As the frequency and complexity of cyber attacks continue to escalate, industrial companies that rely on automated control and production systems — whether Internet- or software-based — face significantly greater risk of being attacked by hackers.

The Repository of Industrial Security Incidents reports that, globally, power and utilities; petroleum; transportation; water and waste management; food and beverage; chemical; electronic; and general manufacturing companies are among the industries most frequently attacked by cyber criminals, with consequences ranging from merely a nuisance to catastrophic.

Largely because of the difficulty in safeguarding technical information and resources on factory floors — and the relentless efforts on the part of competitors and nation states to engage in corporate espionage — experts foresee cyber threats against major industrial companies continuing to escalate in 2016 and beyond.

Want to continue reading?
Become a Free PropertyCasualty360 Digital Reader

  • All PropertyCasualty360.com news coverage, best practices, and in-depth analysis.
  • Educational webcasts, resources from industry leaders, and informative newsletters.
  • Other award-winning websites including BenefitsPRO.com and ThinkAdvisor.com.
NOT FOR REPRINT

© 2024 ALM Global, LLC, All Rights Reserved. Request academic re-use from www.copyright.com. All other uses, submit a request to [email protected]. For more information visit Asset & Logo Licensing.