What would happen if the production system of an industrial laundry suddenly became unavailable for 24 hours? No order processing, no tracking, no planning, no deliveries leaving the site. For many organizations, that scenario feels unlikely. Yet in practice, it is closer to reality than often assumed. As a Solutions Architect at ABS, Joris Minnaar works daily at the intersection of business continuity, technology, and security, where resilience is not an abstract concept but a practical requirement.
Digitalization has transformed the industry. Automated production lines, RFID-enabled tracking, ERP platforms, and customer portals have become essential to delivering the speed, transparency, and reliability customers expect. The more connected laundries become, the more cyber risk turns into operational risk.
In practice, a consistent pattern emerges. In on-premise environments, where server infrastructure runs locally, maintenance often falls behind. Systems are not rebooted, patching and hardening lag, and security measures gradually become outdated.
Within the sector, ransomware incidents occur every year, sometimes more than once, often with serious impact. When systems go down, production and deliveries do not just slow down; they can stop. In the worst cases, critical data can be encrypted, corrupted, or lost.
The human factor also plays a role. Many professionals in the sector are not cybersecurity specialists. Their focus is on running the core business and ensuring the right textiles reach the right place, on time, every time. This underlines why cybersecurity must be embedded as a dependable foundation, rather than treated as an additional task that only receives attention when issues arise.
The threat is not theoretical. Each year, customers are supported after cyber incidents to help restore production. In some cases, support is provided to move or switch to hosted services so operations can continue during recovery. These situations reinforce a clear lesson: preparation determines whether an incident remains a disruption or escalates into a crisis.
Practical tips for industrial laundries to enhance operational resilience:
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Regular backups: Schedule automated backups of all critical systems and ensure copies are stored securely offsite or in the cloud.
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Segmented networks: Separate production, office, and guest networks to limit the spread of any cyber incident.
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Patch management: Maintain a strict schedule for updating operating systems, software, and firmware on all devices, including production line controllers.
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Access control: Use role-based access and multi-factor authentication for all critical systems.
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Incident response plan: Develop and regularly test a plan for different scenarios, including full system downtime or ransomware attacks.
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Staff training: Conduct regular awareness sessions for operators and office staff on safe practices, phishing, and recognizing suspicious activity.
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Cloud and hosted services: Consider secure hosted alternatives for ERP and tracking systems to reduce reliance on local infrastructure.
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Monitoring and alerts: Implement real-time monitoring for unusual network activity or system anomalies.
Hosted services are therefore becoming increasingly relevant. When security and hosting are managed in a modern cloud environment, the baseline changes fundamentally. Oracle Cloud, for example, offers a strong foundation for securely hosting business critical services. Combined with structured processes, this reduces the risk that technical hygiene becomes a local backlog item.
Standards support structured preparation. ISO IEC 27001:2022 is a globally recognized industry standard that demonstrates processes are controlled and continuously improving. It provides a clear framework for how risks are identified, how controls are implemented, and how governance remains consistent over time.
At ABS, certification forms a solid foundation. In September 2025, ABS underwent a thorough audit by DEKRA, resulting in a recommendation for recertification under ISO IEC 27001:2022. Auditors recognized the software development processes, internal audits, and structured risk management, and highlighted the importance of a skilled and stable workforce in maintaining consistent and reliable security practices.
Returning to the opening question: what would 24 hours of system downtime mean for production planning, delivery commitments, and customer trust? For healthcare and hospitality clients, the impact would be immediate and visible.
For organizations that want to assess their current resilience, evaluate on-premise risks, or explore secure hosted alternatives, ABS is available to discuss the options and practical next steps. A structured conversation today can prevent operational disruption tomorrow.
