The Landscape Of Cybersecurity In The Manufacturing Sector

With the manufacturing sector witnessing an increasing number of cyberattacks, firms need to devise a holistic cybersecurity framework to keep their production safe from potentially damaging data theft and illegitimate access

- Kunal Bajaj

The fourth Industrial Revolution has opened new possibilities for innovation and growth in the manufacturing sector. The integration of new-age technologies are bringing fundamental changes in the way today’s manufacturing firms produce, operate, and sell to their target markets. Especially, the enhanced use of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML) and Automation are changing the very face of the industry and paving the way for more efficient manufacturing across product categories. That said, the increasing influence of technology has also enhanced the risk of cybersecurity challenges for the manufacturing sector. According to the research jointly conducted by the Manufacturers Alliance for Productivity and Innovation (MAPI) and Deloitte, most smart factories today face heightened threats of cybersecurity attacks. In fact, cyberattacks are increasingly becoming the most prevalent form of security breaches in the sector and disrupting its efficiency by exposing people, technology, tools, and Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) to malicious actors.

The most concerning element of cybersecurity attacks is their damaging impact on the entire value chain of manufacturing firms. From functional procedures to operating mechanisms and strategic initiatives to meeting compliance requirements, cyberattacks can disrupt a wide range of activities along with bringing the entire production operation to a grinding halt.

Cybersecurity threats in manufacturing