Skip to main content

Sector

Manufacturing

Discrete and hybrid production where downtime is measured directly in units and revenue, and cells are highly heterogeneous.

ethernet-ipprofinetopc-uaethercatmodbus-tcp

Typical architecture

Cell zones behind a plant control network, MES at Level 3, and an industrial DMZ for enterprise data flow.

At a glance

SystemsPLC / PAC, HMI, Robot controllers, Vision systems, MES
VendorsRockwell Automation, Siemens, Beckhoff, Omron, Mitsubishi Electric

Why should I care?

Sector context decides consequence. The same vulnerability carries a different risk in a substation, a treatment plant and a packaging line — prioritise on physical outcome, not CVSS alone.

Key processes

  • Machining
  • Assembly
  • Packaging
  • Material handling
  • Quality inspection

Safety considerations

  • Machine guarding and e-stop functions
  • Safety-rated motion limits

Availability requirements

  • Just-in-time production intolerant of stoppages
  • Cell-level maintenance windows

Threat patterns

  • IT ransomware spreading into production networks
  • Vendor machine connectivity
  • Flat plant networks

Relevant incidents

  • notpetya