Navigating Cybersecurity Risks in the Manufacturing and Distribution Industry

In this episode of On the Shop Floor, hosts Colby Horn and Chris Boyd are joined by Trip Hillman, partner in Weaver’s IT Advisory Services. They dissect the escalating cybersecurity risks in the manufacturing and distribution (M&D) industry, discussing the impact of connected devices and the importance of robust IT risk management.

Key Points:

  • Assess and mitigate life safety risks in automated systems
  • Conduct impact analysis for cyber events
  • Implement robust vendor management for cloud services

 

The episode highlights the increasing cybersecurity threats faced by the M&D industry, especially with the rise of connected devices and smart industrial equipment. The discussion emphasizes the need for comprehensive risk assessments and the importance of understanding the nuances between IT risk and cybersecurity risk.

“As organizations look for efficiencies and increased effectiveness of automation, humans are coming out of the loop,” Hillman said. “This means that machines are being connected and actually doing something, which raises real risks that we’re having to evaluate.”

Subscribe and listen to future episodes of Weaver: Beyond the Numbers: On the Shop floor on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

©2023

Recent Episodes

The CFO seat is being rewritten in real time. Today’s finance leaders are expected to drive growth, lead enterprise-wide systems transformations, and shape AI strategy—while still keeping the close, controls, and capital story airtight. Gartner reports that 59% of finance leaders are already using AI in the finance function, underscoring how rapidly the role is…

Buying behavior has shifted dramatically. Today’s B2B customers do most of their research before ever speaking with a salesperson. In fact, 61% of B2B buyers say they prefer a rep-free buying experience, according to a 2025 Gartner survey. At the same time, U.S. retail e-commerce sales exceeded $1.192 trillion in 2024. Growth still depends…

Dynasties are rare. Most teams rise, win for a season, and fade. A superstar retires. A coach leaves. The chemistry shifts. What once felt inevitable suddenly looks fragile. Sustained excellence is far harder than a single championship run — it requires standards that survive ego, systems that outlast individuals, and a culture strong enough to…