Manufacturing is undergoing a dramatic transformation. With the rise of Industry 4.0, factories are becoming smart, connected, and heavily reliant on digital infrastructure. From robotic assembly lines to real-time supply chain monitoring, modern manufacturing systems are now deeply intertwined with IT and operational technology (OT). While this convergence has delivered incredible efficiencies and innovation, it has also opened the floodgates to a new era of cyber threats.
To combat these evolving risks, Network Detection and Response (NDR) has emerged as a critical component of cybersecurity strategies in the manufacturing sector. NDR offers the visibility, threat detection, and incident response capabilities needed to secure complex, hybrid environments that span both IT and OT networks.
In this blog post, we’ll explore why manufacturers are increasingly turning to NDR, the specific cyber threats they face, and how NDR fits into an effective defense strategy.
The Cyber Risk Landscape in Manufacturing
Manufacturing has become one of the most targeted industries by cybercriminals and nation-state actors alike. According to IBM’s X-Force Threat Intelligence Index, manufacturing was the most attacked industry in 2023, surpassing even financial services. Why? The reasons are threefold:
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High Value of Disruption – Downtime in manufacturing leads to substantial financial losses and supply chain disruptions.
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Legacy Systems – Many industrial environments still run on outdated or unsupported systems that are difficult to patch.
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Convergence of IT and OT – The blending of these traditionally separate networks creates new attack vectors and weak points.
Some of the most common threats facing manufacturers include:
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Ransomware attacks that encrypt production data and halt operations.
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Industrial espionage aimed at stealing proprietary designs and processes.
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Supply chain attacks exploiting third-party vendors or contractors.
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Insider threats from employees or contractors with privileged access.
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Advanced persistent threats (APTs) that remain hidden for months while extracting valuable data or positioning for sabotage.
Why Traditional Security Tools Fall Short
Manufacturing networks are unique. They often involve:
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Specialized OT protocols like Modbus, DNP3, or Profinet.
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Real-time systems that cannot tolerate latency.
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Air-gapped or semi-isolated environments.
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Devices that lack basic cybersecurity features.
Traditional security tools such as firewalls, antivirus, and even SIEMs often struggle in this setting. They may not understand OT-specific traffic, can’t inspect encrypted lateral movement within the network, or generate too many false positives due to the unique behaviors of industrial control systems (ICS).
This is where NDR comes in.
How NDR Works in Industrial Environments
Network Detection and Response solutions monitor all network traffic—north-south and east-west—using a combination of behavioral analytics, machine learning, threat intelligence, and deep packet inspection. In a manufacturing environment, NDR provides:
1. Deep Visibility Across IT and OT Networks
NDR platforms can ingest traffic from switches, routers, and SPAN/TAP ports, giving a complete view of communication patterns across ICS, SCADA systems, and enterprise IT.
2. Protocol-Aware Detection
Unlike generic tools, advanced NDR solutions are aware of industrial protocols and understand what “normal” looks like for each asset type—making it easier to spot deviations and threats.
3. Anomaly and Threat Detection
NDR uses AI-driven behavioral analytics to detect zero-day attacks, lateral movement, command-and-control communication, and data exfiltration that other tools might miss.
4. Rapid Incident Response
When a threat is detected, NDR can trigger alerts, generate detailed forensic data, and in some cases, integrate with SOAR tools or firewalls to automate containment actions.
5. Passive Monitoring
NDR doesn’t interfere with production processes. Its passive nature ensures critical manufacturing systems remain uninterrupted, even during deep packet analysis.
Real-World Example: NDR in Action
Let’s say a manufacturing plant is targeted with ransomware through a phishing attack on an IT user. The malware moves laterally into the OT network via a misconfigured VPN, eventually reaching the PLCs (programmable logic controllers) that run production machinery.
A traditional firewall or antivirus might miss this lateral movement, especially if the malware uses encrypted traffic or legitimate protocols. An NDR solution, however, would detect the unusual cross-segment communication, flag the behavior, and alert the security team in real-time—potentially before any damage is done.
Moreover, forensic data collected by the NDR system can help teams trace the attack’s origin, understand the scope, and improve defenses against similar threats in the future.
Key Benefits of NDR for Manufacturers
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Minimized Downtime: Early detection and rapid response reduce operational disruptions.
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Improved Compliance: NDR helps meet requirements in standards like NIST, IEC 62443, and ISO/IEC 27001.
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Threat Hunting: Security teams can proactively hunt for threats with historical traffic analysis.
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Asset Discovery: NDR identifies all communicating devices, including shadow OT assets and rogue endpoints.
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Unified Security Posture: By bridging IT and OT security, NDR enables a holistic defense-in-depth strategy.
Integrating NDR into the Manufacturing Security Stack
To maximize its impact, NDR should be integrated with other tools such as:
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SIEM for centralized logging and correlation.
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SOAR for automating response playbooks.
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Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) for deeper host-level forensics.
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Threat Intelligence Platforms (TIPs) to enrich detection logic with contextual insights.
The goal is to create a layered defense architecture that combines detection, prevention, and rapid response.
Final Thoughts
Manufacturing networks are increasingly complex and attractive to cyber adversaries. As the industry accelerates its digital transformation, the attack surface expands—and so must the cybersecurity defenses.
NDR offers manufacturing organizations the visibility, intelligence, and speed required to stop cyber threats before they cause production shutdowns, financial loss, or reputational damage. It’s not just an optional layer of defense—it’s becoming a foundational pillar for securing the modern factory.
If your manufacturing operations rely on industrial networks, now is the time to assess how NDR can enhance your cyber resilience and protect the engines of innovation and production.
