The cyber threat: what manufacturers need to know to build cyber resilience

As digital technologies increasingly shape how manufacturers operate and collaborate, cyber security is becoming a defining issue for supply chain resilience across the West Midlands.

As digital technologies become increasingly embedded within manufacturing operations, cyber security is no longer just an IT issue. It is a business-critical challenge that can directly affect production, safety and supply chain continuity.

Through the Supply Chain Transition Programme, delivered by the West Midlands Investment Zone, manufacturers are being supported to build more resilient supply chains, not only in terms of efficiency and sustainability, but also their ability to withstand and recover from cyber disruption.

Professor Zeeshan Pervez, cybersecurity expert at the University of Wolverhampton, explains cyber resilience means for manufacturers today.

"Traditional cybersecurity focuses on protecting data and networks," explains Professor Pervez. "In manufacturing, the stakes are much higher. A cyber attack can halt production, disable machinery or disrupt systems that control physical processes."

He argues that manufacturers must move beyond viewing IT and operational technology (OT) separately. Modern factories rely on interconnected systems, meaning a breach in one area can quickly impact another.

"Cyber resilience is about preparing for disruption, adapting under pressure and recovering quickly," he says.

Unlike office-based sectors, cyber incidents in manufacturing can have physical consequences, including equipment damage, safety risks and costly production downtime. Legacy machinery and complex supply chains can increase exposure to risks such as ransomware, supplier compromise and attacks on connected devices.

According to Professor Pervez, one of the biggest challenges is that many organisations focus solely on prevention.

"Cybersecurity is about protection. Cyber resilience is about ensuring the business can continue operating when attacks get through."