Rockwell Automation report identifies cybersecurity as a major industrial growth challenge

A new industry report by Rockwell Automation and Sapio Research reveals that over one-third of industrial organizations identify cybersecurity risks as a major obstacle to growth. The study, titled ‘Operational Resilience in the Age of Connectivity’, surveyed 1,560 manufacturing and industrial decision-makers across 17 countries.

Key findings indicate a gap between perceived security and actual risk. While 46% of surveyed companies experienced a cybersecurity incident in the past year, 90% expressed confidence in their ability to prevent or recover from such events. Despite this confidence, the integration of Information Technology (IT) and Operational Technology (OT) remains a significant vulnerability, identified as the second most susceptible area for cyberattacks.

To combat these risks, 62% of companies have already invested in cybersecurity platforms, noting it as a high-ROI technology. Additionally, 45% of organizations plan to implement AI and machine learning into their cybersecurity projects within the next 12 months to enhance threat detection and risk management. Rick Kaun, Global Cybersecurity Services Director at Rockwell Automation, emphasized that true resilience is achieved only when cybersecurity is integrated into the overall business strategy rather than treated as a standalone technical investment.