THROW A BOLT ON THE FACTORY DOOR

WHY CYBERATTACKS IN MANUFACTURING ARE SO COMMON AND HOW TO PREVENT THEM

- DAMIEN MARTIN

Industry 4.0 relies a great deal on loT-connected devices on the factory floor. In many ways, these devices make smart factories hum along with impressive efficiency. But they also present a risk. With so many potential points of access to computer systems, manufacturers can be particularly appealing victims to hackers. According to Hacker News research, cyberattacks in manufacturing account for more than 20% of hacks on businesses, far exceeding any other industry. In the vast majority of cases, hackers are accessing conventional administrative systems, so what is it about manufacturing that makes the sector such a target?

Nearly all cyberattacks in manufacturing are targeted, meaning hackers are there for a specific reason. Almost half the time, they’re looking for trade secrets and other intellectual property, according to Verizon research. For all the good cobots and other factory automations bring, they can be quite vulnerable to hacking, with product sabotage as a result. Above all, hackers are opportunistic, looking for businesses with weak cybersecurity and exploiting it. Here’s how to guard against cyberattacks in manufacturing.