Manufacturing facility floor with industrial control systems and connected IT infrastructure
Industry · Manufacturing

Securing the smart factory with unified IT operations and OT security.

Managed IT and security for Southern California manufacturers securing OT/IT convergence environments, Industrial Control Systems, and AI-connected production networks.

$5.56M

Average manufacturing data breach cost in 2024 (IBM)

62%

Of manufacturers report ransomware as their top cyber risk

23 days

Median manufacturing downtime from a successful cyberattack

OT + IT

AdVran secures both production networks and corporate systems

$5.56M

Average manufacturing data breach cost in 2024 (IBM)

62%

Of manufacturers report ransomware as their top cyber risk

23 days

Median manufacturing downtime from a successful cyberattack

OT + IT

AdVran secures both production networks and corporate systems

Sources: IBM Cost of a Data Breach Report 2024 (industrial sector); Dragos OT Cybersecurity Year in Review 2024; NIST Cybersecurity Framework 2.0; IEC 62443 industrial automation standards

What we see in manufacturing

The risks and patterns that show up most often.

These are the metrics, deadlines, and risk signals AdVran sees across our manufacturing clients. Every program we build is sized against these realities.

76%

Of manufacturers run unsupported legacy OT systems

$22K

Cost of unplanned production downtime (industry average per minute)

82%

Of manufacturing breaches start with phishing or stolen credentials

240+

Hours, average dwell time before detection in OT environments

How AdVran serves manufacturing

Four steps from kickoff to a fully managed environment.

01

OT/IT inventory and segmentation

We map every PLC, HMI, SCADA, and connected sensor alongside corporate systems. Network segmentation between OT and IT is the first hard line of defense.

02

Risk-based hardening

Critical production systems get isolated networks, controlled remote access, and asset-specific monitoring. Corporate systems get standard enterprise controls.

03

Continuous OT-aware monitoring

24/7 SOC trained on industrial protocols and OT anomaly patterns. Production-friendly: no agents on PLCs, passive monitoring where required.

04

Recovery readiness

Tested backups for engineering data, recipe libraries, and HMI configurations. Documented recovery procedures with RTO matched to per-line revenue impact.

What we deliver

Unified IT management and security, tailored for manufacturing.

Managed IT (MSP)

What we manage

  • 01 ICS/SCADA network administration and monitoring
  • 02 IoT device fleet management across production lines
  • 03 ERP and MES system infrastructure support
  • 04 Supply chain connectivity and EDI management
  • 05 Help desk for plant floor and corporate staff

Managed Security (MSSP)

How we protect

  • 01 Industrial Control System threat detection and monitoring
  • 02 IoT vulnerability management and firmware patching
  • 03 24/7 SOC covering both OT and IT environments
  • 04 Supply chain integrity monitoring and vendor risk assessments
  • 05 Incident response for production-impacting cyber events

Client Responsibility

These items remain under your direct control and are out of scope for our managed services.

  • Physical machinery maintenance and repair
  • CAD/Engineering design and product development
  • Quality control and manufacturing process engineering
  • Physical supply chain logistics and warehousing

Deep dive

Industry analysis & approach

Manufacturing is the most attacked industry in the United States. IBM’s 2024 X-Force report put it ahead of healthcare for the first time. The reason is straightforward: $22,000 per minute in downtime losses means maximum pressure to pay, and attackers know it. Southern California’s manufacturing base (aerospace, medical devices, electronics, food processing) faces that pressure every day.

The IT Challenge

The factory floor and the corporate network used to be separate. They’re not anymore. And that’s where the risk lives.

  • OT/IT convergence creates blind spots. PLCs, HMIs, SCADA systems, and IoT sensors are now connected to the same networks as email and ERP. Traditional IT security tools don’t speak industrial protocols. That leaves a gap attackers are actively exploiting - 240+ hours of average dwell time in OT environments before detection, according to Dragos.
  • Legacy systems can’t be patched. 76% of manufacturers run unsupported OT equipment. You can’t install an agent on a 15-year-old PLC. That means compensating controls. Segmentation, passive monitoring, anomaly detection. Have to carry the load.
  • Supply chain connections are entry points. EDI integrations, vendor remote access, and cloud-connected equipment all extend your attack surface outside your walls. One compromised supplier can become your incident.
  • Recovery is harder than in standard IT. You can’t just restore from backup and call it done. Engineering recipes, HMI configurations, and production parameters all need tested recovery procedures. Matched to actual per-line revenue impact.

