PLYMOUTH – With manufacturing now a top five industry target for cyber-attacks, the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) program has tapped the Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center to lead a national effort to prepare MEP centers to roll out cybersecurity services to small and medium-size manufacturers across the United States.
The MEP National Network, a public-private partnership that delivers comprehensive, proven technology to American manufacturers, encompasses at least one center in every state and Puerto Rico, with more than 1,300 manufacturing experts in 425 service locations.
Five other MEP centers are supporting MMTC in this initiative, with CMTC (California), Manufacturer’s Edge (Colorado), Wisconsin MEP, Pennsylvania MEP and TMAC (Texas) helping to raise awareness about cyber issues and provide resources to other MEP centers looking to join in the effort. The foundation of the group’s efforts is based on the NIST Cybersecurity Framework, which consists of standards, guidelines and best practices to manage cybersecurity-related risk.
Currently, 38 out of a total 51 MEP centers have or are developing a cybersecurity program to assist manufacturers in their states. Additionally, the centers have conducted 125 awareness events nationwide in the past six months, with more than 1,700 companies participating.
“As our industry becomes increasingly connected and more reliant on technology, the need for enhanced cybersecurity measures will continue to grow,” said Elliot Forsyth, Vice President of Business Operations at The Center. “Manufacturing is a significant component of our economy, and we need to educate, train and support our nation’s manufacturers to guard against the growing threat of cyber-attacks.”
The Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center offers personalized consulting services to meet the needs of clients in virtually every aspect of their businesses. More at https://the-center.org/.