Manufacturing remains one of the most targeted industries worldwide. Ransomware targeting OT and ICS systems surged in 2024, with Dragos reporting 1,693 industrial victims, the majority of whom were manufacturers.
Every connected sensor, supplier login, or outdated controller becomes another way in for attackers. When production halts, losses escalate quickly. Downtime, compliance exposure, and reputational damage follow.
Traditional IT support fails to secure Operational Technology (OT) or Industrial Control Systems (ICS) because their original design lacks defenses against modern threats. Managed IT cybersecurity for manufacturers closes the gap and protects both IT and OT. Many manufacturers build on this model through co-managed IT to support manufacturing growth and security, blending in-house expertise with external oversight for stronger results.
With a Managed Service Provider (MSP), you gain 24/7 visibility, coordinated detection/response, and metrics that prove defenses work to keep production steady and revenue protected.
Key takeaways
- Enhance 24/7 visibility across IT and OT systems to detect and contain threats before they disrupt production.
- Adopt co-managed cybersecurity models that close internal skill gaps while maintaining operational control and compliance accountability.
- Implement continuous monitoring to minimize downtime, validate safeguards, and maintain steady audit readiness throughout the year.
- Measure executive-level KPIs such as MTTD, MTTR, and RTO to quantify real gains in uptime and risk reduction.
- Partner with an MSP specialized in manufacturing cybersecurity to align IT, OT, and supply chain protection within a unified defense framework.
Why manufacturers need more than traditional IT support
Manufacturing now depends on always-connected systems that rarely pause. Every robot, sensor, and vendor link adds risk. Traditional IT support tools were built for office networks, not complex manufacturing IT environments that combine Operational Technology (OT) with corporate systems. Attackers exploit that divide.
CISA warns that OT environments remain exposed to ‘unsophisticated’ yet effective tactics; segment networks and secure remote access.
A single controller using default credentials can let intruders move from a vendor portal to plant-floor machinery. Each incident multiplies downtime, vulnerabilities, and cyber risk across the supply chain.
To close these gaps, map all internet-reachable assets, enforce network segmentation, and deploy modern cybersecurity services that identify weak IoT and legacy systems before attackers can exploit them. Preventing production downtime with proactive IT support helps minimize disruptions by identifying vulnerabilities early.
These gaps are exactly where MSPs deliver measurable resilience across connected manufacturing operations.
The cyber capabilities an MSP brings to manufacturing
24/7 monitoring and SOC visibility across IT and OT
Effective defense starts with visibility. A Managed Service Provider (MSP) uses a Security Operations Center (SOC) to monitor network activity in real time. Analysts correlate logs, track anomalies, and escalate incidents before they impact production.
Proactive alerting and a coordinated response shorten the mean time to detect (MTTD) and the mean time to respond (MTTR). These improvements maintain stable uptime and provide executives with tangible proof of progress.
OT and ICS security expertise
MSPs with OT security expertise understand the unique demands of industrial networks. Investing in IT modernization in manufacturing enhances these networks by eliminating vulnerabilities in legacy systems. They implement industrial DMZs, configure firewalls, and manage vendor access safely.
This specialization protects smart-factory endpoints, secures automated operations, and unifies IT/OT under one response framework.
Zero Trust and least privilege access
An MSP enforces Zero Trust policies that authenticate every user and device, core concepts essential to understanding Zero Trust Security. Engineers and vendors utilize multi-factor authentication (MFA) and role-based permissions tailored to their specific roles and responsibilities.
This approach reduces vulnerabilities, strengthens IT security, and aligns with your organization’s risk management and compliance requirements.
Vulnerability management and patch windows
Following NIST SP 800-171 Rev. 3, MSPs align patch windows to production and prioritize by risk.
This strategy minimizes downtime, supports business continuity, and ensures your IT infrastructure stays hardened against evolving exploits.
Incident response and recovery
Uptime Institute data shows severe outages remain frequent and costly.
MSPs run tabletop exercises, maintain immutable backups, and execute recovery workflows that restore systems faster. Each rehearsal improves incident response, reduces disaster recovery time, and limits operational losses.
Compliance support for CMMC, NIST 800-171, and ISO 27001
An MSP automates audit readiness by collecting logs, policy evidence, and configuration data across sites. Centralized documentation simplifies compliance requirements, helping to meet CMMC and ISO 27001 standards without last-minute scrambling.
Third-party risk monitoring and vendor governance
Cyber defense now extends beyond your own walls. MSPs continuously monitor third-party vendors, review security scores, and flag new cyber threats in the supply chain. Effective risk management in the supply chain strengthens this layer of protection and supplier accountability.
