Drawing insights from more than 1,500 manufacturing leaders across 17 of the top manufacturing countries, Rockwell Automation’s “State of Smart Manufacturing Report” reflects how cybersecurity is becoming a central business issue. In fact, one-third of respondents have direct information technology (IT) and operational technology (OT) cybersecurity responsibilities.
“Cybersecurity is no longer just a technology issue — it’s a boardroom issue,” says Stephen Ford, VP and chief information security officer at Rockwell Automation. “As IT and OT become more connected, the attack surface is expanding. Our latest research confirms what we’re seeing firsthand: Cyber risk is now one of the top threats to manufacturing growth. You can’t protect tomorrow's enterprise with yesterday’s tools. AI is a critical part of the modern security stack, enabling manufacturers to detect threats in real time, maintain productivity, and stay ahead in an increasingly aggressive threat landscape.”
Key takeaways:
· The report shows that manufacturers are beginning to use artificial intelligence (AI) to help manage these risks to strengthen protection.
- Cybersecurity (30%) now ranks among the top external risks, second only to inflation and economic growth (34%).
- 61% of cybersecurity and IT professionals plan AI and machine learning (ML) adoption for security in the next 12 months, outpacing general manufacturing by 12 percentage points.
- 38% of manufacturers plan to use data collected from current sources to drive protection.
- 48% of cybersecurity professionals identified securing converging architecture as a key to positive outcomes over the next five years, compared to just 37% on average.
- More than half (53%) of respondents from companies of $30 billion or more identified cybersecurity practices and standards as extremely important skill sets, compared to 47% of all respondents.
- Workforce development continues to be a major hurdle. A shortage of skilled talent, training challenges and rising labor costs remain significant barriers to competition. As manufacturers recruit the next generation, cybersecurity and analytical skills are also becoming hiring priorities, reinforcing the need to align technical innovation with human development.
“Cybersecurity has become a business enabler,” says Ford. “It’s no longer just about preventing threats, it’s about empowering transformation with confidence. The most forward-thinking manufacturers are proactively leveraging advanced technologies like AI to stay ahead of evolving risks.”
