New York, N.Y. (July 10, 2023) — The Cyber Readiness Institute (CRI) and Cybersecurity Manufacturing Innovation Institute (CyManII) are excited to announce a partnership aimed at bolstering cyber readiness and security for small and medium-sized manufacturers, a vital sector of the U.S. economy.
This strategic alliance will provide valuable support and resources to help small and medium-sized manufacturers strengthen their defenses and protect their operations from an alarming rise in cyber-attacks targeting these organizations. Under the partnership, CyManII will provide manufacturers access to CRI’s free Cyber Readiness Program. The CRI program provides essential cyber readiness best practices to reduce the vulnerabilities that can lead to a devastating cyber-attack.
“We are very excited to partner with CyManII to improve cyber readiness skills in the manufacturing sector,” said Karen S. Evans, Managing Director of CRI. “CyManII’s commitment will help small and medium-sized manufacturers across the globe become more secure.”
To enroll in CRI’s Cyber Readiness Program, members of the CyManII network can sign up HERE.
CRI’s self-guided Cyber Readiness Program provides practical steps to protect organizations and their supply chain partners. Completing this Program will reduce cyber risks for manufacturers. The Program is presented in a clear, non-technical way and features a comprehensive range of resources including checklists, policy templates, and training materials. The CRI program equips organizations with the necessary tools to build essential cyber skills and foster a cyber ready culture.
“Digitization is essential to building national industrial capacity,” said Howard Grimes, CEO, CyManII. “However, today’s reactive approach to digital industrial security isn’t enough to avoid the risk of cyber-attacks at the local, regional, and national levels. CyManII is leading proactive secure digitization to ensure industrial systems are not vulnerable to cyber-attacks by providing training and cybersecurity tools for immediate use and developing new architectures to secure legacy and future systems. We look forward to working with CRI on this mission.”
The collaboration between CRI and CyManII will help manufacturing organizations by providing them with valuable resources to enhance their cyber capabilities and mitigate potential risks. The CRI/CyManII partnership will facilitate the exchange of best practices and experiences, serving as a catalyst for the continued development of free cybersecurity tools and resources specifically tailored to small and medium-sized manufacturers.
About Cyber Readiness Institute
Launched in 2018, the Cyber Readiness Institute (CRI) is a non-profit initiative that convenes business leaders from across sectors and geographic regions to produce free cybersecurity tools for small and medium-sized businesses. Its mission is to advance the cyber readiness of these SMBs to improve the security of global supply chains. CRI’s tools and resources focus on human behavior and emphasize employee education and awareness.
The Institute is housed within the Center for Global Enterprise, a New York-based non-profit applied research organization. CRI was co-founded by former IBM CEO Samuel J. Palmisano and executives from Mastercard, Microsoft, ExxonMobil, and PSP Partners as a follow-up to the work of the President’s Commission on Enhancing National Cybersecurity (2016). Member companies include Apple, Mastercard, Microsoft, and Principal Financial Group. ExxonMobil and PSP Partners are founding members that continue to support the objectives and programs of CRI.
About CYMANII
CyManII’s mission is to secure and sustain U.S. manufacturing through the development of partnerships and the deployment of innovative technologies that will empower a skilled workforce.
Our vision is to be the leading provider of integrated cybersecurity and energy-efficient solutions for U.S. manufacturers as they undergo digital transformation. We are committed to empowering manufacturers with the tools they need to secure their physical systems from cyber threats, optimize energy usage, and improve operational efficiency. Through cutting-edge technology and innovative solutions, we aim to help U.S. manufacturers become more secure, competitive, resilient, and sustainable in a rapidly evolving global market.
