Uploaded July 2025 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Since the start of the Industrial Revolution, manufacturing technology has evolved from steam, to electricity, and today, to data. Data is the cartilage and sinew of the vast skeleton of manufacturing and commerce, and when that information was passed solely through copper conductors, it was relatively secure.
Today however, wireless technology has evolved into a virtual backbone, operating at macro and micro scales. Individual machines on an assembly line may be Bluetooth connected to handheld devices, and Wi-Fi is a given for intra-plant monitoring and control, with the Internet providing operational control and monitoring on a global scale. Vulnerability of these systems is a growing problem, both for the need to keep nefarious actors out of industrial systems, and to protect valuable IP.
Engineering.com’s Jim Anderton spoke with Rod Locke, Director of Product Management with Fortinet about the severity of the industrial security problem, and what manufacturers can do about it.
Watch the full interview here: engineering.com/securing-critical-manufacturing-data-it-takes-more-than-a-simple-firewall
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#manufacturing #security #Fortinet
Since the start of the Industrial Revolution, manufacturing technology has evolved from steam, to electricity, and today, to data. Data is the cartilage and sinew of the vast skeleton of manufacturing and commerce, and when that information was passed solely through copper conductors, it was relatively secure.
Today however, wireless technology has evolved into a virtual backbone, operating at macro and micro scales. Individual machines on an assembly line may be Bluetooth connected to handheld devices, and Wi-Fi is a given for intra-plant monitoring and control, with the Internet providing operational control and monitoring on a global scale. Vulnerability of these systems is a growing problem, both for the need to keep nefarious actors out of industrial systems, and to protect valuable IP.
Engineering.com’s Jim Anderton spoke with Rod Locke, Director of Product Management with Fortinet about the severity of the industrial security problem, and what manufacturers can do about it.
Watch the full interview here: engineering.com/securing-critical-manufacturing-data-it-takes-more-than-a-simple-firewall
* * *
SUBSCRIBE TO ENGINEERING.COM NEWSLETTERS:
Gain exclusive access to expert insights and valuable industry trends. Guarantee you never miss out on the latest innovations in engineering.
engineering.com/subscribe
#manufacturing #security #Fortinet
