The top security threats facing manufacturers today

With everything from expensive machinery to parts, materials and finished goods being held on site, it’s easy to see why a manufacturing facility may be a tempting target for criminal gangs or an opportunistic burglar.

Here, we look at the main security threats facing manufacturers based in the UK today, and what you can do to shore-up physical security at your premises.

Biggest security threats for manufacturers in 2022 

Any business that holds goods, tools, or equipment on site is at risk of becoming a target for criminals, and so it’s unsurprising that manufacturers rank high on the list.

With machinery, such as that used in production processes, netting a high resale value, combined with loose parts, raw materials, and inventories of stock, breaking in to a manufacturer can offer criminals a lucrative payday.

Manufacturing plants also tend to be a target for criminals because the rewards can far outweigh the risks involved. These types of premises are typically based in quiet, out of town locations, shielded from the prying eyes of the public, bright city lights and the blanket CCTV coverage of urban town centres.

Criminals are less likely to be seen or disturbed in the act, so they can take their time without the threat of their crimes being witnessed.

Cybersecurity risks

 And it’s not just physical security risks that manufactures face, there is also the growing threat of cyber attack.

Criminals may try and hack into IT systems to steal financial data and other sensitive information held, including details about supply chains and even trade secrets. They may also try and access the Industrial Control System (ICS), to holt operations at the company, while demanding some form of ransom is paid. Legacy systems, such as the use of outdated equipment, IT hardware and software, can present a further risk, being particularly vulnerable to ransomware cyber-attacks and other hacking.

The online threat is something all businesses in operation today need to think about, especially with attacks on the rise.  There is also a clear link between physical security and cyber security. For example, when computer equipment, laptops and other digital devices are stolen from site.  

Security threats from manufacturing plants don’t always come from outside though

Manufacturers typically employ large workforces, and employee theft is another key risk the manufacturing industry faces. This doesn’t only concern the removal of physical goods from the premises but intellectual property the manufacturer owns, which has a high resale value on the black market and can present a further temptation to criminals.

Climbing metal prices and a growing secondhand machinery market, in the wake of backlogs, are further security issues plaguing the manufacturing sector as the world continues to rebuild after the effects of a pandemic that has upturned global industry for two years.

These physical security threats exist in addition to cybersecurity breaches, which have similarly escalated in frequency and sophistication in recent years, with businesses that hold confidential information amongst those now commonly targeted by phishing scams and data leaks.

Tips for improving security when you’re a manufacturer

So, faced with such a diverse range of security threats, how can businesses within the manufacturing sector protect their assets, intellectual property, and their workforce from harm?

1. Conduct a security risk assessment

 The first step to making your manufacturing business more secure is to assess the risks posed to you by a break-in, theft, or other type of criminal activity, such as vandalism or arson.

Don’t forget, it’s not only the removal of plant, equipment, or raw materials that has the potential to disrupt your business. Any attempted break-ins or destruction of property can also take your operation offline, preventing you from fulfilling customer orders for days or weeks at a time.

Don’t attempt to conduct a risk assessment yourself. Bring in a security specialist who can work with you to identify your company’s unique security threats and the measures you can take to mitigate or minimise harm to your operations.

While many criminals will choose to strike under the cover of darkness, a break-in during daylight hours is never out of the question, especially if your business visibly lacks security or you fail to manage visitors to site effectively.

In some instances, assailants may be dangerous, possibly even armed in an attempt to scare and subdue employees. So, when conducting your risk assessment don’t just think about the risks posed to physical assets and property; also factor in the risks to life and employee wellbeing too.

2. Install secure access control 

The access in and out of the premises is always going to present one of your greatest security risks, so making these areas as robust as possible should be a number one priority for manufacturers.

With so many employees, contractors and visitors entering and exiting your building throughout the various shifts your company operates, it’s vital that you can track and monitor who is in the building at any one time. Make sure access points into your building are covered by time-stamped CCTV cameras, so everyone who enters and exits has their image recorded. It can be effective to integrate access control and CCTV so that recorded images include employee data of each person swiping to gain access to various areas.

Ensuring your doors are always securely locked is another big hindrance to burglars, particularly those who strike opportunistically.

Installing digital access control systems, such as a swipe card your employees use to touch in and out, within specific areas, is another highly recommended measure to help with crime prevention. The more physical barriers you can place in a criminal’s way, the less likely an attempted break-in will be successful.

Likewise, the fewer access points to your building, the more difficult it will be for a criminal to sneak past your security and get inside. Remember, there’s no point having an ultra-strong and sophisticated front entrance, if around the side you have a rusting side door or loose window. Criminals will always look for the weakest point.

3. Employ round-the-clock security guards

Another easy-to-implement security measure that can prove to be an effective crime deterrent for manufacturers, is to have a physical security presence on site.

Depending on your needs and the deemed risk, a 24-hour static guard or an out-of-hours-only presence may be required. Or alternatively, you may choose to have mobile security patrols carried out at random times throughout the night and on weekends.

Security guards don’t only send a message to wannabe criminals that your business takes its security seriously; having on site security can also benefit your business in a number of other ways too.

Security can be stationed at the entrance of your building as a reassuring presence to employees coming and going. Security-trained receptionists can also help to check employee and visitor IDs to ensure that only authorised personnel are allowed into the building, thereby mitigating the risk that someone will slip-in unnoticed. Over time, a regular security presence will often be able to recognise staff individually and to notice any other unusual patterns of behaviour that might raise suspicion.

Additionally, a security officer can monitor real-time CCTV footage and respond to what is captured by the security cameras, as well as dealing with incidents of anti-social behaviour or other criminal activity on site that might threaten the business or its staff, escalating the matter to police if necessary.

Outside of core working hours, manned security patrols can keep watch at reception, and routinely do sweeps of the building’s perimeter to ensure everything is as it should be. They can act as a deterrent to anyone who may try to break in to your building overnight, as well as catching and disturbing criminals in the act.

Security personnel can also act as key holders, taking responsibility for opening the manufacturing site in the morning, before the first employees’ shift starts, together with locking up after the last person leaves each night. This takes the risk and pressure off employees.

Ready to step-up your manufacturing security?

At Venture, we provide professional security services for manufacturers across Hampshire, Wiltshire, Berkshire, Surrey and Dorset. Our qualified security personnel are all SIA licence holders and trained to the highest security standards, in areas including: manned guarding, mobile patrolling, key holding and alarm response.

To speak to us about your security operations, or to enquire about the cost of security guard patrolling, call 01264 391538 or contact us by email at [email protected]