Page 219 - Cyber Defense eMagazine September 2025

Guardians of the Factory: Defending Cyber-Physical

Systems in Smart Manufacturing

By Omkar Bhalekar, Sr Network Engineer, Tesla

The modern industrial era blurs the lines between tangible machinery and interconnected computer
systems. Step forward to the era of Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS), the smart integration of computation,
networking, and physical systems. At the helm of this revolution is the Internet of Manufacturing Things
(IoMT), an interconnected web of devices, sensors, and machines promising unparalleled automation,
productivity, and responsiveness.

But with increased connectivity comes increased exposure. The same facilities that facilitate convenience
of manufacturing processes bring new surfaces to breach cyber-attacks. As factories become smart and
integrated, it is now no longer an option but a necessity to secure these CPS and the IoMT ecosystem.

Understanding Cyber-Physical Systems in Manufacturing

Cyber-Physical Systems represent a convergence of the physical and virtual domains. In manufacturing,
this equates to physical equipment, from industrial robot arms and conveyor belts to sensors and control
systems, that is also computational, and networking enabled.

Cyber Defense eMagazine – September 2025 Edition 219
Copyright © 2025, Cyber Defense Magazine. All rights reserved worldwide.