Industrial manufacturing companies face increasing cybersecurity threats targeting operational technology (OT) systems and intellectual property. GlobalTech Manufacturing, a multinational company with 15 production facilities worldwide, experienced a sophisticated supply chain attack that compromised their industrial control systems. This case study details how we implemented a comprehensive Zero Trust security model to protect their critical infrastructure and intellectual property.
Background
GlobalTech Manufacturing produces advanced automotive components with highly automated production lines controlled by industrial control systems (ICS) and supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems. The company’s distributed infrastructure included legacy OT systems that were originally designed for isolated networks but had been connected to corporate networks for efficiency. This convergence created significant security vulnerabilities that were exploited by advanced persistent threat (APT) actors.
The Supply Chain Compromise
The attack originated through a compromised third-party vendor that had remote access to maintenance systems:
- Attackers gained initial access through a compromised VPN connection from a maintenance contractor.
- Lateral movement occurred through inadequately segmented networks connecting IT and OT systems.
- Critical production data and proprietary manufacturing processes were exfiltrated over several weeks.
- Production systems experienced intermittent disruptions that initially appeared to be normal equipment failures.
Zero Trust Architecture Implementation
Our response involved designing and implementing a comprehensive Zero Trust security model specifically tailored for industrial environments.
Network Segmentation and Microsegmentation
We established strict network boundaries between different operational zones:
- Complete isolation of OT networks from corporate IT systems with secure gateway controls.
- Microsegmentation of production lines to prevent lateral movement between systems.
- Implementation of industrial firewalls designed specifically for OT protocols and communications.
Continuous Monitoring and Threat Detection
Real-time visibility into both IT and OT environments was established through specialized monitoring solutions.
OT-Specific Security Controls
Our team deployed industrial cybersecurity solutions that provided:
Asset Discovery and Inventory – Complete visibility into all connected devices across production environments including legacy systems that were previously unknown.
Protocol Analysis and Anomaly Detection – Deep packet inspection of industrial protocols (Modbus, DNP3, IEC 61850) to detect unauthorized communications and malicious activities.
Predictive Threat Intelligence – Integration of industrial threat intelligence feeds to identify emerging threats targeting manufacturing infrastructure.
Outcome and Business Impact
The Zero Trust implementation successfully protected GlobalTech’s critical infrastructure while maintaining operational efficiency:
Threat Elimination – Complete containment of the APT campaign with no further data exfiltration or production disruptions.
Enhanced Visibility – 100% asset visibility across all production facilities with real-time monitoring of industrial network traffic.
Operational Continuity – Zero impact on production schedules during the security transformation, maintaining delivery commitments to automotive clients.
