Top 6 Threats Impacting Your Most Prized Assets
People, Equipment, Space, Intellectual Property, and Process
The world has changed. The pandemic impacted economies and manufacturing, resulting in unforeseen supply chain effects, and war in Europe has further exacerbated global manufacturing and supply issues. The result has been renewed efforts to bring manufacturing back to US shores and with it, a modernization of manufacturing that hasn’t happened in several generations. It’s now more important than ever to be aware of new capabilities to help you reduce operational costs, maximize revenue growth, increase efficiency and reduce risks.
Manufacturing companies have a lot to consider when it comes to protecting their most prized assets. Not only do they have to think about protecting their staff and facilities, but also their Intellectual Property (IP) as well as high-value assets and even digitizing their workflow processes to stay competitive.
Industry 4.0
The Internet of Things (IoT) has enabled the fourth industrial revolution by connecting factories and plants to the Internet. “Smart Factory” relates to supply chain data flows from machines to factory floors to the Cloud, with associated information exchanges between all stakeholders in a supply chain. This synchronized and concerted control of all aspects of manufacturing offers an easier, smarter, and more productive manufacturing processes lifecycle with real-time information and real-time management.
Figure 1 - Industry 4.0 is here due to increased interconnectivity and smart automation
Antivirus Won’t Stop a Physical Attack
While many businesses are aware of cyber risks posed by phishing and malware, it is essential that physical security is not neglected. Without appropriate protection measures in place, you’re left vulnerable to new physical threats. Insider threats account for 60% of data breaches and the global average cost is 197% more than that of an external data breach.
Physical Threats and How to Protect Your Business
The biggest challenge for manufacturing firms is implementing systems that enable a free flow of information while simultaneously protecting their assets and intellectual property from unauthorized access.
Threat 1: Unaccounted Visitors
If you don’t know who’s in your workplace at a specific time, it’s impossible to keep a high level of security. Unaccounted visitors pose a serious risk potential. Using smart badges or registering mobile devices can help ensure the right person is at the right location.
Threat 2: Stolen or Misplaced High-Value Assets
Factory thefts are a worldwide problem. Workplace theft costs U.S. employers $50 billion annually. Theft of IP is even higher and harder to quantify, and more serious than just physical losses.
Figure 2 – Factory thefts are a worldwide problem for corporations
To optimize your asset management and performance you need complete asset visibility. Your workforce may spend hours searching for parts and equipment, costing lost productivity. IoT allows you to track assets at the production line, plant or enterprise level. Asset tracking solutions continuously record location, movement and health of assets and send out alerts with location information when an asset is at the wrong place, wrong time or with the wrong person.
- Identify restricted area to find potential security issues
- Identify relevant personnel to notify
- Identify potential threat trends
- Trace a suspect’s path to determine if the threat is genuine
Figure 3 – Asset Intelligence Use Cases
Threat 3: Fire and Rescue Plans
In the case of a factory fire or explosion, a fire alarm will activate, and workers exit and gather at designated areas (muster points). Once everyone has arrived at the designated spot, a headcount is reported back. Using new IoT technology you can Identify if anyone is still inside who may not have heard or paid attention to the alarm.
Figure 4 – Where are my employees during a fire?
Threat 2: Stolen or Misplaced High-Value Assets
Factory thefts are a worldwide problem. Workplace theft costs U.S. employers $50 billion annually. Theft of IP is even higher and harder to quantify, and more serious than just physical losses.
Threat 4: Detection and Preventing Rogue Devices
A rogue device is a wireless device that is onsite but not registered to access and operate on your corporate network. Examples are wireless cameras or rogue access points which may be capturing and retransmitting data, or an unauthorized smartphone that may be surreptitiously recording sensitive information. New device detection technology can help you with rogue identification for interdiction. Such systems can help you avoid costly security breaches threatening your IP and business.
Figure 5 – Identify visitor, employees and equipment as well as rogue devices
Threat 5: Spatial Authority
Having the right people at the right place doing the right things at your factory is a must. For example, not every worker is trained to operate a forklift. Also, a worker should not enter a zone which may be hazardous to their health, safety or security.
Threat 6: Health and Safety
Manufacturers everywhere are working to keep their teams and communities safe and healthy due to viral outbreaks such as COVID and the flu. Latest IoT technology can help you identify and automatically notify those who have been exposed to viral vectors and help your staff target areas requiring surgical cleaning without impacting the rest of your facility.
Figure 6 – Ways IoT technology could prevent spread of contagious disease
New generation of Real Time Location Analytics technology can avoid loss and issues caused by Cyber – Physical Threats
Kiana’s Real-Time IoT platform helps manufacturers proactively monitor and manage threat risks with low to no start-up cost by using your existing sensor infrastructure (WiFi, Bluetooth, Cameras, etc.) and without requiring additional hardware or installed apps. It enables rapid response to events impacting workforce safety, security, health, and wellness and helps your staff to make faster, better informed decisions.
Figure 7 – Kiana IoT Platform for Manufacturers
About Kiana Analytics
Kiana protects your high value assets; people, physical assets, and locations. Global enterprises use Kiana’s patented IoT, privacy-centered cloud-based platform to strengthen their physical safety, and security, to optimize and protect their operations. Kiana leverages existing Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Cameras, to deliver effective ROI of your infrastructure. Kiana is a venture-backed, a US Department of Homeland Security portfolio company, and was highlighted by many industry-leading publications and accelerators. More at www.kiana.io
Kiana Analytics Inc.
440 N. Wolfe Rd. Sunnyvale, CA 94085
www.kiana.io
info@kiana.io
(800) 961-4522
