Strengthening Identity Security for a U.S. Critical Food Manufacturer
Manufacturing ICS security depends on more than perimeter controls. In this case study, Scapien helped a U.S. food manufacturer validate credential exposure, reduce identity-driven attack paths, and improve detection reliability across IT and industrial environments.
Quick Results
- Validated widespread identity and credential exposure across corporate IT
- Reduced cracked passwords from ~60% to only a small handful per audit
- Improved SOC detection reliability and alert relevance
- Established durable controls spanning IT and industrial environments
About the Manufacturer
A U.S.-based food manufacturer operating as part of the country’s critical food infrastructure. The organisation runs highly automated production facilities supported by traditional IT systems and industrial control networks. With limited security staff and high operational dependency on automation, maintaining availability and operational integrity across environments was essential.
The Challenge
The engagement showed that manufacturing ICS security depended on controlling identity exposure across both corporate IT and plant-connected systems.
Following a significant security incident, the organisation sought a clearer understanding of its true exposure. Existing controls had not prevented identity weaknesses from persisting, and security efforts were fragmented across corporate IT and plant environments.
The team needed to understand whether identity and credential risks were materially exploitable, how those risks could affect operational systems, and whether detection and response capabilities were sufficient to identify real threats.
How Scapien Helped
Using Scapien’s iPAS Security Risk Management platform, testing quickly revealed identity and password hygiene as a core risk driver. An initial password assessment showed that approximately 60% of passwords could be cracked, enabling realistic attack paths toward both critical and sensitive systems.
Scapien helped the organisation validate identity exposure and credential misuse risk, prioritise remediation that would materially reduce attack paths, improve detection reliability by aligning SOC monitoring to real security activity, and extend consistent controls across IT and industrial environments. Recurring assessments ensured improvements did not regress over time.
Results & Impact
Password hygiene materially improved, with only minimal exposures remaining. SOC alert quality and detection confidence increased. Identity risk was reduced as a systemic issue — not a one-time fix — and security posture matured across both IT and industrial operations.
By focusing on validated identity risk and detection maturity, Scapien enabled this organisation to move toward a more resilient, risk-driven posture.
