Industry News

Report: Nearly 70% of industrial organizations have experienced a cyberattack in the past year

April 8, 2024

The study focuses on the reality, extent, and changing nature of security threats to industrial environments.

ABI Research and Palo Alto Networks have released a new report called “The State of OT Security: A Comprehensive Guide to Trends, Risks, and Cyber Resilience.” Designed to shine a light on the state of operational technology (OT) security, the report features responses from nearly 2,000 executives and practitioners across 16 countries. The study focuses on the reality, extent, and changing nature of security threats to industrial environments. Key takeaways from the study include:

One in four industrial enterprises have had to shut down their operations temporarily due to a cyberattack
40% of organizations say their OT and IT teams are frictional
Nearly 70% of industrial organizations have experienced cyberattacks in the past year
Malware, ransomware, and insider attacks are the top three threats

In an excerpt from the report, authors Michael M. Amiri and Michela Menting write: “Operational Technology (OT) teams once felt fortified against cyberattacks in industrial operations, given their air-gapped systems, legacy assets, proprietary technologies, fragmented end markets, etc. However, the narrative has greatly changed within the last several years; considering the many news headlines reporting on various OT attacks on industrial firms. Take the EKANS ransomware attack on Honda in 2020 as an example, forcing multiple factory shutdowns worldwide. Or look at the 2022 satellite-born attack disrupting the operations of 5,800 wind turbines in Germany. Other successful attacks include the Industroyer2 malware attack on electrical substations used by Ukrainian energy companies and the notorious Colonial Pipeline shutdown in 2021. What these recent attacks tell us is that the unabated expansion of cyberthreats has found ways to intrude into every corner of modern organizations, and industrial operations are no exception.”

About the Author

Alexis Gajewski | Senior Content Strategist

Alexis Gajewski has over 15 years of experience in the maintenance, reliability, operations, and manufacturing space. She joined Plant Services in 2008 and works to bring readers the news, insight, and information they need to make the right decisions for their plants. Alexis also authors “The Lighter Side of Manufacturing,” a blog that highlights the fun and innovative advances in the industrial sector.