Cyber assessments are a crucial component of a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy, enabling manufacturers to stay ahead of threats and improve overall security resilience.
Recent research from MxD, the National Center for Cybersecurity in Manufacturing, however, revealed that less than 60% of small and mid-size manufacturers (SMMs) have done a cybersecurity risk assessment in the past year. That’s despite manufacturing continuing to be the top cyberattack target.
Here are tips on how to jump-start an assessment from Boeing’s Risk Management Team:
- What are the biggest challenges SMMs face when they must do a cyber risk assessment? And why?
With all the imperatives and often-competing interests as a small or mid-size business, the biggest challenge is finding time, the right people and … making it a priority.
Businesses that make cybersecurity a key part of their operations (like most businesses do with fire prevention, for example) are thinking in a good way about cybersecurity.
- When SMMs are faced with doing an assessment, what do you see as the most crucial step?
Assign a leader within your business with responsibility for understanding why cybersecurity is important and what it means to your business. This would usually be someone who also has responsibility for IT, but it doesn’t have to be.
- What are three things SMMs can do to quickly start this process?
- Discuss it as a leadership team.
- Assign a leader.
- Set a date for a report out.
- Anything else — or other advice — you’d like to add?
Don’t be intimidated. Cybersecurity doesn’t need to be complex or something to shy away from. Ultimately the standards that are out there are straightforward, providing simple steps for businesses (and businesspeople) to take to protect themselves and their organization from malicious actors. If you are unsure, ask for help. Your customers are keenly interested and invested in your success.
For resources, visit Boeing’s supplier cybersecurity page.