🚨 The Chasm Between Cybersecurity Investments and Risk Protection: New Report Is Shocking! 🚨

[Süeda Asil]

While industrial organizations are increasing their cybersecurity investments, scaling AI, and expanding data usage, it has become clear that these initiatives do not automatically translate into operational resilience. According to new research from digital transformation giant Rockwell Automation, there is a significant disconnect between cybersecurity investments and operational risk protection.

📊 Connected Operations, Increased Risks​

Rockwell's "Operational Resilience in the Age of Connection" report highlights the contradiction between reliance on comprehensive cybersecurity protection and operational risk. Increased connectivity brings with it more cybersecurity risks.

• According to the survey of 1,500 manufacturing and industrial operations decision-makers from 17 countries, more than a third of organizations view cybersecurity risk as one of the biggest external obstacles to growth.
  
• As operations become more connected, the need to strengthen resilience becomes more pronounced. This is especially critical as investments continue in converging IT and OT systems, scaling AI, and expanding the use of operational data.
  
• These connections can create new dependencies vulnerable to cyberattacks. IT/OT integration points are ranked as one of the most vulnerable areas to cyber incidents, immediately following IT systems/corporate networks.
  

💰 Investment Made, But What About Security?​

Cybersecurity stands out as the second-highest return on investment technology reported by participants, with over 60% of organizations having already invested in cybersecurity platforms.

Rick Kaun, global director of cybersecurity services at Rockwell Automation, states, "Industrial organizations understand that cybersecurity directly impacts uptime, continuity, productivity, and growth, but technology investments alone do not create operational resilience or confidence in an organization's security posture."

🤖 AI and Cybersecurity​

Organizations are increasingly turning to artificial intelligence as part of their cybersecurity responses. Within the next year, 45% plan to apply AI and machine learning to these initiatives.

• While 46% of organizations experienced a cyber incident in the past year, 90% report confidence in their ability to prevent, contain, or recover from an incident.
  

🚀 Transformation and Resilience​

According to the Rockwell report, environments are becoming more connected as organizations integrate cybersecurity into broader digital transformation strategies alongside AI, automation, cloud technologies, and connected operations. However, resilience depends on how well organizations can translate investment into coordinated action.

Kaun adds, "True resilience is built when cybersecurity becomes an integral part of the business strategy. Organizations that proactively manage risk and prepare for disruption are better positioned to protect operations, maintain production, and gain a competitive advantage."

According to Rockwell, the next step is for organizations to bring investments together into a cybersecurity program that increases visibility, reduces risk, and adapts to evolving operational needs.