The convergence of Information Technology (IT) and Operational Technology (OT), as well as the related transformation of network processes opens the door to malware and targeted cyber-attacks. Cybercrime has increased dramatically in recent years, causing billions of dollars in losses to companies and economies worldwide.
In 2023, ransomware attacks increased by 50 percent. Manufacturing was one of the top target verticals inIndustrial sector. As a result, organizations need a strong infrastructure for operational technologies.
For more than 120 years, Belden has been a leader in the design and manufacture of insulated wire, cable, and related products.
Over the years, Belden has transformed from a cable manufacturer into a provider of signal transmission solutions with comprehensive portfolio of cables, connecting, and networking products.
Following the acquisition of macmon secure from Belden in 2022, the company planned the implementation of macmon Network Access Control (NAC) in it’s Global infrastructure.
CIC & Proof of Concept (PoC)
To plan the implementation of macmon NAC, Belden uses its Consumer Innovation Center (CIC). CICprovides a secure laboratory environment for developing, testing, document and implement solutions without compromising ongoing operations of the organization. In December 2023 macmon NAC passed successfully the procedure For proof of concept ( Proof of Concept), as a results shows–, the solution can be implemented in a large-scale facility, and the IT team of Belden started the implementation in the industrial infrastructures of the company. През 2024 г. компанията планира да внедри macmon NAC в 47 from its structures worldwide, as the decision will interact with more than 20 000 endpoints.
The implementation of macmon NAC
Belden ‘s Richmond plant consists of distribution centre и production base. The distribution centre is responsible for the storage and delivery of Belden products to customers in the United States and around the world. Various types of cables such as coaxial, fiber optic and industrial are manufactured in the manufacturing facility. The plant has a total of about 800 endpoints and 25 network devices.
The 95-year-old plant in Richmond faced several challenges. Cooperation between Consumer Innovation Center (CIC) at Belden and the Richmond plant is aimed at reducing downtime, increasing efficiency and preparing the plant for the next step in its journey toIndustry 4.0.
The biggest challenges:
- Large plant with a lack of machine connectivity and transparency.
- Costly downtime due to unplanned maintenance work.
- High number of legacy systems in operation.
Reasons for macmon NAC:
- Ability to continue using existing infrastructure, thanks to a vendor-independent solution.
- Low administrative effort.
- Simple and fast implementation.
Successes with macmon NAC:
- Automated control of the movement of devices in the network.
- Effective access control & detection of unwanted network events.
- Successful pilot project to implement the solution macmon NACin up to 47 sites worldwide.
"Before macmon NAC, there was no oversight, insight, or automated control for network-connected devices0 in the facilities. But with macmon NAC, we have all of this."
Charles Crawford Director of IT | Belden Inc
Key benefits of macmon NAC
The macmon NAC solution enables extremely fast deployment without a software agent. During deployment at the Richmond manufacturing facility were Retrieved fromunauthorised remote connections, wireless access points, operator workstations and IoTdevices. macmon NAC effective prevention Java connecting unknown endpoints, which would affect negatively on the production capacityof Richmond, where there are multiple specific endpoints, such as robots and PLCs. The solution also detects potentially critical network events, such as duplicate IP addresses, and automatically or manually takes appropriate action. In case of replacement of an authorized device, access rights are securely and dynamically transferred to the new devices to be integrated. The solution provides time-limited access to the network and allows localization of lost devices. For example, an external company as a technology service provider requires limited time-limited access to a very specific network area of a particular end point, as laptop or controller. Any access outside this is automatically denied. If a handheld scanner or programmable device is lost, the communication history of the device can be quickly and easily reviewed, allowing accurate and targeted action to be taken as quickly as possible.
In the production network of the Richmond plant, macmon NAC is combined with the industrial firewall Hirschmann Eagle40 Industrial Firewall and Hirschmann switches. macmon NAC automatically assigns authorized devices to the correct segment (VLAN), which contributes to the cyber hygiene of the production base.
The macmon NAC solution provided effective access control, consistent automated rules and policies for management of all IT and OT devices. Using the intuitive web -based graphical user interface (GUI) of macmon NAC, and the Belden managed to get a complete overview of the network within a few hours.



