Manufacturers fortify cyber defenses in response to dramatic surge in attacks

As U.S. manufacturing firms weather a constant barrage of cyberattacks, the various industries in that sector — which underpin everything from military readiness to everyday necessities — are banding together to learn from past incidents and boost their collective defenses.

Even as other critical infrastructure sectors like energy, healthcare and telecommunications receive more attention from most policymakers, cybersecurity firms have repeatedly found that manufacturing is the most targeted of the 16 critical infrastructure sectors recognized by the U.S. government.

Hackers see manufacturers as especially enticing victims, because they make and store sensitive intellectual property, operate businesses that can’t afford interruptions and rely on complex supply chains. For those same reasons, industry leaders, cybersecurity experts and government officials increasingly warn that both U.S. national and economic security depend on protecting the heavily besieged manufacturing sector.

Read more at Cybersecurity Dive