AI Is Changing This Industry

AI-driven predictive maintenance, machine monitoring, and supply chain optimization are moving from pilot to production across Southern California manufacturing. The same OT networks that run production equipment are now getting connected to AI platforms. Creating new attack surfaces alongside the efficiency gains. AdVran helps manufacturers evaluate AI tool vendors for network access and data handling requirements before those tools get wired into production environments.

Compliance

Defense-adjacent manufacturers may face CMMC requirements if they’re in the DoD supply chain. And the obligations apply to the IT systems handling Controlled Unclassified Information, not just classified data. Broader manufacturers with OT systems should be aligning to IEC 62443 for industrial control system security. AdVran’s OT/IT cybersecurity services assess supply chain compliance exposure and help manufacturers understand whether their DoD contracts carry CMMC obligations before an audit surfaces that answer first.

For multi-site manufacturing operations across Southern California’s production, warehousing, and distribution footprint, AdVran’s secure SD-WAN connectivity provides encrypted site-to-site links with centralized management, replacing expensive MPLS with policy-driven, application-aware routing that keeps ERP, OT telemetry, and supply chain EDI traffic prioritized across every facility.

Manufacturing shares OT security challenges and supply chain risk profiles with several adjacent sectors. High tech and semiconductor companies face similar IP protection requirements and OT/IT convergence risks across R&D and fabrication environments. Mining and natural resources operations also rely on remote OT systems and industrial controls that require the same passive monitoring and segmentation approach.

Industry overview

Sector

Manufacturing

Compliance frameworks

IEC 62443 CMMC NIST CSF ISO 27001

Managed services

5 MSP + 5 MSSP capabilities

Need industry-specific guidance?

Our team understands the regulatory and operational demands of your sector.

Talk to an expert

Get in touch

Address

AdVran Headquarters
155 N Riverview Dr #111
Anaheim, CA 92808

Support

24/7/365 SOC & Critical Support

Book a free security audit

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Common questions

IT services for manufacturing.

Don't see yours? Call (714) 694-4573 or email contact@advran.com.

Why is manufacturing increasingly targeted by ransomware attacks? +

Manufacturing is the most targeted industry for ransomware attacks, according to IBM's 2024 X-Force Threat Intelligence Index. Surpassing healthcare for the first time. Attackers know that production downtime is extremely costly (often tens of thousands of dollars per hour), creating maximum pressure to pay ransoms. Industry 4.0 connectivity has also dramatically expanded the attack surface: IoT sensors, industrial controllers, ERP systems, and supply chain connections all create entry points that traditional IT security tools were not designed to protect.

What is OT/IT convergence and why does it create security risk? +

Operational Technology (OT) refers to the industrial control systems, SCADA platforms, PLCs, and manufacturing equipment that control physical production processes. IT refers to traditional enterprise technology. Networks, servers, and endpoints. Industry 4.0 has connected OT and IT environments to enable real-time production monitoring, predictive maintenance, and supply chain integration. This convergence creates risk: a cyberattack that enters through IT infrastructure can pivot to OT environments, potentially causing production shutdowns, equipment damage, or safety incidents.

How does AdVran secure Industrial Control Systems and SCADA environments? +

Securing ICS/SCADA requires a different approach than traditional IT security. Legacy industrial controllers often cannot be patched or run endpoint agents. AdVran implements network segmentation that isolates OT environments from IT networks, deploys passive monitoring tools that detect anomalous behavior without disrupting production, manages firmware updates where manufacturers support them, and maintains 24/7 SOC coverage that covers both OT and IT environments simultaneously. Detecting lateral movement between environments before it reaches production systems.

What compliance frameworks apply to California manufacturers? +

California manufacturers face varying compliance requirements based on their sector and customer base. Defense contractors must meet CMMC requirements. Companies with critical infrastructure connections may fall under NERC CIP or IEC 62443. Manufacturers handling personal customer data face CCPA obligations. Food and pharmaceutical manufacturers face FDA cybersecurity guidance. Companies pursuing ISO 27001 certification or serving customers who require it use that as their security framework foundation. AdVran builds compliance programs that address the specific regulatory landscape for each manufacturing client.

How does AdVran serve manufacturers across Southern California? +

Southern California has a large and diverse manufacturing base, including aerospace components in Anaheim, Long Beach, and Mojave, electronics in Orange County and Los Angeles, medical devices throughout the region, and food processing in San Bernardino and Riverside counties. AdVran serves manufacturing clients across this geography, with experience in defense manufacturing supply chains, medical device manufacturers subject to FDA guidance, and industrial manufacturers undergoing Industry 4.0 digital transformation programs.