This governance model aligns technology solutions and information technology under a single framework, ensuring that your partners meet the same security standards that keep your production environment safe and stable.
Integrating security with ERP, MES, and shop-floor systems
Security in manufacturing IT works best when it supports, not disrupts, production. Many smart factories use MSPs to streamline production while maintaining both efficiency and compliance.
As systems like ERP, MES, and SCADA connect across plants, real-time visibility becomes essential. Without the proper architecture, a single weak integration can expose sensitive data or disrupt workflows.
According to PwC, manufacturers that securely align IT and operations see measurable performance gains from analytics and automation.
A mature Managed Service Provider (MSP) builds secure data flows from the factory edge to the cloud. Encryption, identity management, and segmentation ensure analytics tools and automation systems exchange data safely.
For example, a secure API layer between the ERP platform and machine sensor data enables continuous quality tracking without slowing production. This integration maintains the stability of MES and SCADA processes while enhancing decision-making, efficiency, and data protection across your connected manufacturing operations.
How to measure MSP impact (executive KPIs)
Cyber maturity only matters when you can prove it. Executives require consistent, quantifiable data that demonstrates a direct correlation between cybersecurity investments and reduced risk, as well as improved uptime and operational efficiency.
IBM found the average breach lifecycle still spans about 241 days, and the FBI reported $16.6 billion in cyber losses, with ransomware incidents rising 9% across critical infrastructure.
Your MSP provides automated dashboards and monthly executive reports for transparent outcomes. These tools convert technical metrics into business insights that help leadership assess resilience, cost savings, and compliance progress.
MTTD/MTTR, patch SLAs, and phishing fail rates
Track your mean time to detect (MTTD) and mean time to respond (MTTR) as leading indicators of detection efficiency. MSP dashboards visualize the speed at which threats are identified, escalated, and contained across your environment.
Patch Service Level Agreements (SLAs) and phishing test results also reveal how prepared your teams are to prevent real-world breaches. Reviewing these numbers every month ensures risk reduction remains measurable and continuous improvement remains visible.
Uptime/OEE and recovery time objectives (RTO/RPO)
Operational resilience depends on maintaining system availability and reliability. Measure uptime against targets for Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), and validate Recovery Time Objectives (RTO) and Recovery Point Objectives (RPO) after each incident simulation.
An MSP’s real-time monitoring and recovery reports demonstrate how well production systems maintain continuity during disruptions, directly translating cyber performance into manufacturing output.
Audit readiness: fewer findings, faster remediation
Audit readiness is a key signal of organizational maturity. An MSP automates evidence collection, tracks remediation timelines, and summarizes compliance gaps by site or business unit. These dashboards help executives verify that audit findings decrease and remediation happens faster with each review cycle.
Benchmark these KPIs monthly and present them to your leadership team regularly. Over time, they demonstrate measurable ROI, improved business continuity, and sustained risk management across your manufacturing operations.
Common concerns about partnering with an MSP
Even experienced manufacturers hesitate before outsourcing critical IT and OT functions. Most concerns center on control, cost, or vendor dependency. Addressing each clarifies expectations before signing.
“We’ll lose control.”
Partnering with an MSP doesn’t reduce your control; it defines it. A co-managed IT model defines clear boundaries between internal teams and the MSP’s Security Operations Center (SOC). Shared runbooks document responsibilities, escalation procedures, and communication cadence.
This structure ensures transparency and preserves operational control. Service Level Agreements (SLAs) reinforce accountability, while ongoing documentation ensures that every change is traceable and auditable. The result is deeper alignment between your internal engineers and external specialists.
“It costs more.”
At first glance, managed cybersecurity services appear expensive. In reality, the investment offsets far greater risks. IBM found that the average global breach cost reached $4.4 million, with industrial-sector incidents averaging $5.56 million, plus weeks of downtime and lost productivity.
MSP pricing typically covers 24/7 monitoring, vulnerability management, and compliance reporting for less than the cost of a single major incident. For a manufacturing business, this predictability simplifies budgeting and strengthens risk management. The measurable reduction in cyber risk far outweighs the expenses associated with reactive recovery.
“Vendor lock-in.”
Concerns about dependency are legitimate but manageable. The right MSP relationship prioritizes flexibility and documentation. Contracts should include exit clauses and data portability. Each configuration must also remain fully visible to administrators.
