The Importance of Manufacturing Industry Cybersecurity

• Increase of Cybercrimes in the World

In the age of the draconian lockdowns, in some countries like India, cybercrimes went up by 500%. The lockdown, which witnessed a deeper adoption of interconnected devices and a hybrid work environment, has increased the dependence on technology. Hence, this dependence on technology makes manufacturers more susceptible to digital attacks. Cybercrime is becoming a lucrative business as more and more companies store their data online. Cybercriminals are now targeting specific organizations that are more likely to pay the ransom immediately to recover their data. Also, hackers are increasingly demanding ransom via cryptocurrency, which is more difficult to trace. Suffice it to say that cybercrime is a significant threat to society and industry and is growing exponentially.

• The Valuable Information Manufacturers Possess

There is a lot of valuable data manufacturers possess for manufacturing goods. The data is confidential and paramount to the manufacturers for their work. That data can be in any form, like financial transactions of customers, the addresses of a large number of people, private information about people, etc. If such confidential and central data falls into the wrong hands, the effects will be disastrous. Over the last few years, increasing awareness of cybercrime has been made apparent. A facility's data can be a valuable target to hold for ransom even if it can't directly benefit a hacker. Manufacturers, therefore, need to protect their data to avoid being attacked via cyberspace. Cybersecurity, therefore, is the best option for manufacturers.

• Cybersecurity is a Nascent Field in the Industry 4.0

As mentioned previously, industry 4.0 has been in use for the last decade because of its applications, new technologies, and flexibility. But still, it is a novel concept for many manufacturers. Many manufacturers don't have the appropriate experience in this field. Consequently, they are not aware of the risks associated with this field. Given the different technologies offered by Industry 4.0, they could be at risk of phishing attacks. Their lack of knowledge makes them an easy target for cybercriminals. For this reason, manufacturers need to take cybersecurity seriously.

• Disastrous Effects of Cyberattack in the Manufacturing Industry

The effect of cyberattacks can be disastrous. Businesses and entire countries can be affected by cyberattacks. An explicit example of this is the incident in New York City last year. That was one of the most disruptive digital ransom operations in recent history, illustrating the vulnerability of the U.S. energy infrastructure. Many such incidents have happened over the world. CPC Corp ransomware attack in Taiwan crippled its payment system, crippling its petroleum and natural gas operations. Ukraine’s power grid hack was an unprecedented cyberattack on a power grid that was successfully perpetrated. Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine's most populated region, later suffered a six-hour power outage for half its population. It took months to fully restore power to all the control centers, even though power was restored within hours. These are just a few examples of such attacks.

From these incidents, it is evident what cyberattacks can do to the system. It can cause severe widespread losses, apprehension, and confusion in society.

Cybercrimes can result in economic disruption, a threat to the sovereignty and integrity of a Nation, loss of consumer confidence, etc.

Today, technology is at its peak and is still developing, and evolving itself. With an ever-increasing use of technology, the manufacturing industries need to protect their data from various cyberattacks like phishing, malware, password attack, cross-site scripting, etc. An attack on the essential and central data to the manufacturing company is an attack on the whole company, which may affect people's lives. Hence, manufacturing industries and individuals employed must get training in the best cybersecurity programs to enhance their skills to protect the company and its data. These courses help you understand the various types of cyberattacks that happen to your system, and they provide comprehensive ways to prevent cyberattacks on your system.

In today's fast-paced and developing world, one can't ignore the need for cybersecurity in manufacturing industries. Cybersecurity is a must, especially for vulnerable sectors like manufacturing.

Industry 4.0 offers a wide range of applications, advantages, and services. But at the same time, companies need to ensure the security of their systems. A company without cybersecurity is like a house without walls. Technology is advancing, and it will continue doing so in the future, which may lead to an increase in cybercrime. Hence, manufacturing companies should do their utmost to protect their data and security at any cost. The increase in cybersecurity in the last four to five years suggests its impending concern to industries. So for all these reasons, modern manufacturing seriously needs to consider cybersecurity to protect its integrity and avoid future losses.