Securing Manufacturing Networks: Cisco’s Advanced Cell/Area Zone Security & Industry Standards

Manufacturing security threats are not new, but the nature of the attacks has evolved dramatically. In 2017 alone, breaches cost the industry over $10 billion in reported losses, making cyber‑security a top‑level priority for most boards.

Unlike the accidental breaches of the past—unpatched software, idle servers—modern attacks are deliberate, sophisticated, and target the expanding attack surface created by interconnected equipment, sensors, and devices across the production floor.

Manufacturers are increasingly candid about their security posture and are collaborating to shape formal standards for industrial automation and control systems. Cisco plays a key role in this effort, helping to define the global ISA/IEC 62443 framework and delivering some of the first certified products that meet those standards. We also partner with ODVA and others to enhance industrial protocol security, including recent support for CIP‑level segmentation that complements our network‑level defenses.

Over the past year, Cisco introduced a suite of security innovations, notably cell/area zone security. This solution applies our software‑defined segmentation (the TrustSec model) to the most critical areas of industrial networks. By combining our industrial networking platform (IE switches), OT network management (IND), IT‑grade Identity and Access Management (ISE), and visibility & security analytics (Stealthwatch), we provide unprecedented insight into device traffic—knowing who talks to whom—and enable a unified IT‑OT security policy that protects mission‑critical systems.

These enhancements represent only the beginning of Cisco’s commitment to industrial security. In August, we completed the acquisition of Sentryo, a French company that specializes in asset visibility and cyber‑security solutions for control systems. With Sentryo’s expertise, Cisco IoT will continue to deliver certified products that meet the evolving needs of manufacturers.

For board‑level leaders, Cisco’s integrated security and networking solutions translate cyber‑risk into measurable protection. Explore our portfolio, then contact our sales team or partners to launch a proof‑of‑concept backed by a Cisco‑Validated Design.