Manufacturers "ignoring" cyber threat
15 May 2014
Manufacturing businesses are putting their online safety at risk by ignoring cyber-security, new data suggests.
Many small and medium sized (SME) manufacturing businesses could vastly improve their online safety and subsequently their reputation if they made cyber-security more of a priority, according to new data from the government’s Cyber Security Tracker (CST).
The CST data suggests that 23% of the 81 SME manufacturing businesses surveyed have suffered from a virus, Trojan, malware or spyware attack in the last year, though 49% never or rarely monitor their IT systems for security breaches.
The majority of cyber-crime relies on businesses failing to do the basics well
David Willetts MP
Two thirds of those surveyed reported that they fail to encrypt business critical information despite 10% having incurred costs to restore affected IT systems over the past 12 months.
The three chief concerns expressed by manufacturers are: the possibility of their systems being infected (50%), the financial loss associated with the theft of bank details (46%), and cyber-hacking (37%).
However, more than 65% of respondents agreed that cyber-security should be made a bigger priority to match the urgency of other issues.
Universities and science minister David Willetts said: “The internet provides small and medium sized manufacturing businesses with huge opportunities but there are also risks. However, the majority of cyber-crime relies on businesses failing to do the basics well.
“Making your business cyber streetwise can be quick, easy and cheap with the right support. Make life harder for cyber criminals and protect your business, its customers and its reputation.”
The government’s “Cyber Streetwise” campaign has issued a list of steps to help manufacturers improve their online security:
- Install and always update antivirus and firewall software to protect business and customer information
- Use complex passwords for IT systems, computers and devices
- Ensure you and your staff never download something if its origin is unknown
- Review what important information your business holds and whether it is adequately protected
