Protecting Manufacturers and the Supply Chain: Mitigating Cybersecurity Risks in the Era of Digital Transformation

The Role of Digital Transformation in Manufacturing Cybersecurity

Cybercriminals are increasingly targeting manufacturers worldwide at an alarming rate. This rise in cyber-attacks is especially worrisome because it is happening when supply chain bottlenecks are already causing significant challenges. Manufacturers face heightened vulnerabilities in their businesses due to weaknesses in their supplier networks. As a result, it has become crucial to prioritize cybersecurity measures throughout the supply chain to ensure protection, agility and resilience.

In the past year, there has been a staggering increase of over 300% in cyberattacks on manufacturers, accounting for 22% of all attacks across all sectors. This makes manufacturers the second most targeted sector, a significant jump from the fifth position the previous year. According to PwC’s 2022 Global CEO Survey, nearly half of the respondents identified cyber risks as the number-one threat to their growth.

The surge in cyber-attacks on manufacturers can be attributed to various converging factors. The pandemic exacerbated the vulnerabilities, rapidly deploying digital solutions such as cloud technologies, client portals, and mobile and web-based apps. The need for remote work and “no-touch” environments has accelerated this digital transformation, requiring proper monitoring and patching of these technologies. Moreover, larger manufacturing enterprises face ongoing challenges in implementing and monitoring robust cybersecurity programs and protocols across multiple facilities and complex third-party networks, both domestically and internationally. Institutions facing these challenges can most efficiently identify vulnerabilities using a network penetration test. This is an assessment of your organization’s security flaws to provide strategic recommendations to improve your overall security posture.

Large corporations have the resources necessary to hire and train in-house cybersecurity teams to handle the threats of today’s cybercriminals. The challenge, however, rests with small and medium-sized enterprises that lack the necessary resources to address the threats confronting today’s small businesses. To learn more about safeguarding your organization against cybersecurity risks, join DataGuard’s live webinar, where we will explore cost-effective tools and applications designed to protect your organization.

Register here: The Role of Digital Transformation in Manufacturing Cybersecurity

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