against the manufacturing sector increased by 90%.

(Check Point Research, DLS data)

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In today’s manufacturing environments, partial protection is no protection. Cyberattacks can move laterally in seconds - across the production floor, IT systems, SaaS, and the supply chain. To stay ahead, manufacturers need a unified strategy that secures every layer of their operation without slowing them down - starting with the production floor, continuing through enterprise IT, and extending across the global supply chain.

The following best practices show what it takes to secure every layer - without compromising operations.

What Manufacturers Need to Stay Secure

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Most attackers don’t exploit a single point - they move across environments. That’s why manufacturers need protection that works seamlessly across the operation: from the production floor to the cloud to third-party integrations. Security should be designed to scale and interconnect, adapting to the needs of OT, IT, and supply chain teams - all under a unified strategy. This requires:

1.Unified Protection of Each of the Three Main Layers of the Operation

Centralized visibility and policy enforcement across all systems, users & environments

A unified security architecture across OT, IT, cloud, and partner environments

Seamless integration to align policies and connect tools across the entire stack

Protection against known and zero-day attacks including phishing, malware, DNS, and more

Comprehensive coverage for network, cloud, workspace, and operations

A single interface for managing access across employees, remote teams, vendors, and devices

When this is missing: Legacy systems remain exposed, smart devices become entry points, and threats jump from one machine to the next—disrupting production before teams can respond.

CISO takeaway: Cyber security can’t interfere with uptime—but it also can’t wait for it. On the factory floor, protection must be precise, purpose- built, and invisible to operations.

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The production floor brings unique cyber security challenges—it's where cyber risk meets physical impact. From outdated legacy machinery to hyperconnected IIoT systems, today’s manufacturing combine the most vulnerable assets with the highest cost of downtime. That makes OT a prime target—and one of the hardest layers to protect. Effective protection requires manufacturing-first solutions such as:

When this is missing: Legacy systems remain exposed, smart devices become entry points, and threats jump from one machine to the next—disrupting production before teams can respond.

2. Securing the Production Floor - Without Slowing it Down

CISO takeaway: Cyber security can’t interfere with uptime—but it also can’t wait for it. On the factory floor, protection must be precise, purpose- built, and invisible to operations.

Industrial-grade firewalls and rugged gateways that perform reliably in both standard and harsh industrial environments

Visibility into legacy systems that weren’t designed with cyber security in mind

Real-time threat prevention that doesn’t slow production or compromise safety

Zero Trust segmentation to stop lateral movement between OT assets and converged IT-OT systems

Protocol-aware prevention for ICS, OT, and SCADA systems to detect and block targeted threats

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It’s not just networks that are under attack—it’s workflows, user habits, and everyday tools: email, browsers, cloud apps, and SaaS platforms. These environments are dynamic, decentralized, and increasingly targeted by cybercriminals as easily exploited entry points. To reduce risk, manufacturers need a prevention-first approach that protects every user interaction—across devices, locations, and digital systems. This requires:

3. Unified, Preventive Protection of the Complete IT and SaaS Environment

When this is missing: A phishing email leads to lateral movement. Compromised credentials unlock SaaS apps. Remote users become invisible to your security stack.

CISO takeaway: Users and data now operate across dozens of tools and locations. Protection must move with them—without slowing them down.

Network protection with firewalls that deliver full- spectrum security, including remote access VPN, SASE, SD-WAN, and defense against IoT, DDoS, and zero- day threats.

Cloud security that prevents threats and prioritizes risks across applications, networks, and workloads in multi-cloud environments.

Workspace protection for email and collaboration tools, endpoints (EPP, EDR, XDR), browsers, mobile devices, and secure access (ZTNA, SD-WAN).

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Modern supply chains are a web of vendors, partners, platforms, and connected devices—many outside your direct control. But when any of them are compromised, your operations are too. Whether it’s third-party software, unmanaged IoT, or shadow access, attackers are exploiting the weakest link to reach the most critical systems.

When this is missing: Compromised partners become entry points, old vendor accounts remain open, and unmanaged tools create unseen gaps in your defenses.

