More manufacturers are failing to protect their online data
ALMOST half of manufacturers in the West Midlands have failed to increase their investment in cyber security in the past two years, leaving them vulnerable to hacks.
The EEF said a survey of its members had found that 46% of firms had failed to make any improvement to the online protection.
Amongst small manufacturers the figure rises to 56%, while 20% of firms are not actively making employees aware of cyber risks. Just 56% of firms say cyber security is given serious attention by their board.
The manufacturers’ organisation said this was of concern because manufacturing stood on the cusp of a 4th industrial revolution, driven by rapid advances and take up in technology. While this brings huge opportunities, it also increases risk.
Dubbed Industry 4.0 or 4IR, this next industrial transformation will see ever greater reliance on data. Eight in ten manufacturers say that 4IR will be a business reality within the next ten years, making it vital that they get the right systems and security measures in place now.
Government figures show that, last year, 90% of large businesses and 74% of small businesses reported a cyber security breach – an increase on 2014. The average cost of these breaches was between £1.46m to £3.14m for a large firm and £75k to £311k for a small business.
The EEF is now urging firms to complete a simple new test it has devised to check how cyber aware they are.
The free online test is designed to help companies benchmark their cyber awareness. They will also find information and links to further advice so that they can bring themselves up-to-speed.
Richard Halstead, Midlands and East Region Director at EEF, said: “As technology and data play ever more critical roles in manufacturing, companies will inevitably find themselves more vulnerable to cyber threats. As the industry body we think it’s vital to start raising awareness now so that manufacturers can plan for the cyber risks associated with the 4th industrial revolution.”
Details of how to participate are available through the EEF website.
