Bridgestone Americas Restores Network Connectivity After Cyber Attack
Overview of the Incident
Bridgestone Americas, the U.S. branch of the well-known Japanese tire manufacturer, has successfully reinstated network connectivity across its facilities in the United States. This comes after the company faced a cyber attack earlier this month that temporarily disrupted operations.
Impact on Operations
In early October, Bridgestone Americas reported experiencing a “limited cyber incident,” which prompted the company to halt production at several manufacturing and retreading facilities in North America and Latin America. A spokesperson mentioned that, despite the challenges faced by certain plants, the recovery process had been carefully planned. “We are methodically returning them back to full operation without incident and expect this to be completed over the next few days,” they shared with Cybersecurity Dive.
Restoration and Recovery Efforts
Now that network connectivity has been reestablished at their manufacturing locations, Bridgestone has ramped up production levels to bring inventory back to pre-incident conditions. The company emphasized that the safety and security of its systems remain a top priority. “We will continue to monitor for any signs of issues related to this limited cyber incident,” the spokesperson stated.
Investigation Underway
The specifics of the cyber attack remain largely undisclosed. Bridgestone has not revealed details such as the financial ramifications, the timeline of when the incident was identified, or whether any sensitive data was compromised. The company is collaborating with third-party experts and federal law enforcement to conduct a thorough investigation.
No Claims From Threat Actors
As of now, no threat actors have taken responsibility for the cyber attack on Bridgestone Americas. It remains uncertain when the company will achieve full operational capability across all its systems.
Recent Comparisons with Other Incidents
This incident at Bridgestone Americas arrives closely on the heels of a cyber attack on Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), a British car manufacturer. Similar to Bridgestone, JLR found itself forced to halt factory operations due to a cyber breach. The company, under the ownership of Tata Motors, disclosed its cyber incident earlier in September, which resulted in immediate action to shut down systems to mitigate further damage.
In a statement, Jaguar Land Rover confirmed, “JLR has been impacted by a cyber incident. We took immediate action to mitigate its impact by proactively shutting down our systems.” They noted that efforts are ongoing to restart their global applications in a controlled manner.
Extended Shutdown for JLR Employees
Initially, JLR instructed employees at its manufacturing plants located in Solihull, Wolverhampton, and Halewood to stay home until September 9. The company assured workers that their hours would be banked for future pay, while regular wages would continue. However, the shutdown order has since been extended, with factories set to remain closed until September 24, according to a statement released by JLR this week.
Conclusion
As companies like Bridgestone Americas and Jaguar Land Rover navigate the complexities and dangers of cyber threats, the emphasis remains on restoring operations safely while safeguarding sensitive information. Both companies are currently focused on understanding the full breadth of their respective incidents to bolster their defenses against future cyber threats.
