Mitigate Cybersecurity Risks in Contract Manufacturing

Contract manufacturers must learn to mitigate cybersecurity risks as they take on the risks of their customers.

Cyberattacks on manufacturers increased by more than 300%, totaling 22% of all attacks across all sectors, up from 7% the previous year in 2020.
Cyberattacks on manufacturers increased by more than 300%, totaling 22% of all attacks across all sectors, up from 7% the previous year in 2020.

New and evolving technologies, such as fully integrated enterprise resource planning systems, connected machine sensor networks, remote access, and Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) connectivity are improving manufacturers’ efficiency. However, these technologies also create vulnerability to cyberattacks and the manufacturing industry has been increasingly targeted.  

According to a security firm NTT's 2021 Global Threat Intelligence Report, cyberattacks on manufacturers increased by more than 300%, totaling 22% of all attacks across all sectors, up from 7% the previous year in 2020. Subsequent NTT reports found that manufacturing remains a top three target for cybercriminals.

Contract manufacturers (CMs) are not immune to these challenges. According to a Manufacturing Dive article, CMs face unique cybersecurity threats often involving the risk of fraud from hackers and attacks from nation states.

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