Manufacturing stands apart from every industry in its implementation of Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT). Modern manufacturing facilities operate smarter and safer with enhanced efficiency, yet these advancements simultaneously increase their exposure. The benefits of IIoT predictive maintenance supply chain visibility and process optimization expose new attack pathways that standard OT systems lack the necessary protection against.

The combination of threat actors including cybercriminals hacktivists and nation-state actors exploits IIoT environmental weaknesses to conduct operational disruptions and data theft and physical safety breaches. Securing Industrial IoT systems has become an essential foundation for all operations during 2025.

The guide serves plant managers and OT engineers and CISOs by explaining IIoT security threats and delivering best practices while showing how Shieldworkz protects ICS environments against present-day threats.

What is the Industrial IoT (IIoT)?

Industrial IoT (IIoT) refers to internet-connected sensors, actuators, and devices used in industrial settings to enhance processes through real-time data and automation. The primary focus of consumer IoT on convenience differs from IIoT which powers essential infrastructure performance in manufacturing as well as oil & gas utilities and energy industries.

Key Use Cases:

• Remote asset monitoring

• Predictive maintenance

• Inventory management

• Production optimization

• Plant safety improvements

The three key features of Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) include machine-to-machine communication and big data analytics as well as intelligent automation for contemporary industrial success.

How Industrial IoT Works

The Industrial Internet Reference Architecture (IIRA) establishes a three-tier framework for IIoT.

• The Edge Tier consists of sensors and devices that extract machine data.

• The Platform Tier manages data processes while transmitting commands.

• The Enterprise Tier offers decision support through business logic and dashboards for enterprises.

Why Manufacturers Are Embracing IIoT

Manufacturers continue investing in IIoT technology because they recognize its operational advantages despite security risks.

1. Smarter Inventory Management

IIoT systems provide instant inventory level monitoring to help organizations:

• Reduce stockouts and overstock

• Improve order accuracy

• Streamline forecasting

2. End-to-End Supply Chain Visibility

The combination of sensors and RFID tags provides improved logistics capabilities through:

• Raw material tracking

• Ensuring traceability

• Improving delivery accuracy

3. Predictive Maintenance

IIoT conducts instant equipment data evaluation through various measurements including temperature and vibration and pressure checks.

• Temperature, vibration, and pressure monitoring

• Reduces downtime and repair costs

• Increases asset utilization

4. Asset Monitoring & Compliance

Manufacturers use IIoT to:

• Track location and condition of assets

• Improve compliance with industry regulations

• Monitor energy consumption

Top IIoT Security Challenges in 2025

1. Legacy Systems

ICS environments continue to operate with unfixable outdated systems.

The original design purpose was air-gapped security, yet it lacked internet connectivity features.

2. Sophisticated Threat Actors

Beachhead malware serves attackers as an entry point to transition from IIoT into corporate IT systems.

Human-Machine Interfaces (HMIs) often expose credentials.

3. Misaligned Priorities (IT vs. OT)

IT teams prioritize data protection.

OT teams prioritize uptime, safety, and production quality.

Security gaps together with conflicting policies emerge from this situation.

4. Expanded Attack Surface

The implementation of IIoT technology leads to the creation of thousands of new endpoints.

Every new device serves as an opportunity for attackers to gain access.

Best Practices for Securing Industrial IoT (IIoT) Devices

1. Asset Discovery with Passive Scanning

Non-intrusive methods should be used to detect and inventory all IIoT devices.

Look for tools that can detect:

• Operating system

• IP & MAC address

• Open ports & services

• Firmware & versioning

2. Continuous Vulnerability Management

Go beyond basic CVE scans.

Correlate vulnerabilities with threat intelligence.

The organization should follow these priority criteria when fixing devices:

• Device criticality

• Exploit likelihood

• Business impact

3. Micro-Segmentation & NAC Enforcement

Critical systems should be isolated through VLANs together with software-defined segmentation methods.

NAC integration enables organizations to enforce device-level communication restrictions.

4. Risk-Based Procurement

Businesses need to include security evaluation scores within their purchasing processes.

Evaluate devices for:

• Historical vulnerabilities

• Update capabilities

• Compatibility with existing controls

5. Establish Security KPIs

Define metrics like:

• % of high-risk devices patched

• Mean time to remediate (MTTR)

• Anomaly detection frequency

• Compliance score per device type

6. Security Awareness for OT Staff

Training OT engineers requires education in basic cybersecurity principles.

The program must establish procedures for secure configuration alongside incident reporting protocols.

Shieldworkz: Purpose-Built Security for Industrial IoT

Shieldworkz delivers specialized protection for IIoT, ICS, and OT environments through advanced vulnerability management, deep contextual intelligence, and seamless integration with your tech stack.

Key Features:

• The system evaluates both the severity of vulnerabilities and their ability to be exploited by the Likelihood-Based Risk Scoring method.

• The patented detection engine of the system utilizes EPSS alongside SBOMs and CVEs and NIST and MITRE ATT&CK as sources.

• The system allows users to focus on devices which present high risk and impact levels while showing the top 2% most critical devices.

• The system generates precise recommendations which direct users to perform specific actions like network access control rule creation or firewall configuration modification or network segmentation.

• The system provides automated integration with security tools including NAC and firewall systems.

Measurable Impact:

• The system allows users to conduct vulnerability triage at ten times faster speeds.

• The system reduces remediation work by 70%.

• The system reduces vulnerability report noise by 90%.

Conclusion: Take Control of Your IIoT Future

The time has come to protect Industrial IoT (IIoT) systems from security threats. The modern factory benefits from smart devices yet their security remains vital to protect operational facilities as well as personnel and business profitability. IIoT environments require specific security strategies which differ from standard IT tools because manufacturers need tailored solutions.

The Shieldworkz platform gives plant managers and OT engineers and CISOs the power to:

• The system allows users to locate risks through high-precision asset data collection.

• The system allows users to evaluate vulnerabilities through actual threat scenarios.

• The system performs automated remediation through its integration features.

Are you prepared to protect your IIoT Edge?

Request a demo today to see how Shieldworkz can future-proof your factory.