The company detected unauthorized access earlier this week and responded by activating its incident response plan. Affected systems were taken offline as a precaution, and containment, remediation, and recovery efforts are now underway.
Incident Response and Investigation
In a regulatory filing, Nucor confirmed it had engaged top external cybersecurity experts and notified federal law enforcement to assist in the investigation.
“Upon detecting the incident, the Company began promptly taking steps to contain and respond to the incident, including activating its incident response plan, proactively taking potentially affected systems offline and implementing other containment, remediation, or recovery measures,” the company stated.
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While Nucor has not identified which facilities were directly affected, the shutdown spans multiple sites within its wide network of steel mills, fabrication plants, and recycling centers.
Company Overview and Potential Impact
Nucor operates around 300 locations across the United States, Mexico, and Canada. The company employs more than 32,000 people and is responsible for producing approximately 25% of the raw steel in the U.S.
At this time, it remains unclear whether any sensitive data was accessed or if ransomware played a role in the attack. No group has claimed responsibility, and the company has declined to provide further technical details, citing the ongoing investigation.
Operations were taken offline “in an abundance of caution,” and the company is now working to safely restore systems and resume production.
Industry-Wide Cyber Threats
The incident comes amid growing concerns about cyberattacks targeting the manufacturing sector. Experts note that manufacturers often rely on legacy technology and play a critical role in national infrastructure, making them attractive targets for threat actors.
Analysts warn that disruptions at major producers like Nucor could have wide-reaching effects across supply chains, particularly in construction, infrastructure, and manufacturing industries that depend heavily on steel.
Looking Ahead
Nucor has assured stakeholders that it is taking all necessary steps to restore normal operations and will continue to closely monitor the situation as the investigation unfolds.
