OT / IT segmentation review
We map where production systems touch the corporate network and the internet, and help separate them — the single control that moves a manufacturer's application from decline to quote.
Manufacturing · industrial · OT
The loss here isn't a data breach. It's the line going down.
For a manufacturer, the expensive day is the one where production stops. Ransomware that reaches the shop floor turns a security incident into a revenue incident, and the path there usually runs straight through a flat network where IT and operational technology share a segment.
The exposure
What underwriters and attackers actually look at
Carriers ask whether operational technology sits on the same network as IT — and 'same flat network' is a selectable, failing answer on forms from At-Bay and Hanover. The fix is segmentation before you apply; the loss being priced is downtime on production, not stolen records.
The program
What we operate for you
The managed security program — Huntress SOC-monitored detection, identity protection, and security awareness training, operated end-to-end — tuned to manufacturing & industrial.
MDR on the IT systems that bridge to the floor
Managed detection and response on workstations, engineering laptops, and the servers that schedule and feed production — where the ransomware actually lands before it spreads.
Backups checked before underwriting
The Readiness Sprint checks that production and office backups have an MFA-protected or immutable copy and a tested restore, and documents it for the application. Managed backup through Acronis is an add-on on any tier, $15 per person per month for each person's computer and their Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace account. Servers and production systems are quoted separately.
End-of-life inventory
Internet-facing end-of-life software with no extended support is a failing application answer. We inventory it and get it segmented or replaced before underwriting sees it.
Fit
Who this is for
- Small and mid-market manufacturers with shop-floor OT/ICS
- Job shops and fabricators running scheduling or ERP on the same network as machines
- Manufacturers whose customers now require a security attestation
- Owners who can't afford a multi-day production stoppage
Further reading
Go deeper on Manufacturing & Industrial
CISSP-led guides on the threats, compliance, and controls that apply to manufacturing & industrial — the detail behind the program above.
Do You Need CMMC? A Small Manufacturer's Guide to the 2026 Rules
If you make anything for the defense supply chain — even as a sub-tier subcontractor — CMMC may now gate your contracts.
Read the guideRansomware on the Factory Floor: Protecting Production for Small Manufacturers
For a small manufacturer, the expensive cyberattack isn't data theft — it's the ransomware that stops the line.
Read the guideFAQ
Manufacturing & Industrial: common security questions
Does a small manufacturer need cybersecurity compliance?
It depends on your contracts. Defense-supply-chain manufacturers handling Federal Contract Information or Controlled Unclassified Information fall under CMMC.
Commercial manufacturers have no federal mandate — but face the same ransomware-downtime and cyber-insurance pressures, with the same control set.
What's the biggest cyber risk for a manufacturer?
Ransomware that stops the production line. Manufacturing has been the most-attacked industry in IBM's X-Force Threat Intelligence Index for five straight years (2025 data), because a halted line is exactly the leverage attackers want.
Segmenting the office (IT) network from the plant (OT) network is one of the highest-impact defenses.
How much does managed cybersecurity cost for a manufacturer?
Managed coverage starts at $25 per person per month (Ridge Core, no minimum), which watches every computer and every email login.
Ridge Plus adds staff training, email protection and a secure browser; Ridge Reserve adds the incident response plan, access reviews and patch reporting.
All three are priced per person, and log collection is Ridge Log, an add-on on any tier. The one-time Cyber Insurance Readiness Sprint is a fixed fee from $1,500 (three tiers up to $3,500).
How fast can you get a plant protected?
The Cyber Insurance Readiness Sprint runs seven business days and maps where your IT and OT networks touch and where backups stand. We agree the managed-monitoring deployment schedule after reviewing your environment.
Start with the questionnaire
See where you stand before an underwriter does.
The free 2026 Cyber Insurance Readiness Questionnaire scores you against the controls carriers actually ask about. Then the Readiness Sprint turns your environment into the evidence they accept.
Guides for your buying decision
Read the industry guide, compare the service scope and start with your carrier's actual questions.