How the Transition to Digital is Opening Up More Than Just Accessibility
One important point about cybersecurity can’t be overstated—every industry is at risk. The threat landscape today is such that any organization leveraging digital capabilities to unlock greater efficiencies and capabilities is also opening the door to cyber attack. The level of risk is greatest for organizations with intellectual property, sensitive communications, and mission-critical data, making aerospace and defense companies prime targets for attackers.
There is an urgent need for greater aerospace and defense cybersecurity, which requires manufacturers to understand the evolving landscape of cyber risks and the proper steps to mitigate threats.
Aerospace and Defense: High-Value Targets
Aerospace and defense (A&D) organizations manage some of the most sensitive data in the world—ranging from proprietary engineering specs and weapons systems to government contracts and national security information. This information alone makes these industries a top target for nation-state actors, criminal enterprises, and even insider threats.
However, beyond the primes and government agencies, the entire A&D supply chain is vulnerable to attack as well. Machine shops, component suppliers, and other small to mid-size manufacturers often lack proper cybersecurity and are financially unable to implement the robust infrastructures of larger organizations.
Attackers will often take advantage of these smaller organizations, compromising their networks to gain access to the larger corporations with which they are partnered.
The Most Common Cyber Threats in A&D Manufacturing
More aerospace and defense organizations are undergoing a digital transformation. While not a new concept, the opportunities for digital technology in these industries are always evolving, from CAD/CAM systems to IoT-enabled machinery and AI-powered data analytics. Digital transformation is a necessity for remaining competitive and efficient, but it requires continued vigilance against common types of cyberattacks:
Phishing & Social Engineering: Still the most common entry point, phishing emails trick employees into handing over login credentials and personal information, or downloading malware that grants attackers access to secure systems.
Ransomware: Attackers lock access to critical data or systems and demand payment to release it, often as part of a larger data-theft extortion campaign to get the biggest payout. For manufacturers, ransomware attacks can halt production, delay contracts, and compromise sensitive projects; not to mention the reputational damage impacting customers and partners that accompanies a major data breach.
Supply Chain Attacks: Similar to compromising smaller businesses that are partnered with larger organizations, attackers will also target third-party vendors or software providers with weaker defenses to infiltrate larger systems.
Intellectual Property Theft: Nation-state actors and other attackers may infiltrate systems to steal critical files and proprietary manufacturing process information.
Insider Threats: Whether intentional or accidental, employees and contractors with access to internal systems can create or take advantage of network vulnerabilities if proper controls aren’t in place.
There are a number of types of cyberattacks a bad actor can deploy, even beyond this list of common tactics. If breached, a single successful cyberattack can have catastrophic consequences for an A&D company:
- Disruptions in manufacturing timelines due to network outages, corrupted files, or locked systems.
- Lost contracts and penalties for failure to meet delivery milestones or protect sensitive or classified information.
- Exposure of sensitive defense-related technologies or operations to foreign actors.
- Lost trust and credibility with government and defense partners that can be difficult and sometimes impossible to regain.
Strengthening Aerospace and Defense Cybersecurity
Make cybersecurity a business imperative to avoid finding out the hard way that your organization should have taken bolder steps sooner.
Here are some key aerospace and defense cybersecurity steps manufacturers in these sectors should take:
- Adopt Industry-Specific Cybersecurity Frameworks
Adhering to standards like NIST 800-171 or the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) ensures your organization has the baseline protections required by the Department of Defense (DoD). Taking steps to implement these frameworks even without a mandate to comply demonstrates your organization’s commitment to cybersecurity and builds trust among your customers and partners.
- Control Access to Sensitive Data
Review who has access to data across your organization, and ensure only the appropriate individuals can access the information they need. Review password protections and implement multi-factor authentication to keep data access as secure as possible. Attackers can bypass passwords, but increased protections make their job harder.
- Secure Your Shop Floor
In any operational technology (OT) environment utilizing IoT-enabled machines, networked CNCs, and digital inspection tools must have cybersecurity controls like segmentation and continuous monitoring in place. Attackers often exploit connected devices using legacy systems with default credentials or outdated software, and operating these devices makes your facility a prime target for attack.
- Emphasize Team Training
Cybersecurity is everyone’s responsibility, because every employee is a potential gateway for an attacker onto your network. Provide regular employee training on how to identify phishing attempts and follow secure data handling procedures. Go a step further and test employees with coordinated phishing emails to see who is clicking or responding, so you can better educate around the emotional tactics attackers use to get people to take the bait.
- Develop an Incident Response (IR) Plan
Many managed services companies provide incident response planning, in which your company develops and tests a plan for responding to, containing, and recovering from a cyber event. Having a plan and getting teams on the same page greatly minimizes downtime, can reduce the impact of a cyber attack, and mitigate reputational fallout.
Delivering Precision Through Security
Cybersecurity plays a critical role in safeguarding the integrity of the aerospace and defense supply chain. There will always be a push to invest in smart manufacturing and digital infrastructure, but without corresponding cybersecurity protocols, there is inherent risk to data and information that can greatly impact the industry at large.
The future of aerospace and defense is digital—let’s make sure it’s also secure.
