An Introduction to SecureStart: Foundational OT Cybersecurity

Three Team Members Working On Laptop

Joe Breeden, Director of Cybersecurity | July 3, 2025

SIMPLE. SCALABLE. SECURE. 

The risks that manufacturing operations face are no longer just physical: digital vulnerabilities are translating into real-world consequences. Whether it's a patchwork of unmonitored plant floor computers or outdated backup protocols that haven't been tested in years, many small to midsize operations find themselves exposed—more often than not unknowingly so. Sure, you've taken some steps to protect yourself, but even the smallest gap in security could be disastrous. Taking the initiative towards upgrading and improving your current systems can be intimidating, but that's where SecureStart comes in. 

Cybersecurity Meets Operational Reality 

For many agricultural processors, food manufacturers, and industrial producers, the challenge isn't a lack of awareness. Most leaders recognize that cyber threats exist. What's missing is clarity: Where do we start? What do we prioritize? How do we protect our operations without halting production or breaking the budget? 

SecureStart was built with these exact questions in mind. It's a practical, structured entry point to operational technology (OT) security, tailored specifically for organizations that run lean teams, rely on consistent uptime, and don't have in-house cybersecurity expertise. SecureStart is not a theoretical framework or a lengthy audit—it's a hands-on, fixed-scope engagement designed to identify the most pressing risks to your operations and provide an actionable roadmap you can implement with or without ongoing outside support. 

A blue outlined icon of an industrial factory. The image features a building with three angular rooftops, two tall chimneys or smokestacks in the background, and a large entrance or loading bay in the front. The icon represents manufacturing or industrial production.

Built for the Plant Floor 

Unlike many enterprise cybersecurity solutions that were built for IT environments, SecureStart is grounded in the realities of plant operations. It focuses on foundational, high-impact controls: 

  • Antivirus Protection
  • Backup Validation
  • Patching Guidance 

These are all delivered in a way that minimizes disruption. For organizations with limited staffing or those juggling regulatory demands and tight margins, SecureStart establishes a practical and robust security baseline that aligns with operational needs, without adding unnecessary complexity or overhead. More importantly, the service does not require an existing asset inventory standard to begin—a significant distinction in operations where formal inventories may not yet exist or are incomplete. SecureStart offers a path forward regardless of where you're starting. 

Why Upgrade Now? 

Threat intelligence shows that industrial operations, especially in agriculture and manufacturing, are no longer flying under the radar. Nation-state and ransomware actors increasingly target OT environments—not because of who the company is but because of what it runs: legacy systems, lean support teams, and weaker segmentation between IT and OT networks. Once inside, even basic attackers can cause significant downtime and safety risks. 

These risks are becoming business risks. Downtime affects harvest windows, product quality, refrigeration systems, batching processes, and downstream logistics. One missed production run or disrupted feed cycle can have ripple effects across an entire value chain. Cybersecurity in this context isn't about theory—it's about protecting throughput and maintaining client trust. 

Proactive Positioning for the Future 

SecureStart does more than highlight risks—it positions your operation for what's ahead. Whether you're preparing for an automation investment, ISO audit, insurance renewal, or simply looking to modernize securely, SecureStart provides a baseline that makes future initiatives safer and more manageable. 

The program includes prioritized recommendations mapped to industry-recognized frameworks like IEC 62443 and NIST 800-82, enabling future alignment with regulatory expectations and internal safety policies. You receive clear documentation and guidance that your operations, maintenance, or safety team can act on without needing a cybersecurity background. And if you choose to go further (adding remote access controls, managed patching, or deeper network segmentation), SecureStart's output becomes your foundation. 

A Smarter First Step

For agriculture and manufacturing companies, SecureStart isn’t just about security—it’s about business continuity, uptime, and avoiding costly surprises. It’s a way to move away from ‘we should probably do something’ and toward ‘we have a plan’. And it’s delivered with the operational insight and flexibility that industrial clients require. Whether you’re managing seasonal harvest risks, working within FSMA or USDA expectations, or responding to the growing list of digital audit questions from insurers and suppliers, SecureStart helps you answer with confidence.  

SecureStart gives you clarity. It gives you peace of mind that your most critical systems are better protected—now and into the future. 

Are You Looking For... 

  • Immediate risk reduction?
  • Visibility into your assets?
  • Scalable protection for your evolving needs? 

Cybersecurity doesn’t have to be complicated, but it does need to be intentional. It starts with understanding what you have, where you’re going, and how to keep it covered. A cybersecurity foundation that can be built upon, supported by a team that speaks the language of industrial operations, is something every manufacturer should have. If you have questions about cybersecurity in the manufacturing space, or want to learn more about SecureStart, let’s have a conversation!  

 

This article was originally published on May 10th, 2025, in the Interstates LinkedIn Newsletter titled Converging Clarity that focuses on Operational Technology. Author Joe Breeden is the Director of Cybersecurity at Interstates.