Manufacturers remain the top target for cybercriminals in 2025, primarily due to security gaps, lack of expertise, and slow adoption of protective measures. Over half paid ransoms and faced high recovery costs, with ransomware attacks causing notable shutdowns and billions in losses. This year, exploited software vulnerabilities became the leading cause of breaches. The rise of AI and automation is boosting manufacturing efficiency but also increasing cybersecurity risks and creating new attack surfaces. Experts warn that the threat landscape will continue to worsen, especially as IT and OT environments merge and geopolitical issues persist.
