CHICAGO—Manufacturing is the most targeted sector worldwide for cyberattacks. To address the issue, MxD (Manufacturing x Digital) and the National Center for Cybersecurity in Manufacturing recently created a report on the topic. According to “Behind the Firewall,” many manufacturers are overestimating their capabilities.

“The supply chains that support U.S. manufacturing are only as strong as their weakest link,” warns Berardino Baratta, CEO of MxD. “We must strengthen at every level to ensure a resilient domestic manufacturing capability, including within the defense industrial base.

“We see a sense of overconfidence in our research results, which is concerning,” says Baratta. “Everyone is at risk, from the largest multinational to small- and medium-sized manufacturers that often lack the proper resources to protect themselves from cyberattacks.”

“Manufacturing sector cyberattacks are no longer rare, one-off events," adds Michael Tanji, director of cybersecurity at MxD. “The rise in incidents shows repeated and concerted efforts to steal intellectual property or other company data, resulting in production shutdowns, logistical delays and more.