Cisco 2018 Cybersecurity Report Highlights Rising OT Threats and Best Defense Practices

Manufacturers experienced significant shifts in industrial security throughout 2017, with high‑profile ransomware attacks such as WannaCry and Nyetya, and the recent Trisis/Triton/Hatman incidents capturing global attention.

Cisco’s 2018 Annual Cybersecurity Report distills these events and outlines emerging malware trends, the growing influence of the Internet of Things (IoT) on security architecture, and how AI, automation, and machine learning can mitigate threats.

Key insights for the manufacturing sector include the following statistics:

• 31% of security professionals reported a cyber‑attack on OT infrastructure.
• 38% expect attacks to spread from IT to OT within the next year.
• 69% consider OT a viable attack vector in 2018.
• IoT botnets are expanding, yet few organizations view them as an imminent threat.

Manufacturers are strengthening their defenses through:

• Over 50% employing a Defense‑in‑Depth strategy in industrial zones.
• More than 80% relying on zone‑based industrial firewalls for perimeter protection.
• Half of surveyed firms rate their industrial security tools as highly effective.
• Core safeguards identified as virus protection, encryption, and port security.

Common hurdles include:

• A fragmented vendor ecosystem that complicates orchestration.
• On average, 48% of alerts remain uninvestigated.
• Many facilities still use unmanaged switches on the factory floor.
• 61% of respondents conduct cybersecurity exercises every six months.

The report delivers actionable recommendations to reduce risk and sustain operational resilience, covering trends, adversary tactics, vulnerabilities, staffing, budgeting, and best practices.

Download the full report here: