As a managed services provider specializing in Global Shop Solutions, we’ve seen firsthand how the right security measures can protect manufacturing businesses from evolving cyber threats. While the cloud platform offers robust built-in security, implementing additional protective layers can significantly enhance your defense against modern cyber threats.
Understanding Your Global Shop Solutions Cloud Environment
Before diving into specific security measures, it’s important to understand that Global Shop Solutions’ cloud platform already includes many security features. However, as with any cloud-based ERP system, your organization plays a crucial role in maintaining comprehensive security. Here’s how to build upon that foundation.
- Building an Impenetrable Perimeter
Think of perimeter security as your manufacturing facility’s security system – but for your digital assets. For Global Shop Solutions users, this is particularly crucial as your ERP system contains sensitive production data, customer information, and proprietary manufacturing processes.
Essential Perimeter Security Measures
- Advanced Firewall Configuration: Beyond basic firewalls, implement rules specifically tailored to your Global Shop Solutions workflows. For example, set up specific rules for CAD file transfers and shop floor data collection devices.
- Network Segmentation: Separate your shop floor networks from office networks to prevent potential malware from spreading between systems.
- Ongoing monitoring: Your firewall filters and collects an enormous amount of information. A periodic review of the alerts and reports it can generate can be very insightful to understanding patterns and risks.
Real-World Application
One of our manufacturing clients recently prevented a ransomware attack by implementing proper network segmentation. When their office network was compromised, their production environment remained secure because their Global Shop Solutions instance was properly isolated.
- Smart DNS Filtering for Manufacturing Environments
DNS filtering is particularly valuable for manufacturing environments using Global Shop Solutions, as it helps prevent accidental access to malicious sites that could compromise your ERP data.
Manufacturing-Specific DNS Filtering Strategies
- Custom Filtering Rules: Create specific rules for common manufacturing websites and resources while blocking known malicious domains.
- Application-Aware Filtering: Ensure your DNS filtering solution understands and properly handles Global Shop Solutions’ specific communication requirements.
- Shop Floor Protection: Implement stricter DNS filtering rules for shop floor terminals that only need access to Global Shop Solutions and essential manufacturing resources.
Success Story
A medium-sized machine shop implemented DNS filtering and discovered unauthorized data transfers during off-hours. This early detection prevented potential intellectual property theft of their custom part designs.
- Crafting a Manufacturing-Ready Incident Response Plan
Your incident response plan should specifically address scenarios involving your Global Shop Solutions environment. Here’s how to create one that works:
Manufacturing-Specific IRP Components
- Initial Assessment
- Determine if the incident affects your Global Shop Solutions environment
- Evaluate impact on production schedules and customer deliveries
- Assess whether shop floor equipment is affected
- Immediate Response
- Have procedures ready for safely shutting down affected manufacturing processes
- Maintain backup procedures for accessing critical production data
- Keep emergency contact information for both IT and production leadership
- Contact your insurance carrier. Every business should have cyber-insurance, and the carrier must be engaged early (typically within 24 hours) or your policy may be voided.
- Recovery Procedures
- Document steps to restore Global Shop Solutions access
- Include procedures for validating data integrity post-incident
- Maintain plans for temporary manual operations if needed
Prevention Best Practices
- Regular backup testing of your Global Shop Solutions database
- Documented procedures for fallback manual operations
- Quarterly review and updates of response procedures
- Regular staff training on security awareness
Taking Action: Your Next Steps
- Immediate Actions
- Review your current Global Shop Solutions user access policies
- Implement basic network segmentation if not already in place
- Enable MFA for all user accounts
- Short-Term Goals (30-60 days)
- Deploy advanced firewall rules
- Implement basic DNS filtering
- Create a basic incident response plan
- Long-Term Implementation (90+ days)
- Fine-tune security measures based on observed patterns
- Conduct regular security audits
- Implement advanced monitoring and alerting
Partner with Experts
As your managed services provider, we specialize in implementing these security measures while ensuring your Global Shop Solutions environment runs smoothly. Our team understands both the technical and manufacturing aspects of your business, allowing us to provide solutions that protect your data without disrupting operations.
How We Can Help
- Security assessments tailored to Global Shop Solutions environments
- Implementation of all mentioned security measures
- 24/7 monitoring and support
- Regular security updates and maintenance
- Staff training and documentation
Conclusion
Protecting your Global Shop Solutions cloud environment requires a comprehensive approach that goes beyond basic security measures. By implementing robust perimeter security, intelligent DNS filtering, and a manufacturing-specific incident response plan, you can significantly reduce your risk of cyber incidents while maintaining efficient operations.