4. Securing Every Link in the Supply Chain

CISO takeaway: Partner behavior can’t be controlled directly, but its impact can be. That’s why supply chain access requires the same level of control, visibility, verification, and enforcement as core systems.

Zero Trust access controls for third-party users, systems, and service providers

Full visibility into IoT and OT- connected assets with real-time risk scoring and policy enforcement

Automated threat prevention and containment across all external connections and shared platforms

Risk-based authentication and behavioral analysis to continuously validate access and detect anomalies

Network segmentation and monitoring to detect and block malicious traffic from supply chain connections

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How Check Point Secures Every Layer of Manufacturing The practices outlined in this guide offer a strategic blueprint for securing modern manufacturing environments. But strategy alone isn’t enough. Manufacturers need a security partner with the scale, specialization, and architecture to make these practices work - seamlessly and without slowing operations.

Check Point empowers manufacturers with a single platform that delivers complete, unified, prevention- first protection across the entire operation - from the production floor to enterprise IT, SaaS, and the extended supply chain.

Each layer is secured with the core capabilities required to provide the strongest defense, stop attacks before they spread, and ensure operational continuity.

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How Check Point Secures Every Layer of Manufacturing - Diagram

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Check Point Infinity is an AI-powered, prevention-first platform that delivers complete protection across the entire manufacturing operation. It features the industry’s only fully consolidated cyber security architecture - safeguarding network, cloud, workspace, and industrial environments, preventing attacks before they disrupt production.

The result: consistent policy enforcement, shared threat intelligence, and faster, more effective response - without adding complexity.

1. One Platform That Protects Everything

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Check Point protects complex production environments - from legacy machinery to hyperconnected IIoT systems and converged operations with hardened firewalls, industrial-grade threat prevention, and managed response that keeps operations safe and running.

2. Industrial-Grade Security for the Production Floor

Industrial firewalls with standard and rugged firewalls with IPS, micro-segmentation, and threat prevention for OT, ICS, and SCADA systems. Includes protocol-aware prevention, managed gateways, virtual patching, and intrusion prevention - built to stop threats without disrupting operations.

IoT security Real-time protection for IIoT devices, sensors, and legacy assets blocking exploits in IoT, and securing high-risk, often-unpatched assets across industrial environments.

Services Expert-led risk assessments, managed security, incident response, and OT training - designed to strengthen in- house capabilities, uncover hidden gaps, and support ongoing operational resilience.

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With the industry’s most complete, unified, AI-driven security, Check Point protects the entire IT and SaaS environment - from on-prem networks to remote users - covering workspaces, data centers, and cloud applications.

Key protections include:

3.Comprehensive Security for the Complete IT and SaaS Ecosystem

AI-driven cloud security for multi-cloud and hybrid environments - prioritizing risks and preventing threats across workloads, networks, and applications

Workspace security for SASE, endpoints, browsers, email, apps, and remote access enforced by Zero Trust network access (ZTNA) and secure web gateway (SWG)

Next generation firewalls (NGFW) with zero-day protection, segmentation, and advanced threat prevention for enterprise networks

MDR/MPR and XDR/XPR for 24/7 IT threat detection, response, and remediation

IT security services including risk assessments, managed protection, compliance support, and incident response

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Check Point protects every integration point across the supply chain—from third-party access to cloud interfaces and unmanaged devices—with Zero Trust controls, real-time risk visibility, and automated threat prevention.

Key protections include:

4. End-to-end Security for the Supply Chain

A unified security architecture across OT, IT, cloud, and partner environments

Centralized visibility and policy enforcement across all systems, users, and environments

Protection against known and zero-day attacks including phishing, malware, DNS, and more

A single interface for managing access across employees, remote teams, vendors, and devices

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Every layer of protection is only as strong as the intelligence behind it. Check Point’s ThreatCloud AI delivers real-time, AI-driven threat intelligence to block attacks faster, surface external risks sooner, and prioritize what matters most.

It analyzes millions of Indicators of Compromise (IoCs) daily - sourced from over 150,000 networks, millions of endpoints, Check Point Research, and external threat intelligence - to detect and stop threats before they escalate.

