March 26, 2024
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The increasing connectivity between digital (IT) and physical (OT) operations elevates the need for greater cybersecurity awareness and action to reduce the risk of a breach or attack.
Many manufacturers share the urgency for action. In the 9th Annual State of Smart Manufacturing Report from Rockwell Automation, cybersecurity broke into the top five external risks for the first time, ranking third overall.
In addition to reducing risk and increasing resiliency, survey respondents:
- Ranked cybersecurity as the No. 1 skill employers are seeking in 2024
- Predicted that cybersecurity would be the No. 2 most impacted by artificial intelligence (AI), just behind quality
Adversity accelerates transformation
Over 1,500 manufacturers around the world contributed to this year’s report, and the majority (83%) say the obstacles they face are accelerating digital transformation. Over the next three years, the areas most impacted by AI will be two of manufacturing’s evergreen concerns: maintaining quality and reducing risk, specifically cybersecurity.
As the technology landscape becomes more complex, and OT systems are further integrated into enterprise IT networks, the opportunities for cyber-attacks quickly increase. Manufacturers are looking to a combination of human skill and emerging technology to strengthen their security posture in the face of this growing concern.
Focus on cybersecurity intensifies
In addition to being a top concern, cybersecurity ranked third for driving biggest outcomes through smart manufacturing technology. That is because, despite current challenges and setbacks, manufacturers are looking at their businesses through a long-term lens. By investing in technology, they expect to elevate their competitive advantage and build business resilience into the future.
8 steps to drive value, achieve success
The State of Smart Manufacturing Report includes steps to drive value and achieve success. Among them: Find and prioritize specific digital use cases that solve manufacturing and operational issues — like cybersecurity.
The use of automation and smart manufacturing technology will increase over the next five years to drive positive business outcomes. Specifically, manufacturers will upgrade their networking infrastructure and invest in more connected hardware devices. More data from systems will allow companies to capitalize on their software investments and further empower their workforce with information to optimize operations, reduce risk and build resiliency in real time.
Get the full report
The State of Smart Manufacturing Report reveals optimism as advanced industrial operations technology delivers results that offer hope in the face of evolving economic conditions, labor shortages and skills gaps. The report explores emerging technologies like GenAI and their potential to alleviate the biggest manufacturing challenges of 2024.
About this research
The 9th annual edition of the State of Manufacturing Report is the largest to date: 1,567 decision-makers from 17 of the top manufacturing countries took part, nearly two-thirds of whom (64%) work for firms with over $1 billion in revenue. In association with Sapio Research, the State of Smart Manufacturing Report from Rockwell Automation surveyed the broadest audience yet, welcoming a global population that represents the modern manufacturing industry.
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