UK manufacturers face rising hacking risk as survey shows 30% were hit last year
Big companies describe being under constant threat but only half have a plan in place to respond to an attack Nearly a third of British manufacturers have been hit by a cyber-attack on them or a company in their supply chain, according to a survey that highlighted the growing hacking risk to companies. The findings come almost a year after Britain’s largest automotive employer, JLR, was hit by an…
British manufacturers face an increasing risk of cyber-attacks, with nearly a third experiencing an incident in the past year, according to a survey by MakeUK. JLR, Britain's largest automotive employer, was hit by an attack in August last year, causing production halts and costing the UK economy at least £1.9bn. Only half of the manufacturers surveyed had a plan to respond to an attack, highlighting the need for improved cybersecurity measures.
The rise of generative AI and the number of connected points in factories have made it easier for hackers, often backed by hostile states, to penetrate company defenses. Large businesses report being under constant attack, with the UK government estimating cybercrime costs the economy £14.7bn annually. JLR's attack, likely carried out by Russian hackers, forced the company to shut down systems across its factories, offices, and retail operations.
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