Beyond internal telemetry, manufacturers gain visibility into leaked credentials, exposed assets, impersonation sites, and other early warning signs - so teams can act before attackers do.

5. Extensive Threat Intelligence and Research

99% catch rate the industry’s highest, powered by proactive, AI-driven threat prevention

Simplified management 50% less operational complexity with automated policy enforcement

Focused on compliance ensures uptime while meeting industry regulations

Scalable & adaptive Covers 10,000+ apps, integrates with existing tools, and evolves with your factory

Cost-effective maximizes protection while reducing costs with 20% lower TCO

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We’re more efficient and proactive in how we manage our security.

Gianluca Falsi, IT Manager, Laterlite

About

Manufacturer of insulating products, with headquarters in Milan, factories throughout Italy, and operations in more than 20 countries.

The challenge

Ensure service consistency across diverse workforce in multiple locations.

The solutions

for network security for remote users

cuts time spent on threat prevention management by 30%

Improved security infrastructure monitoring and management

30% reduction security admin time

Simplified security rules and traffic analysis

Increased bandwidth performance

Trusted by Leading Manufacturers Worldwide

THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE TO MANUFACTURING CYBER SECURITY 20

About

A leading German engineering company specializing in the manufacture of parts and accessories for all types of gas engines. With over 300 employees, the company operates globally.

The challenge

Improve network threat prevention while gaining deeper insight into emerging cyber threats. .

The solutions

strengthens network threat prevention and boosts team productivity by 50%

50% increase in security team productivity through automation, consolidated monitoring, and mobile access

Early prevention of cyber-attacks in their infancy

Improved compliance via centralized management across all networks and cloud environments

We researched the market and found Check Point to be the best overall solution. It convinced us it had the most effective unified approach to cyber security.

Marcus Morig, Head of Information Technology, Motortech

Trusted by Leading Manufacturers Worldwide

for network security

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About

A global manufacturer of materials processing machinery and aerial work platforms, serving industries including construction, manufacturing, energy, and recycling.

The challenge

Gain integrated visibility into external risk exposure and streamline remediation across a global infrastructure.

The solution

External Risk Management (ERM)

eliminates phishing and gains external threat visibility

Uncovered and mitigated phishing and brand impersonation threats

Improved collaboration with IT teams, accelerating remediation efforts

Ongoing support from Infinity ERM analysts for data sanitation, optimization, and threat response

Dramatically reduced false positives, enabling teams to stay focused on the most critical risks

The visibility we gained allowed us to educate other teams within the organization as to the level of risk and start the conversation about remediation.

Evans Duvall, Cyber Security Engineer at Terex

Trusted by Leading Manufacturers Worldwide

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Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. (www.checkpoint.com) is a leading AI-powered, cloud-delivered cyber security platform provider protecting over 100,000 organizations worldwide. Check Point leverages the power of AI everywhere to enhance cyber security efficiency and accuracy through its Infinity Platform, with industry-leading catch rates enabling proactive threat anticipation and smarter, faster response times. The comprehensive platform includes cloud-delivered technologies consisting of Check Point Harmony to secure the workspace, Check Point CloudGuard to secure the cloud, Check Point Quantum to secure the network, and Check Point Infinity Core Services for collaborative security operations and services.

In manufacturing, security can’t be an add-on - it must be embedded into every system, connection, and decision. As OT and IT converge, digitization accelerates, and supply chains grow more complex, attackers are finding new ways to move laterally across systems in seconds - unless every layer is secured by design.

Staying ahead requires a security strategy that’s unified, adaptive, and built to prevent threats before they disrupt production. That’s exactly what Check Point delivers - with AI-powered prevention, Zero Trust enforcement, and seamless visibility across every layer.

See how Check Point helps manufacturers stay resilient - book a demo or talk to an expert today.

About Check Point Software Technologies Ltd.

Conclusion

Worldwide Headquarters 5 Shlomo Kaplan Street, Tel Aviv 6789159, Israel | Tel: +972-3-753-4599 U.S. Headquarters 100 Oracle Parkway, Suite 800, Redwood City, CA 94065 | Tel: 1-800-429-4391 www.checkpoint.com