Critical Manufacturing | South Carolina Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity

The Critical Manufacturing Sector plays an essential role in creating and distributing products to the country. The sector is categorized into the following seven types:

Primary Metals
Machinery
Electrical Equipment, Appliances, and Components
Transportation Equipment
Vehicles and Commercial Ships
Aerospace Products and Parts
Locomotives, Railroad and Transit Cars, and Rail Track Equipment

The vital products created by all seven types support the continuation of daily commercial and private operations in the United States.

SC CIC’s focus for this sector is to identify, assess, prioritize, and protect manufacturing entities vulnerable to cybersecurity threats while ensuring these organizations have the necessary measures in place to prevent cascading effects to other sectors should an incident occur. The services that SC CIC provides, such as readiness exercises and targeted threat intelligence for the sector, serve to further this goal of supporting South Carolina-based manufacturing organizations.

Resources for the Critical Manufacturing Sector:

Worker actively welding and wearing full protective gear.

South Carolina Manufacturers Alliance (SCMA)

The South Carolina Manufacturers Alliance (SCMA) is a statewide association dedicated solely to the manufacturing industry through legislative advocacy, networking, and training opportunities. Supporting manufacturing organizations of all sizes in South Carolina, SCMA provides resources for those who fall into the Critical Manufacturing Sector and become members. These resources include representation before the South Carolina legislature, access to conferences and councils, and input on state regulatory decisions.

Worker operating two robotic welding arms.

CISA | Critical Manufacturing Sector Webpage

CISA’s Critical Manufacturing Sector webpage contains detailed information on what types of organizations belong to the Commercial Facilities Sector in the U.S. along with federal plans for the sector (Commercial Facilities Sector-Specific Plan) and all critical infrastructure in the country (National Infrastructure Protection Plan (NIPP)). Sector-specific plans address how the NIPP should be utilized while considering each sector’s unique perspective.

Auto manufacturing professional working at a computer with an extra wide monitor

Automotive ISAC (Auto-ISAC)

Information Sharing & Analysis Centers (ISACs) help critical infrastructure professionals protect their infrastructure and employees from cybersecurity threats through the collection, analysis, and dissemination of threat information. ISACs help increase situational awareness across the critical infrastructure sectors through information sharing, partnerships, and networking opportunities.

Manufacturing professional with a laptop computer working at a diagnostics terminal

NIST | Cybersecurity Resources for Manufacturers

Through the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP), NIST provides resources and networking opportunities for cybersecurity professionals involved in manufacturing. Resources include Internet of Things (IoT) and Industrial Control Systems (ICS) security guidance, cybersecurity frameworks for manufacturing, and regulatory compliance and information.

Manufacturing worker within warehouse facility standing at computer monitor

Dragos | Industrial Cybersecurity in the Manufacturing Industry

Dragos, a U.S.-based industrial cybersecurity leader, provides threat intelligence information, upcoming events and webinars, and other resources tailored for the manufacturing industry to assist professionals working in the industry in strengthening their security posture.