Cybersecurity challenges in smart factories

According to research by Capgemini Research Institute, 51% of industrial companies believe that the number of cyber attacks on 'smart factories' is likely to increase in the next 12 months. About 53% of them agree that most future cyber threats will focus on smart factories as their primary targets. However, a high level of awareness does not automatically mean readiness to defend against an attack. A lack of C-level focus, limited budgets and the human factor were cited as the main cybersecurity challenges.

Accelerated digitization has had the effect of increasing the attack surface and the increased number of operational technology (OT) and industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) devices. System-level visibility of IIoT and OT devices is critical to detecting a potential attack. Low availability of the right tools and processes, as well as employees and suppliers bringing infected devices, such as laptops and handheld devices, are just some of the factors that increase the risk of a cyber attack.

Humans are still the biggest threat to cybersecurity

When it comes to incidents, there are few companies that have cybersecurity teams that have the necessary knowledge and skills to carry out urgent security patching without external support. With a shortage of cyber experts and an increasing number of OT and IoT devices they must monitor to prevent intrusion attempts, cybersecurity executives feel they will not be able to effectively respond to attacks in their smart factories.

What is worrisome is the lack of communication between smart factory leaders and security managers, because it is precisely the lack of communication that leads to an increased risk of cyberattacks that cause higher level of damage.

Read the six steps to follow to develop a robust cybersecurity strategy for smart factories on the Help Net Security blog.

Learn more: Help Net Security