Digital transformation, also referred to as Industry 4.0, smart industry and smart manufacturing, has risen to the top of the C-level agenda. This transformation is driving innovation in new products and services, digitization of business processes and the creation of new business models and ecosystems.
This fourth wave is exciting, yet it also comes with significant challenges for manufacturers as it makes operations across the enterprise and supply chain more vulnerable to cyber threats. In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic has brought cybersecurity into sharp focus.
For several years now, cybersecurity has been on the critical path for digital enterprises, with board-level accountability. The 2020 CGI Client Global Insights reveals a strong link between digital transformation and information and operational security in the organization. However, in the manufacturing industry, 69% of executives interviewed indicate they face cybersecurity challenges in implementing their digital transformation strategies, up from 59% in 2019.
With the digitization of factories and digitally connected value chains, traditional IT security practices and solutions can only partly offer answers to protect manufacturing organizations.
In this paper, we focus on the cyber risks faced in manufacturing operations and factories, industrial control systems (ICSs) and connected industrial devices. Based on industry best practices and CGI’s extensive experience in this field, we share a methodology for assessing and securing the operational technology (OT) environment and recommend actions to effectively prepare for and address the growing complexity and speed of cybersecurity risks within Industry 4.0 environments.
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