Modern MDR for Manufacturers: Your Ultimate Guide

Cyberattacks continue to occur at an alarming pace, which probably comes as no surprise to most manufacturers. In 2022, the manufacturing industry experienced 1,817 incidents and 262 breaches with confirmed data disclosures, according to Verizon’s 2023 Data Breach Investigations Report. The report also found that hacking, malware, and social engineering attacks are the most prevalent attack patterns on manufacturers.

The manufacturing industry is a prime target for cyberattackers, particularly those using ransomware, since manufacturers often pay the ransom when attacked. That’s because even a small amount of downtime for a manufacturer can make an impact, causing production line stoppage and supply chain disruptions. In addition, many manufacturers use legacy systems that can’t be properly patched or updated, leaving them vulnerable to an attack.

To combat these risks, many manufacturers are turning to managed detection and response (MDR) services, a category of security solutions that offers the technology, process, and humans needed to defend against the increasing threat of cyberattacks. Technological research and consulting firm Gartner projects that 50% of all organizations will use MDR services by 2025.

But not all MDR providers are created equal. Manufacturers looking for an MDR provider in the evolving cyber landscape are having to sort through the confusion to find the right MDR provider for their needs. Pondurance keeps it simple. We offer modern MDR, cybersecurity consulting, and 24/7 incident response and threat hunting to help manufacturers like you stay safe from cyberattacks and disruption.

After reading this guide, you will have a better understanding of available MDR services and how those options may align with your needs. The guide covers:

• Exploring MDR’s history
• Simplifying the need for complex technology
• Fighting cyberattackers with human defenders
• Bringing the ‘R’ to MDR
• Customizing solutions for today and tomorrow
• Understanding your industry
• Tailoring to your needs and budget

† 2021 Gartner Market Guide for Managed Detection and Response Services, Gartner, October 2021.

Cyberattacks have evolved over the years.
Today’s cyberattackers use sophisticated assaults with great frequency, and no organization is immune from a possible attack. Like other industries, manufacturing faces potential attacks from malware, ransomware, business email compromise, phishing, and more. At the same time, manufacturers have their own unique set of cybersecurity risks including the use of legacy systems with software vulnerabilities.

To defend against cyberattackers, organizations may consider a variety of security solutions including security information and event management (SIEM), managed security service providers (MSSP), extended detection and response (XDR), and MDR:

• SIEM collects log data and forwards the data to a centralized management and analysis system. It stores the data for posterity, correlates data, and provides alerts, but because it’s technology only, it’s outdated as a solution.
• MSSP provide alerts and manage firewalls and devices designed to keep attackers out at the perimeter. It involves technology, people, and some processes, but it’s not designed to compete with today’s sophisticated cyberattackers. Over time, MSSPs have become an “alert factory” with alerts being provided to internal security teams, with no additional support.
• XDR delivers detection and response by connecting network, log, and endpoint visibility. However, the platform can be complicated to deploy and requires considerable time and energy from capable cybersecurity experts to configure and operate it.
• MDR began as a service to investigate alerts and incidents in the cyber environment to better support internal teams with limited response capabilities. Today, modern MDR combines advanced technology and experienced security professionals to capture, integrate, and analyze data. Security professionals perform full scope analysis of networks, endpoints, logs, and cloud environments and proactively respond to attacks. The best MDR is a modern one with a complete tool set and experts available to leverage it.

Technology alone can’t stop attackers. Modern MDR providers know that human attackers must be confronted by human defenders. Without experienced cyber professionals on your team to leverage security tools, attackers will work around your defenses. Though technology is important, Pondurance believes people are the foundation of any comprehensive cybersecurity solution.

As you probably know, there’s a global cybersecurity talent shortage, and manufacturers are finding it difficult to hire, train, and retain professionals for in-house security teams. All industries are having a difficult time keeping talent due to limited budgets and fewer opportunities for advancement, according to a Forrester study. External partners such as MDR providers fill the talent gaps. More than half of businesses in the Forrester study rely on external partners for close collaboration during cybersecurity incidents, and 53% use external partners to keep their security operations centers (SOCs) operational.

Pondurance is fully staffed with seasoned analysts, threat responders, and other security experts to seamlessly integrate with your existing team to monitor and analyze data 24/7. We apply a humans-first approach to MDR at every step of the cybersecurity process. Our professionals respond to real-time alerts with context, collaboration, remediation, and recommendations. We provide threat intelligence with insights into cyber activity worldwide and proactively hunt for threats around-the-clock to defend manufacturers against cyberattacks. Pondurance delivers proactive security services backed by authentic human intelligence.

Once a threat is identified in the cyber landscape, every minute counts. Modern MDR providers like Pondurance help manufacturers immediately respond to the cyber threat to minimize damage and reduce recovery time and costs. After all, the longer a cyberattacker dwells in your network, the more potential damage the attacker can cause.

Pondurance rapidly takes action against an attack with predefined parameters and a 24/7 team of incident responders, incident handlers, and forensic and malware specialists who can coordinate a full incident response from the moment the threat is identified.

We combine our industry-leading MDR services with our experienced team to provide:

• Identification – Identify and detect an incident as soon as possible
• Containment – Stop the incident and reduce the impact
• Eradication – Eliminate the threat and prevent recurrence
• Recovery – Return to normal operations and conduct a post-breach investigation

Not only can Pondurance stop the incident, but we also can compile detailed forensic reports to document what happened and openly communicate with your insurance providers and attorneys:

• Insurance brokers and carriers – Pondurance works as a go-to provider for digital forensics and incident response engagements. We specialize in building pre-incident relationships to facilitate a rapid, on-target response and reduce the cost of incidents.
• Attorneys – Pondurance partners with leading law firms and in-house attorneys who specialize in cybersecurity and privacy matters. We support the highest level of confidentiality and operational security regarding all matters.

Your organization is unique, with its own compliance requirements, staffing challenges, and security policies and procedures. Modern MDR providers need to allow for flexibility in their solutions and the ability to adapt and meet your changing needs. Pondurance understands that no one cybersecurity package fits every business, so we consult with you and customize our services to your organization’s specific industry and operational needs and integrate any security tools that your business has in place.

We meet you where you are in your cybersecurity journey. Then, as your cybersecurity needs mature over time, our services adapt to continue keeping you safe from an attack.

As part of our customized solutions, we offer comprehensive reporting and risk assessment:

• Reporting. Security reporting is important for compliance, but heavily regulated industries are not the only ones that can benefit from comprehensive reporting. Most businesses perform more efficiently with the proper handling of incident logs and alerts. Pondurance’s experts provide custom logging and reporting — with fine-grained visibility and alerting for all relevant systems including networks, endpoints, and the cloud — to precisely document processes and cybersecurity incidents as they happen.
• Risk assessment. To stay protected against attack, your business needs to know its cybersecurity posture. Performing periodic risk assessments is a great way to identify the areas where you are at risk and know the full extent of your vulnerabilities. A risk assessment can ensure that you’re properly allocating your cybersecurity resources and have a thorough incident response plan in place. Pondurance understands that no one cybersecurity package fits every manufacturer, so we consult with you and customize our services to your operational needs and integrate any security tools that you already have in place.