Manufacturing IT Services: Securing the Most-Attacked Sector

By The Uptime Report editorial team · Last updated September 2026

Manufacturing IT services must defend the sector attackers target most. Manufacturing is now the #1 ransomware target by volume: attacks on manufacturers rose 56% in 2025, driven by the downtime pressure that makes factories more likely to pay.

Why does manufacturing need specialized IT services?

Manufacturing runs on uptime, and attackers know it. Industrial Cyber reports attacks specifically targeting manufacturing rose 56% in 2025, and manufacturing now absorbs roughly half of all ransomware hits. The downtime pressure that makes a stopped line so costly is exactly what makes manufacturers more likely to pay, which draws more attacks.

What is the cost of manufacturing downtime?

The numbers are severe. Organizations face an average of 24 days of downtime after a ransomware attack, which for manufacturers translates to an estimated $1.9 million per day in losses. Depending on the sector, every hour of stopped production can cost anywhere from $10,000 to more than $250,000, and total downtime costs run up to 50 times the ransom itself. The ransom is rarely the expensive part.

What must manufacturing IT services cover?

• OT (operational technology) and ICS security for production systems
• Network segmentation between IT and factory floor
• Legacy-system protection, since much OT cannot be easily patched
• Backup and rapid recovery to limit downtime
• Supply-chain and vendor-access security
• 24/7 monitoring and incident response

How do you protect legacy OT in manufacturing?

Much of the risk comes from legacy operational technology that cannot be patched or replaced without halting production. The answer is defense around it: segment OT networks from IT so a compromise on one side cannot cross to the other, monitor OT traffic for anomalies, and control vendor access tightly. A manufacturing-focused IT provider designs security around the reality that the machines cannot simply be updated (VikingCloud tracks the ransomware trend).

Frequently asked questions

Why is manufacturing targeted by ransomware?

Because downtime is so costly that manufacturers are more likely to pay. Attacks on manufacturing rose 56% in 2025, making it the top-targeted sector by volume.

How much does manufacturing downtime cost?

An estimated $1.9 million per day after a ransomware attack, with every hour of stopped production costing $10,000 to $250,000+ depending on the sector.

What do manufacturing IT services cover?

OT and ICS security, network segmentation, legacy-system protection, backup and recovery, supply-chain security, and 24/7 monitoring.

What is OT security?

Protection of operational technology, the systems that run production equipment, which often cannot be patched like standard IT and needs defense around it.

Why is legacy OT a risk in manufacturing?

Much OT cannot be patched or replaced without stopping production, so it stays vulnerable and must be protected through segmentation and monitoring.

Is the ransom the main cost of a manufacturing attack?

No. Downtime costs run up to 50 times the ransom itself, making production loss the far larger expense.