From Code to Factory Floor: Securing the Digital Backbone of Manufacturing

The manufacturing industry is experiencing a digital revolution. From smart factories to predictive analytics, technologies like IoT, AI, and cloud platforms are transforming the way products are designed, built, and delivered. But with this transformation comes a rising tide of cyber risk.

Our latest whitepaper, Building Secure Foundations: Application Security Testing in Manufacturing, explores how this shift is reshaping the cybersecurity landscape—and why manufacturers must rethink how they secure their software systems.

The Digital Opportunity—And the Cyber Threat

Connected technologies are enhancing operational efficiency, but they’re also dramatically increasing the attack surface. Ransomware attacks on manufacturers spiked 65% last year, and the average cost of a breach in that sector is now $4.89 million. This isn’t merely a financial matter—these incidents can disrupt production lines, damage customer relationships, and compromise valuable intellectual property.

The whitepaper outlines how application vulnerabilities are often at the heart of these attacks, especially in environments with legacy systems, third-party integrations, and insecure IoT devices.
 

Common Vulnerabilities in Manufacturing Software

Manufacturing applications—ERP systems, IoT platforms, production management tools—are often complex and interdependent, creating unique security challenges. The paper highlights several high-impact vulnerabilities, including:

• Ransomware targeting production environments
• IoT device exploits that serve as access points for broader intrusions
• Supply chain attacks stemming from vulnerable third-party components
• Weak authentication or access controls
• Outdated legacy software with known vulnerabilities

The Role of AST in Mitigating Manufacturing Risk

AST offers a proactive approach to identifying and remediating these risks before they can be exploited. HCL AppScan, an application security testing software, provides broad coverage across the software development lifecycle (SDLC), enabling teams to build security into every stage of application development and deployment.

In this whitepaper, explore some of the key AST methodologies:

• Static Application Security Testing (SAST): Catching coding flaws early in development
• Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST): Simulating real-world attacks on running systems
• Interactive Application Security Testing (IAST): Providing real-time insights during application runtime
• Software Composition Analysis (SCA): Identifying vulnerabilities in open-source and third-party components

The combination of these techniques helps manufacturers maintain operational continuity, achieve compliance, and reduce costs associated with downtime or data loss.

Results From the Field

In one case study, a top automotive manufacturer that adopted AST experienced a 40% reduction in security incidents, which enhanced operational resilience and reduced unplanned downtime.

As manufacturing gets smarter, cybersecurity must keep pace. This whitepaper delves into how manufacturers can adopt a more proactive, integrated security strategy, with HCL AppScan servicing as a cornerstone..

Get the complete whitepaper for a deep dive into real-world metrics, case studies, and recommendations for securing modern manufacturing environments.