SANS Releases Guide to Address Rise in Attacks on Manufacturing and Industrial Control Systems

The report outlines a significant rise in ransomware targeting industrial control systems within manufacturing, referencing Dragos’s 2023 findings (50% increase year-over-year; 70% of attacks affecting 638 entities) and reviewing the SANS ICS security guide. It critiques the guide for overlooking credential security even though “Valid Accounts” is the top technique in 60% of manufacturing attacks, stressing the need for MFA, strong passwords, and security awareness to mitigate risk.