Well-documented environments enable seamless transitions between providers, without disrupting operations or compromising security. This approach supports ongoing digital transformation by ensuring your IT infrastructure and technology solutions remain portable, auditable, and aligned with your long-term business continuity goals.
By addressing these concerns early, you enter MSP discussions with clarity and leverage. You can focus on outcomes like faster detection, lower downtime, and stronger compliance, rather than uncertainty about partnership terms.
How to evaluate a managed IT provider for cyber defense
Selecting the right MSP determines whether your cybersecurity strategy will mature or stall. The strongest partners combine deep experience in the manufacturing industry with transparent governance, measurable performance, and a rapid response capability.
When evaluating a partner, use this checklist:
- Manufacturing references: Verify experience in production environments and compliance-driven sectors.
- OT credentials: Confirm hands-on expertise with industrial control systems and plant networks.
- SOC maturity: Assess response capability, staffing levels, and escalation procedures.
- Tooling transparency: Ensure complete visibility into SIEM, EDR, and backup platforms.
- Incident SLAs: Require written guarantees on response times and recovery objectives.
Score each provider on responsiveness, reporting quality, and sector knowledge. Tie these metrics directly to risk reduction and compliance ROI by asking how the provider quantifies downtime prevention, audit improvements, and avoided breach costs.
The right managed IT services partner should operate as an extension of your team, unifying MSP, managed security services, and IT solutions into a scalable cybersecurity strategy that supports both growth and resilience in the manufacturing sector, a core goal of IT and OT convergence in manufacturing.
Keystone’s manufacturing cybersecurity advantage
For over 25 years, Keystone has helped manufacturers enhance cybersecurity where it matters most: on the production floor. Our deep roots in manufacturing IT and IT/OT convergence give clients confidence that both their business systems and industrial networks operate within a single, secure, and unified framework.
Through a co-managed model, you maintain complete visibility and decision-making authority while we deliver continuous monitoring, patch orchestration, and compliance reporting aligned with CMMC and other regulatory standards. The result is measurable improvement in resilience, audit readiness, and downtime prevention.
In one recent case study, a regional plastics producer reduced incident resolution time by 40% after adopting Keystone’s managed detection and response program. That transformation restored uptime, minimized vulnerabilities, and proved how Keystone’s managed IT services directly support operational stability and long-term risk management.
Keystone’s proactive model replaces reactive troubleshooting with strategic defense, driven by data, documentation, and proof of performance across your IT systems, all pillars of building cyber resilience in manufacturing. For manufacturing companies facing increasing cyber pressure, it’s not just about protection; it’s about sustainable progress backed by evidence.
Final thoughts: from IT support to strategic cyber defense
Manufacturers can no longer depend on reactive IT support. The next era of cybersecurity is proactive and metrics-driven, safeguarding productivity across connected operations.
Partnering with a trusted MSP transforms your strategy from incident response to continuous defense, enabling measurable improvements in uptime and compliance posture throughout the manufacturing sector. Co-managed IT accelerates Industry 4.0 in manufacturing by aligning digital transformation with proactive cybersecurity.
At Keystone, we help you close the IT/OT gap and strengthen defenses before the next threat hits. During your Manufacturing Cybersecurity Readiness Review, our experts benchmark resilience using risk scoring, KPI baselines, and compliance gap analysis.
You’ll receive a prioritized roadmap that quantifies progress, reduces exposure, and supports ongoing risk management across your manufacturing operations.
Request your Manufacturing Cybersecurity Readiness Review today to turn visibility into action and confidence into measurable results.
FAQs
How can managed IT cybersecurity help manufacturers protect themselves against cyberattacks?
Managed IT cybersecurity combines 24/7 monitoring, threat detection, and quick response across IT and OT systems. Using SOC dashboards, MSPs track anomalies, manage patches, and stop attacks before downtime occurs. Regular KPI tracking shows real progress in manufacturing cybersecurity and risk reduction.
What is MDR, and why does it matter for manufacturing cybersecurity?
Managed Detection and Response (MDR) gives 24/7 visibility and fast action against cyber threats. It tracks network and device activity in real-time to identify issues early and minimize downtime. For manufacturing networks, MDR helps shorten recovery time and lower the overall cost of cyber incidents.
What should manufacturers look for in an MSP to strengthen defenses against cyberattacks?
Work with an MSP with proven manufacturing cybersecurity expertise and a track record of protecting OT and IT systems. Look for MDR service, 24/7 SOC visibility, and compliance support for CMMC and NIST. Regular reports and risk scores show whether the MSP improves resilience, uptime, and audit readiness.
