Terre Haute’s Manufacturing Sector Faces Unprecedented Cybersecurity Threats as Operational Technology Becomes Prime Target for 2025 Attacks

The manufacturing landscape in Terre Haute, Indiana, is experiencing a digital transformation that brings both unprecedented opportunities and alarming cybersecurity risks. As companies like ThyssenKrupp Presta, ADVICS, Steel Dynamics, and Sony DADC continue to modernize their operations with Industry 4.0 technologies, operational technology (OT) domains such as manufacturing that were traditionally air-gapped from IT networks are now being merged in the context of Industry 4.0, creating new vulnerabilities where attackers can disrupt production lines or override safety systems.

The Convergence Crisis: When IT Meets OT

Rising cyberattacks on operational technology (OT) systems endanger critical infrastructure, impacting energy, water and manufacturing globally. For Terre Haute’s diverse manufacturing sector, which spans automotive components, steel processing, food production, and advanced materials, this convergence represents a critical vulnerability. Enterprise cybersecurity investments are typically allocated to protecting data and information systems but not the industrial processes that operate on a massive scale and have unique systems with exacting requirements for availability. These OT systems are increasingly connected through digital transformation initiatives but often include vulnerable technologies that weren’t designed with cybersecurity in mind.

Local manufacturers face a particularly challenging environment as the manufacturing sector’s vulnerability to cyber threats has grown exponentially in recent years, with manufacturing organizations seeing a 300% surge in attacks since 2019. This dramatic increase coincides with the sector’s increased connectivity, as Industry 4.0 technologies such as IIoT devices, cloud-based systems, and interconnected supply chains have expanded the attack surface dramatically.

Emerging Threats Targeting Manufacturing Operations

The threat landscape for 2025 reveals several critical attack vectors specifically targeting manufacturing operations. Sabotage attacks target industrial control systems (ICS) or operational technologies (OT), manipulating equipment to disrupt production or cause physical damage, with attackers exploiting outdated systems and unpatched vulnerabilities to gain control. This is particularly concerning for Terre Haute’s automotive suppliers, where production disruptions can cascade through global supply chains.

Ransomware continues to be one of the most prevalent and damaging forms of cyber-attacks, with 2025 anticipated to see a surge in sophisticated ransomware operations targeting critical infrastructure, healthcare systems, and financial institutions, employing advanced techniques such as double extortion. Ransomware attacks targeting manufacturers rose to 29% of publicly extorted victims globally in Q2 2024, a 56% year-over-year increase.

The integration of artificial intelligence by threat actors adds another layer of complexity. Cybercriminals are leveraging AI to enhance their attack capabilities, with AI-driven attacks able to automate and scale operations, making it easier for hackers to bypass traditional security measures.

Local Manufacturing Vulnerabilities

Terre Haute’s manufacturing ecosystem faces unique challenges due to its diverse industrial base. Companies like Steel Dynamics and Novelis handle critical materials processing, while food manufacturers like B&G Foods manage complex supply chains that extend far beyond local operations. Manufacturers depend on extensive supply chains involving numerous vendors and contractors, with insufficient oversight and varying cybersecurity maturity among partners creating a broad attack surface, exacerbated by the lack of consistent standards.

The human factor remains a significant vulnerability. Insider threats involve employees or contractors abusing access privileges to compromise data or systems, which can be intentional acts, such as sabotage, or unintentional actions, like clicking on malicious links. Weak access controls and limited monitoring of employee activities increase susceptibility, with the high turnover in manufacturing roles and limited cybersecurity training also contributing to this vulnerability.

The Financial and Operational Impact

The financial stakes for Terre Haute manufacturers are substantial. Ransomware recovery costs averaged $3.58 million, with 63% of ransomware attackers demanding $1 million or more, and 30% demanding over $5 million. For local manufacturers, such costs could be devastating, particularly for smaller operations that form the backbone of the region’s industrial ecosystem.

Beyond immediate financial losses, attacks on energy infrastructure can cause power outages and economic disruption, while cyber threats to food processing plants, chip manufacturers and pharmaceutical companies result in shortages, quality lapses, threats to health and life, breaks in global supply chains and damage to corporate reputation and business viability.

Building Resilient Defenses

Protecting Terre Haute’s manufacturing sector requires a comprehensive approach that addresses both technological and human factors. Tailored OT cybersecurity controls – such as ICS response plans and defensible architectures – can safeguard critical systems and ensure operational continuity. This is where specialized Cybersecurity Terre Haute providers play a crucial role in helping local manufacturers develop robust defense strategies.

Effective protection strategies must include regular security assessments, employee training programs, and the implementation of network segmentation to isolate critical OT systems. Isolating ICS environments and conducting regular security assessments are essential countermeasures, while regular supply chain audits and enforcing strict vendor compliance with cybersecurity protocols can mitigate risks.

The Path Forward

As Terre Haute’s manufacturing sector continues to evolve and embrace digital transformation, cybersecurity cannot be an afterthought. The cyber skills gap has widened since 2024, with two in three organizations reporting moderate-to-critical skills gaps, and only 14 percent of organizations confident that they have the people and skills required.

Local manufacturers must recognize that IT security tools and cybersecurity budget allocations give a false sense of security, as the operational technology (OT) that runs the revenue-producing side of the business remains exposed because IT cybersecurity cannot adequately protect it. Success requires partnerships with cybersecurity providers who understand both the unique challenges of manufacturing environments and the specific needs of Terre Haute’s industrial community.

The manufacturing sector that has driven Terre Haute’s economic growth for decades now faces its greatest cybersecurity challenge. By implementing comprehensive OT security strategies, investing in employee training, and partnering with experienced cybersecurity professionals, local manufacturers can protect their operations while continuing to innovate and compete in the global marketplace. The time for action is now – before the next attack targets the heart of Terre Haute’s industrial infrastructure.