The on-going pandemic has created a series of emergencies for UK manufacturers. A combination of rapidly implemented remote working, together with reduced staffing, closures and supply chain disruption led to lost revenue and productivity, with security neglected as business leaders sought to fight the most visibly pressing issues first. More than half (58%) of manufacturing firms experienced a cyberattack in 2020, with 37% saying the conditions created through Covid-19 made the attacks possible, according to research conducted by the Ponemon Institute and commissioned by Keeper Security.
Worryingly, more than half (55%) say such cybersecurity incidents resulted in the theft of sensitive information about customers or employees. While cybercriminals were judged to be responsible for the majority (57%) of attacks, a significant number of manufacturers (38%) described negligent employees or contractors as the root cause of security issues.
Currently in our third national lockdown and dealing with tiered systems across the country prior to this, factories have had to shut, or operate with skeleton staff to provide adequate social distancing. Considerably less able to operate effectively through remote working than other sectors, manufacturing productivity has been hit hard. An increase in the incidence of cyberattacks couldn’t have come at a worse time.
“The events of the last year have hit the manufacturing sector hard, with business owners scrambling to preserve jobs and establish a route through ever-changing restrictions and world-wide challenges to their ability to succeed.” said Darren Guccione, CEO and Co-Founder of Keeper Security.
