Your factory is more connected
than your security strategy.
Ontario manufacturers are navigating three converging pressures: operational technology that was never built for the internet is now on the network, VMware licensing costs are multiplying, and AI is creating both opportunity and new attack surface. Independent advisory helps you address all three.
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Three pressures converging
on mid-market manufacturers.
Manufacturing technology decisions used to be about connectivity and uptime. Today, they are about security, cost management, and competitive advantage — often simultaneously.
OT/IoT Security Exposure
Operational technology — PLCs, SCADA systems, sensors, robotics — was never designed for networked environments. These systems are now connected to corporate IT networks for monitoring and analytics, but traditional security tools cannot be installed on them. Every connected device is an unprotected entry point.
year-over-year growth in ransomware attacks targeting operational environments
VMware/Broadcom Cost Shock
Broadcom raised VMware minimum licensing from 16 to 72 cores per bundle — devastating for manufacturers running modest virtualization environments. Price increases of 3-12x are hitting at renewal, and this is not a temporary disruption.
price increases facing VMware customers after Broadcom acquisition
Connected Device Sprawl
IoT devices on manufacturing floors now outnumber traditional IT endpoints. Each connected sensor, camera, or controller expands the attack surface. Many connect without IT's knowledge — shadow OT is the manufacturing equivalent of shadow IT.
connected IoT devices projected globally by 2030
IT breaches steal data.
OT breaches stop production.
When a corporate laptop is compromised, the impact is data exposure. When a PLC or SCADA system is compromised, the impact is a halted production line, damaged equipment, or a safety incident. The stakes in manufacturing are fundamentally different.
Traditional cybersecurity tools — endpoint detection, antivirus, agent-based monitoring — cannot be installed on OT devices. The firmware is proprietary and locked. Known vulnerabilities may never be patched. The answer is not endpoint security — it is network segmentation, passive monitoring, and anomaly detection that works without touching the devices themselves.
"How many IP addresses and connected devices are on our network — and do we know what they all are?"
"We think we know, but we haven't audited in over a year."
You cannot protect what you cannot see. Device discovery is the starting point for every OT security strategy.
Three practice areas.
One advisory relationship.
Securing the connected factory
- OT/IoT security assessment
- Network segmentation strategy
- Passive monitoring and anomaly detection
- Managed security provider evaluation
Infrastructure under pressure
- VMware migration evaluation
- Cloud and hybrid infrastructure planning
- Cost optimization and licensing review
- Connectivity for multi-site operations
Intelligence on the floor
- AI-powered quality inspection and predictive maintenance
- Computer vision for safety and compliance
- Data readiness for operational AI
- Use case identification and ROI modelling
Start with what you can see.
Schedule a briefing with our advisory team. We will discuss your current OT/IoT exposure, infrastructure costs, and where independent guidance can help your organization make better technology decisions.
Schedule a Briefing